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informative
slow-paced
Everyone approaches meditation differently, and the method that Culadasa advocates is a methodical one, progressing the skill of practice into 10 stages, each offering a more cohesive and long-lasting harmony. For me, this wasn't it, I view meditation as more of a natural, organic type of exercise, that comes from within me rather than as something to be learned with precision. This reads like a set of introductions, like a tutorial, and is much drier than what I seek from the meditation experience.
But even so, I was looking to feel more inspired, and this struck a balance between instructional and new age, neither of which are my jam. For example, the author says that absorbing meditation sessions might make someone poop or vomit. Emm... what?! I find this very difficult to believe. I have never heard of such a reaction before, and I just don't see how that can happen. I understand falling asleep, but this ridiculous. Similarly, he talks about parts of the body coming together to the point that in the face of the utmost distraction your attention will never be shaken. Again, unlikely.
I certainly got some ideas for what I can tweak in my practice to make it more fulfilling and enhance my internal focus, but overall this just wasn't for me beyond a few interesting tips here and there.
But even so, I was looking to feel more inspired, and this struck a balance between instructional and new age, neither of which are my jam. For example, the author says that absorbing meditation sessions might make someone poop or vomit. Emm... what?! I find this very difficult to believe. I have never heard of such a reaction before, and I just don't see how that can happen. I understand falling asleep, but this ridiculous. Similarly, he talks about parts of the body coming together to the point that in the face of the utmost distraction your attention will never be shaken. Again, unlikely.
I certainly got some ideas for what I can tweak in my practice to make it more fulfilling and enhance my internal focus, but overall this just wasn't for me beyond a few interesting tips here and there.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
An excellent book that extensively covers how to meditate, in fact, it's more of a guidebook than a book, great to refer back to!
I enjoyed how it breaks it down into different levels and steps to go through, as well as explaining a variety of different feelings, obstacles and traps that can occur during meditation!
I enjoyed how it breaks it down into different levels and steps to go through, as well as explaining a variety of different feelings, obstacles and traps that can occur during meditation!
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Although I have not completed this book it is a complete experience in the practical steps of mindfulness and meditation. This text deeply explores what it is to be fully aware and to elevate mindfulness to a state where we can go about our daily lives in a very healthy psychological state. We are burdened in this age of information with an overload of extremely sensory content which can lead to feelings of restlessness, agitation and mental discomfort. This is the most complete text I have seen which addresses these issues in a coherent way and provides a deep and fully explained pathway to adopting meditation in a beneficial way. I say I have not finished it because each section focusses on a different stage of the meditative process which can ably be obtained by mastering the preceding stage. As a result, this book is really just a life long companion in your journey towards achieving whatever your level of "total contentment" is. The journey is long and requires constant diligence, but can have profound impact on the quality of all of our lives. I highly recommend this reading.
This was pretty much a complete guide, and an excellent primer for someone interested in starting a meditation practice.
informative
inspiring
relaxing
Lots of interesting stuff in here, but it’s pretty dense. Also maybe not the best fit for where I am in my meditation practice, but it was fascinating to hear about the later stages as a beginner.
I can definitely see myself returning to this book a bit further down the road, probably in a written format instead of as an audiobook.
I can definitely see myself returning to this book a bit further down the road, probably in a written format instead of as an audiobook.
As a note, I have had limited experience in meditation. As the instruction goes further and further into the later stages, I did not have a frame of reference or context to relate to the observations and experiences that the the author presents. I believe that this book may be thorough to a fault as I found myself just wanting to be done with it, but kept reading so that I may glean a bit of applicable information for my life. This is definitely a 'How to meditate in this specific style' kind of book.
I find the incorporation of 'Brain Science' in the title to be misleading. I've read a few books on neuroscience and that title grabbed my attention. The 'Science' in the book is regarding the author's theory of the mind which is at best is a psychological theory. I was hoping to see data that measured effects in people's behavior and perception as their meditation practice develops. That was not in this book.
I find the incorporation of 'Brain Science' in the title to be misleading. I've read a few books on neuroscience and that title grabbed my attention. The 'Science' in the book is regarding the author's theory of the mind which is at best is a psychological theory. I was hoping to see data that measured effects in people's behavior and perception as their meditation practice develops. That was not in this book.
Definitely a book I'll be coming back to over time, probably once a year. The idea that the mind is actually composed of many subminds, each with their own tendencies and preferences like members of a family, is fascinating and supported by another book on psychiatry "The Body Keeps the Score"
Also, that meditation is about expressing an intention the way learning to bat in baseball is expressing the intention of hitting the ball with a bat. You don't will yourself to hit, but through trial and error your subminds hear the intention and organize themselves around this effort until they unite and perform in unison at the task. Where as learning the hit a ball will only train your mind and body to do that one task, learning to focus will train your mind to... focus on anything! The various forms of euphoria in the later stages of meditation is also aspirational and gels with the book "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollins on how LSD showed one guy what enlightenment is like and gave him the motivation to meditate!
Also, that meditation is about expressing an intention the way learning to bat in baseball is expressing the intention of hitting the ball with a bat. You don't will yourself to hit, but through trial and error your subminds hear the intention and organize themselves around this effort until they unite and perform in unison at the task. Where as learning the hit a ball will only train your mind and body to do that one task, learning to focus will train your mind to... focus on anything! The various forms of euphoria in the later stages of meditation is also aspirational and gels with the book "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollins on how LSD showed one guy what enlightenment is like and gave him the motivation to meditate!