Kasl’s “If the Buddha Dated” is a book about finding love, dating, and getting to know yourself on a deeper level within a relationship. Kasl uses her own experiences in dating, as a psychotherapist, and from exposure to relationships within different religions and spiritualities.
“On the spiritual path the rules are simple. Be kind, compassionate, honest, and natural.”
The book is divided into many parts with many small “bite-sized” sections on the topics within. She explores everything from preparing to love, recognizing what you want, the dating journey, and commitment once you find a partner. She has included lots of checklist and activities to really help uncover what you are looking for, will it work for you, and understanding yourself.
I enjoyed this book as it was simple to read but effective in helping the reader sort out their dating life. I think the title can be catchy for someone who may be aligned more with Eastern Spiritualities but it’s not exclusive to Buddhism. She references Christianity and Sufism to name a few. I think this book is so approachable and brings something tangible to dating that is often difficult to sort through. I did get a good laugh at her references to placing an online ad for dating since it was published in 2001! For those in a marriage, she has another book called, “If the Buddha Married.”
Read this book if:
- You are thinking about dating
- Currently dating
Kasl, C. D. (2001). If the Buddha dated: Handbook for finding love on a spiritual path. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Penguin Compass.