Our fear of intimacy-- both with others and with ourselves-- creates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path. Salzberg shows us how the Buddhist path of lovingkindness can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. The Buddha described the nature of such a spiritual path as "the liberation of the heart, which is love. " Simple Buddhist teachings, wisdom stories from various traditions, and guided meditation practices illustrate how each one of us can cultivate love, compassion, joy, and equanimity.