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9 reviews for:
The Science of Enlightenment: Teachings and Meditations for Awakening Through Self-Investigation
Shinzen Young
4.15 AVERAGE
9 reviews for:
The Science of Enlightenment: Teachings and Meditations for Awakening Through Self-Investigation
Shinzen Young
4.15 AVERAGE
This book took me ages to read because I needed to really take some time to absorb what Shinzen was saying. I've always been interested in meditation but if you are a beginner like me, this isn't the best one to start with.
An excellent book, but it takes such a long time to absorb.
An excellent book, but it takes such a long time to absorb.
Concentration, clarity, and equanimity.
Enjoyed some of his scientific metaphors but disliked when things started sounding like they were scientific when perhaps they were not. There is a disclaimer in the introduction about it, but it still chafes at times.
Enjoyed some of his scientific metaphors but disliked when things started sounding like they were scientific when perhaps they were not. There is a disclaimer in the introduction about it, but it still chafes at times.
Love Shinzen but this book was far less crisp and clear than listening to recordings of Shinzen.
Best and most advanced book on enlightenment I've consumed. Highly recommended. The audiobook was read very hearthfelt
Nonostante il titolo (o forse proprio grazie a questo) mi son spesso ritrovato a pensare che più che Scienza si parli di Misticismo.
Ho iniziato ad ascoltare il libro, narrato tanto lentamente da far addormentare (capisco l'argomento, ma insomma...), dopo qualche consiglio su Reddit, le basi della meditazione le ho trovate interessanti. Quando si parla di mindfulness, equanimity e compagnia il libro offre davvero tanto, ma proseguendo non ho potuto fare a meno di pensare che si parlasse sempre delle stesse cose.
L'ho abbandonato anche per l'evidente difficoltà di prendere appunti su una versione audiobook (purtroppo il libro esiste solo in questo formato). Se mai uscirà in versione testuale non mi risparmierò dal procurarmene una copia e ritentarci, ma per ora da principiante assoluto della meditazione ho trovato esempi di chiarezza molto più lampante di questo su altri volumi.
Ho iniziato ad ascoltare il libro, narrato tanto lentamente da far addormentare (capisco l'argomento, ma insomma...), dopo qualche consiglio su Reddit, le basi della meditazione le ho trovate interessanti. Quando si parla di mindfulness, equanimity e compagnia il libro offre davvero tanto, ma proseguendo non ho potuto fare a meno di pensare che si parlasse sempre delle stesse cose.
L'ho abbandonato anche per l'evidente difficoltà di prendere appunti su una versione audiobook (purtroppo il libro esiste solo in questo formato). Se mai uscirà in versione testuale non mi risparmierò dal procurarmene una copia e ritentarci, ma per ora da principiante assoluto della meditazione ho trovato esempi di chiarezza molto più lampante di questo su altri volumi.
I have challenges with this format and don't have access to a copy anymore. :( I'd like to pick it up again.
slow-paced
I can't recall listening/reading a book that induced so many "Aha!" moments in a long, long time. A book definitely to be re-listened. It is absolutely incredible.
Gah!
Shinzen’s teachings and practices (at their best) are parsimonious, sober, useful and legitimately transformative.
I have been using Shinzen’s basic conceptual framework and meditation techniques for years and they have profoundly transformed my experience of the world.
I owe Shinzen an enormous debt of gratitude. His work has enhanced my life to an inestimable degree. And his work is the foundation for my work as a therapist. I’d literally be lost without it.
But there is something a little grandiose and fuzzy about parts of this book. Around two thirds in, the material becomes less clear, less germane, less crucial, and more than a little frustrating.
I’m concerned that the dirty notes will alienate a serious, critical reader. And that’s precisely the type of reader the book is (I think) intended to reach.
I love the man, and I love his work, and I love the editor of this book like a brother, in fact he’s my bestie IRL. So it pains me to give it 4 Stars.
But I feel the need to honestly raise these (albeit vague) objections. If for no other reason than as a warning to a would-be reader, not to let some of the kookier sections in this text turn you off of Shinzen.
In the final chapters, Shinzen discusses his vision for the friendly, synergistic merger of the western enlightenment project and eastern enlightenment paths i.e. the utilization of science and technology for assistance in the profound realization of ‘post-personal’ states and traits.
This is where Shinzen’s work shines again. This aspect of his work may become irrelevant soon, or it may read like H. G. Wells in 50-100 years. But I think it’s important and progressive right now. And I believe it will have a lasting impact.
Speaking as a clinician. I desperately want (no need) more precise, more effective techniques, clinically useful vocabulary, tractable conceptual frameworks, and assistive technology for helping people find the pathway out of the darkened woods of suffering better known as the human condition, AKA addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma and what we currently refer to as personality disorders (but what we may someday be refer to as simply the disorder of being a personality).
Shinzen’s work is already completely useful in this regard. In fact, it’s the most useful one of these ever devised. It’s a hugely important dharma firmware update. If you’re a western meditation practitioner, you need this patch!
But getting non Buddhist people (the vast majority of people at present) to understand, value and use these techniques is still a hard translation problem to say the least.
Try explaining and demonstrating the value of abiding in metta, anicca and anatta to a heroin addict in hard withdrawal, or a trauma victim having a panic attack, or a suicidal depressive.
They need it bad, and I do it all the time, but it ain’t easy brah, take my word for it.
If Shinzen has his way, the eastern enlightenment path will become a whole lot more direct, and that just might help in the project of steering the western enlightenment bus off of the path to total annihilation.
If that ain’t upaya, than I don’t know what is!
What’s the sound of one mic dropping?
Shinzen’s teachings and practices (at their best) are parsimonious, sober, useful and legitimately transformative.
I have been using Shinzen’s basic conceptual framework and meditation techniques for years and they have profoundly transformed my experience of the world.
I owe Shinzen an enormous debt of gratitude. His work has enhanced my life to an inestimable degree. And his work is the foundation for my work as a therapist. I’d literally be lost without it.
But there is something a little grandiose and fuzzy about parts of this book. Around two thirds in, the material becomes less clear, less germane, less crucial, and more than a little frustrating.
I’m concerned that the dirty notes will alienate a serious, critical reader. And that’s precisely the type of reader the book is (I think) intended to reach.
I love the man, and I love his work, and I love the editor of this book like a brother, in fact he’s my bestie IRL. So it pains me to give it 4 Stars.
But I feel the need to honestly raise these (albeit vague) objections. If for no other reason than as a warning to a would-be reader, not to let some of the kookier sections in this text turn you off of Shinzen.
In the final chapters, Shinzen discusses his vision for the friendly, synergistic merger of the western enlightenment project and eastern enlightenment paths i.e. the utilization of science and technology for assistance in the profound realization of ‘post-personal’ states and traits.
This is where Shinzen’s work shines again. This aspect of his work may become irrelevant soon, or it may read like H. G. Wells in 50-100 years. But I think it’s important and progressive right now. And I believe it will have a lasting impact.
Speaking as a clinician. I desperately want (no need) more precise, more effective techniques, clinically useful vocabulary, tractable conceptual frameworks, and assistive technology for helping people find the pathway out of the darkened woods of suffering better known as the human condition, AKA addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma and what we currently refer to as personality disorders (but what we may someday be refer to as simply the disorder of being a personality).
Shinzen’s work is already completely useful in this regard. In fact, it’s the most useful one of these ever devised. It’s a hugely important dharma firmware update. If you’re a western meditation practitioner, you need this patch!
But getting non Buddhist people (the vast majority of people at present) to understand, value and use these techniques is still a hard translation problem to say the least.
Try explaining and demonstrating the value of abiding in metta, anicca and anatta to a heroin addict in hard withdrawal, or a trauma victim having a panic attack, or a suicidal depressive.
They need it bad, and I do it all the time, but it ain’t easy brah, take my word for it.
If Shinzen has his way, the eastern enlightenment path will become a whole lot more direct, and that just might help in the project of steering the western enlightenment bus off of the path to total annihilation.
If that ain’t upaya, than I don’t know what is!
What’s the sound of one mic dropping?