I've
read about the benefits of meditation. I even halfheartedly tried
doing it. I was always a little leery because of the Buddhist
association and the idea of emptying my mind just did not sit well
with me. I knew I could never sit still for an hour either. I guess I
was a fidgety skeptic.
Harris
clarifies a few misconceptions right away. It doesn't have to include
the Buddhist flavor nor did I have to empty my mind nor did I have to
sit on the floor cross legged nor did I have to meditate for a long
period to see benefits. Harris describes this meditation as focusing
the mind rather than emptying it. There are a variety of mindful meditation
techniques described in the book and many of them are just a few
minutes long. One can increase the time as skills increase. I was
disappointed that Jeff, Harris's meditation guru, did bring up
Buddhist ideas from time to time. Books on Buddhism are listed in the
resources list.
What
I liked most about this book is the variety of meditation techniques
offered. Harris realizes meditation is not a one size fits all. For
an outdoor nature lover like me there are walking meditations. There
are very short meditations one can do while waiting in line at the
grocery store. I can develop a sort of relaxed enjoyment of life at
any place and any time, experiencing mindfulness.
I
also liked the way Harris describes mindfulness. It's being able to
see what is happening in my head at any moment. Rather than being
carried away by anger, I can recognize the emotion and begin to
investigate why it is there and what I can do with it. And that is a
big reward of mindful meditation. I don't have to be held captive by
my intense emotions. I can also become aware of habits that I was
previously unaware of.
What
I didn't like about the book was Harris's folksy story telling way of
presenting the material. I feel like I know him and the people around
him much better than I wanted to. I understand his technique of
introducing readers to meditation practices through the experiences
they had on the bus tour. I just got really tired of it.
I
do recommend this book to people who know there are benefits to being
mindful and meditation but just thought they would never be able to
do it. You'll find good techniques for a variety of ways to meditate.
You'll learn much about Harris too, especially his own struggles with
meditation as a reality check.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Dan
Harris is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the co-anchor of ABC's
Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America.
Jeff
Warren is an award-winning writer, meditation instructor, and founder
of the Consciousness Explorers Club.
Carlye
Adler is an award-winning journalist and co-author of many books.
Spiegel
& Grau, 304 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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