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qalminator's review against another edition
5.0
This is very much from the Buddhist perspective, so bear that in mind, but it also gives the most comprehensive guide to the experience of meditation that I have ever come across. A lot of it is experiential: the sorts of things meditators are likely to experience at various stages of their practice. Rosenberg correlates these to Buddhist thought, with the idea that as people experience these, they are likely to come to the same realizations about them as are given in the Buddhist tradition (and with no expectation that people should accept those ideas without such experiences and realizations, which is refreshing after 'Zeal for Zen').
What I found the most interesting is how many of the 'higher' level experiences I had come across in my taiji practice. Not all, certainly, but enough to make me realize anew how valuable my taiji practice is to me. Taiji is a different meditative path from the one presented here, but seems to get to many (if not all) of the same mental states. I've only recently started a proper 'sitting' meditation, in addition to my taiji practice, through the game Playne (disclaimer: yes, it would be better if I didn't need an external motivator, like a game; no, I'm not there yet; also, it's a very well-constructed game with lovely symbolism), and found it a very valuable addition to my practice. This book gave it a bit of a boost by making me aware of mental habits that were probably unhelpful (keeping track of and counting through the breaths, rather than just breathing, for instance).
At the end, Rosenberg talks about what he calls 'Silence': "Silence in action is the doerless doing that we’ve spoken of before, in which you just wash the dishes, just vacuum the floor. The ego is not present. Typically, whatever we do, we bring an “I” to it, attach to it as me or mine."
I have one kind of experience that seems to fit with this, and his other descriptions, of Silence. It's from taiji push-hands, where your body moves in response to the other player with no conscious thought on your part, and it fits very well with the 'doerless doing' that Rosenberg describes.
Another experience that I first thought to group with 'Silence' may fit better with 'Serenity': "The ancients described rapture as the feeling that a parched man has when he discovers water in the desert. Serenity is the feeling of satisfaction he has after he has drunk the water." There are times when I have a sense of 'homecoming', which seems to have very little to do with my physical abode and very much to do with my mental state. It happens most consistently when I go through the taiji form (especially after a dry period of not doing much taiji), but I remember it happening when I was canoeing at Stanley Lake as well, and it occurred when I was driving up to meet friends for taiji practice after more than a year apart due to COVID (we're all vaccinated now).
Recommended for anyone with a meditation practice, or with an interest in Buddhist thought.
What I found the most interesting is how many of the 'higher' level experiences I had come across in my taiji practice. Not all, certainly, but enough to make me realize anew how valuable my taiji practice is to me. Taiji is a different meditative path from the one presented here, but seems to get to many (if not all) of the same mental states. I've only recently started a proper 'sitting' meditation, in addition to my taiji practice, through the game Playne (disclaimer: yes, it would be better if I didn't need an external motivator, like a game; no, I'm not there yet; also, it's a very well-constructed game with lovely symbolism), and found it a very valuable addition to my practice. This book gave it a bit of a boost by making me aware of mental habits that were probably unhelpful (keeping track of and counting through the breaths, rather than just breathing, for instance).
At the end, Rosenberg talks about what he calls 'Silence': "Silence in action is the doerless doing that we’ve spoken of before, in which you just wash the dishes, just vacuum the floor. The ego is not present. Typically, whatever we do, we bring an “I” to it, attach to it as me or mine."
I have one kind of experience that seems to fit with this, and his other descriptions, of Silence. It's from taiji push-hands, where your body moves in response to the other player with no conscious thought on your part, and it fits very well with the 'doerless doing' that Rosenberg describes.
Another experience that I first thought to group with 'Silence' may fit better with 'Serenity': "The ancients described rapture as the feeling that a parched man has when he discovers water in the desert. Serenity is the feeling of satisfaction he has after he has drunk the water." There are times when I have a sense of 'homecoming', which seems to have very little to do with my physical abode and very much to do with my mental state. It happens most consistently when I go through the taiji form (especially after a dry period of not doing much taiji), but I remember it happening when I was canoeing at Stanley Lake as well, and it occurred when I was driving up to meet friends for taiji practice after more than a year apart due to COVID (we're all vaccinated now).
Recommended for anyone with a meditation practice, or with an interest in Buddhist thought.
tbartelloni's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
cindywho's review
3.0
This is mostly an analysis of the Anapanasati Sutra by a local teacher from the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. It's clear, readable and interesting. He does pepper it a bit with personal stories - I had to laugh at the one about a 3 month meditation retreat in Thailand that culminated in a week without sleeping. It made me think that some people will turn just about anything into an extreme sport. His chapter on daily practice for laypeople was more useful and I did like the book. (April 29, 2007)
surabhi513's review
5.0
The best explanation of Buddhist meditation techniques that I have seen so far. Highly recommended for anapana and Vipassana practitioners.
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