Book Description
In recent years, mainstream Americans have begun to come around to meditation in a big way-and scientific studies are suggesting that the physical and mental benefits are solid and real. But to many, it remains something mystical and inaccessible...and spiritually-oriented tomes on the market don't do much to make it easier.

As interest in meditation continues to grow, this book offers a simple, no-nonsense program to help beginners experience reduced stress and increased focus in only eight minutes a day. Designed by meditation expert and bestselling author Victor Davich, this program teaches the basic principles of meditation while clearing up the misconceptions and myths that too often get in the way.Download Description
"Described by ""Time magazine as the ""most American form of meditation, is a basic primer for anyone who wants to start meditation, but doesn't know where to begin. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Had to write a school term paper
I had to write a school term paper. I chose Meditation.After researching it a bit I changed the paper's subject.I only looked through this book I have not read it.

Limited content
"8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life" left me waiting for something more. It didn't offer anything new. The "follow your breath" technique is outdated and over-used. S. Broes

I finally "get" it
I'd tried a couple of other audio tapes for meditating but was always bored and felt like I had no idea what I was doing.
With Victor Davich's "8 minute meditation" I finally get what meditation is all about. I'm only on the third week but not only do I look forward to my eight minutes every day, I've also been able to see how I can apply it to other areas of my life. I fully recommend this book to anyone wanting to try meditation.

the best ever
i've been meditating since '72 i've heard it all seen it all until now this book by victor davich could not have been written any better he covers meditation from A to Z if you meditate you'll move your head up and down if you have never meditated you'll know more than most so-called meditators i sugges getting both the cd and book spend the money i wasted tons till this came along makes a great gift for a priest or stressed friend enjoy dan farrell

A peaceful easy feeling
I think the fact I've now ordered and sent this book to five other people, including both my 89 year old mother-in-law and 79 year old mother speaks volumes as to my opinion of this book.I do yoga so the idea of pursuing meditation was a natural progression.However, I found this book to be a wonderful way to get started in learning to meditate.Easy to read and easy to do.Only requires 8 minutes a day.What's to stop you?I am in week 7 (of 8 weeks) and I am getting good.I look forward to it and I am looking forward to extending my meditation periods (an option). I meditate with my husband.It is a very calming practice.If you've always wanted to try meditating, start with this book.You'll be hooked. ... Read more

Book Description

These three meditations from the Buddhist tradition will help you develop greater depths of calmness and self-awareness, and will help you to cultivate greater appreciation for yourself and lovingkindness for others.

As is traditional in Buddhism, these guided meditations do not contain musical accompaniment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

Success at last! Two thumbs up and 10 stars!
I have attempted to meditate many times in my life and prior to this CD the only success I've experienced is with live guided meditation.This is the first CD I've used that cuts through my unmedicated ADHD and enables me to truly relax and experience a quiet and energizing interval.
The instructors voice is very soothing and pleasant to listen to.I am easily able to sit successfully through the entire CD, and for quite some time after.I cannot adequately express how tremendously helpful this CD has been on my spiritual journey!!Two thumbs up and 10 stars!

Finally Guided by someone who actually practices.
As a former Buddhist monk (Im a white guy however, so let any images of Kwai Chang Caine go) and a teacher of DBT, ACT and MBSR to clinicians. I Have found that as one meditates more and more and enters into the silence of the mind, one understands the value of silence. This Cd is leading actual traditional practices as taught in shravakayana Budhhism (hinayana to americans) and is led by someone who knows how to teach the practice in a way that helps the person to actually expand awareness and develop impulse control. It has no music in the backround just the voice of the guide interspersed with periods of silence. It follows the general method of annapranna, breath meditation. I highly reccomend this CD to clinicians who are looking for a non new agey guided practice that teaches Buddhist meditation in its original form. The guide is easy to understand and the CD also contains a meta bhavana practice (loving kindness) for clients that need help with self hatred and shame.
One of the best I have sampled so far. I highly reccomend it.

A great introduction to meditation
This is a good balanced introduction to meditation. You are not going to go levitating, doing astral travel, etc. Just sound basic meditation practices.

Guided Meditation for Calmness and Awareness
Very nice. Calming. Both his gentle voice and manner as well as his understanding of the process help you to comfortably move to a new level.
Thanks. PS, after listening to this CD several times I plan to order other works that they also do.

not what I expected
I am a novice meditator, but I really found it hard to relax and let go when this guys voice is wimbling away in my ear.There was just something very unconvincing about this disk.Plus, I have a really difficult time taking a white guy seriously who has named himself Bodhipaksa.Not to make it too personal, but honestly, every time I think about listening to this disk I start to laugh because it was just silly.A much better disk that I found is Wayne Dyer's cd "Meditations for Manifesting". I really enjoy his philosophy and he really gives you a feeling of connecting with something outside of yourself.
... Read more

Amazon.com
"To tell you the truth, you can learn the basics of meditation in five minutes," asserts Stephan Bodian, meditation instructor, psychotherapist, and former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. You can also study meditation for years, exploring its subtleties. Meditation for Dummies is a simple, clear introduction to the basics of meditation, including an overview of dozens of techniques, practices, and specific meditations, plus direction for going deeper. You get step-by-step instructions for a variety of meditations, including body position, mental concentration, where to put your attention, what to contemplate or notice, physical movements, and breathing. A nice touch is the recurring "traditional wisdom": ancient stories or anecdotes that make a point. This book is useful whether you want the nuts and bolts for getting started in the next minute or you want to dip your mind into different practices and philosophies. Nothing is too elementary to explain: "how to sit up straight--and live to tell about it," what to wear, dealing with fear and self-judgment, and what to do when you get "stuck." You also get plenty of information about the benefits and varieties of meditation. You're bound find and develop a practice that feels right for you. --Joan PriceBook Description
The popular guide-over 80,000 copies sold of the first edition-now revised and enhanced with an audio CD of guided meditations

According to Time magazine, over 15 million Americans now practice meditation regularly. It's a great way to reduce stress, increase energy, and enjoy better health. This fun and easy guide has long been a favorite with meditation newcomers. And now it's even better. For this new edition, author Stephan Bodian has added an audio CD with more than 70 minutes of guided meditations that are keyed to topics in the book, from tuning in to one's body, transforming suffering, and replacing negative patterns to grounding oneself, consulting the guru within, and finding a peaceful place. The book also discusses the latest research on the health benefits of meditation, along with new advice on how to get the most out of meditation in today's fast-paced world.

Stephan Bodian (Fairfax, CA and Sedona, AZ) is a licensed psychotherapist and the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. He has written for Fitness, Alternative Medicine, Cooking Light, and Tricycle and is the coauthor of Buddhism For Dummies (0-7645-5359-3).Download Description
According to Time magazine, over 15 million Americans now practice meditation regularly. It's a great way to reduce stress, increase energy, and enjoy better health. This fun and easy guide has long been a favorite with meditation newcomers.Stephan Bodian (Fairfax, CA and Sedona, AZ) is a licensed psychotherapist and the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. He has written for Fitness, Alternative Medicine, Cooking Light, and Tricycle and is the coauthor of Buddhism For Dummies (0-7645-5359-3). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

There are better books
I found this book to be highly superficial, not really develing into the various meditative approaches (which any beginner like me can do).Also, the key points were fragmented within the chapters, making it hard to follow the issue/approach to meditation.

I found Jack Kornfields audio CD "Meditation for Beginners" to be quite excellent and I recomend as a first endeavour into meditation.

Great book
Excellent book for beginners like myself!A good balance of theory and practice.I really liked how the author described different types of meditation techniques.I experimented with all of them and picked the ones that worked for me.I would highly recommend this book!

Awesome Reference Guide for Medititation
I purchased "Meditation for Dummies" several years ago, when I wasn't really sure just what meditation was or what type of meditation might be best for me - and even now, all these years later, I consider it the best meditation book I've purchased to date!

Unlike most of the books on meditation out there today - which tend to focus solely on one type - this one covers a wide range of different ways to meditate, including information concerning how that form of meditation came to be & easy step-by-step instructions on how to do it.

Through the use of icons, this book is structured in such a way that you can easily find information concerning:

1.Brief refreshing meditation exercises
2.Things to remember
3.Philosophical "musings"
4.Tips on how to make your meditations easier & more effective
5.Traditional wisdom - wisdom from groups who've been meditating for
thousands of years

Also, depending on where you are in your meditation practice, you can easily find the chapters that deal with:

1.What meditation is & other general info.
2.How to get started
3.Troubleshooting & fine-tuning your meditation practice
4.How to use meditation throughout the day
5.Answers to the most frequently asked questions

Overall, this book provides you with everything you need to begin &/or expand your meditation practice - and it does so in an easy-to-understand, fun way!I can't recommend it highly enough!

Buy it - a thoughtful, thorough & entertaining resource.
I read a number of other meditation books & listened to tapes before checking this book out of the library. I immediately knew I needed to own this resource. The title belies the insight and value of the content. It is easy to use & is a ready reference book. The author did a marvelous job!

Meditation for Dummies
Very comprehensive.It'll take a "lifetime" to practice but that's life.Thank you!! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Great for beginners!
As someone fairly new to meditation, but having listened to a few other cd's, I found Diana Lang's to be the easiest to relax to and follow along with.The statement on the cover "A Gentle, Guided Approach" is right on.Her voice is very soothing and comforting.I love that there are two separate meditations on the cd - both 15 minutes long - which is the perfect amount of time for me.

Simple and Wonderful...
What a wonderful, feel-good little book this is. Even though it's little in size, it carries a really big message. Just reading it page by page, it's like you come to know Diana. I will be recommending this to others.

Simply Wonderful
I have been listening to the "Opening to Meditation" CD by Diana Lang and it has helped me greatly.Her voice is soft and southing and she has a wonderful way of taking you to a meditative state of mind. I high recommend it.

A remarkable Voice

I have bought other meditation CDs over the years but this one is in a class by itself. It is the combination of an incomparable lovely voice and someone who feels and believes what she is saying.

Like water...
Like water, Diana Lang's "Opening to Meditation" flows effortlesly.Her work is as natural, pure, and simple as the practice itself.

The beautifully-designed cover beckons one to enter the sacred, the sacred within the pages and the sacred within one's self.

This book is a gift of love to us all.

Thank you, Diana.



Sherrie Dunn




... Read more

Amazon.com
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does, both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty.--H. O'BillovichBook Description
A new translation of the philosophical journey that has inspired luminaries from Matthew Arnold to Bill Clinton

Written by an intellectual Roman emperor, the Meditations offer a wide range of spiritual reflections developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and the universe. Marcus Aurelius covers topics as diverse as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods, and his own emotions, spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation.
* Includes an introduction, chronology, explanatory notes, general index, index of quotations, and index of namesDownload Description
A timeless classic of wisdom by a enlightened Roman Emperor who was one of the great minds of history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

Got Any Better Advice?
Book 2, paragraph 7:"Do things from outside break in to distract you? Give yourself a time of quiet to learn some new good thing and cease to wander out of your course. But, when you have done that, be on your guard against a second kind of wandering. For those who are sick to death in life, with no mark on which they direct every impulse or in general every imagination, are triflers, not in words only but also in their deeds."

One long look at the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome - discovered intact in the Tiber 1700 years after his death - shows you a man too wise, too humane, and too busy to found another mystery-cult religion. Thankfully.

Emperors book of wisdom
This book will give you the rare opportunity to read a book of wisdom written by a Roman Emperor. Marcus Aurelius was a well liked emperor you lived from 120 A.D. to 180 A.D. ruling in the late part of his life. The book's theme is to live your life in balance with the universe. Do your duty and fulfill the role the "Gods" put you on earth to do. Let reason be your master always doing what is beneficial to all. Do not sin because you only sin against yourself. Why worry about correcting others behaviors when you have so much uncompleted work to do on yourself. If you enjoy reading Plato, Epictetus, or philosophy in general I know you will enjoy reading this book, it is truly packed with wisdom and will take you back to Roman times and let you see how the wise among them thought before the dark ages and modern religion came on the stage of civilization. Very interesting read.

Many lumps of incense on the same altar, one crumbles now, one later, but it makes no difference.
This translation of the Meditations is by far the best stylistically. Marcus never intended for his journals (which is what the Meditations are) to be published and was writing to himself. Why would someone writing to themselves write in a technical manner reminiscent of a modern philosophical treatise? Why? Because that was the style in which ancient philosophy was translated in the early 20th century.

Marcus scolds those who obsess over rhetoric, grammar, syllogisms and logic crunching within the Meditations and for a very clear reason: he is concerned with a human message, primarily centered around ethics and pursuit of virtue, not any abstract theorizing common to the pretensions of imitation philosophy. It is absurd to assume Marcus would have wrote to himself in such a lofty, holier-than-thou, technical and abstract fashion (see: the "standard" George Long translation). It is more likely that Marcus would have been influenced by the language of Epictetus, and if the Discourses and Enchiridion as relayed by Arrian are any clue, the language of Stoicism at this time was quite accessible to the common reason.

Hays offers a natural translation of the Meditations with immediacy, warmness, humanity and stunning beauty, truly bringing to life the eternal wisdom of the philosopher king. Marcus' words are presented in an almost poetic fashion which inspires the reader to greatness and contemplation in pondering the core themes of transience, goodness and service.

The type of man Marcus was, and the type of virtue he advocated, is sorely missing in today's society. Prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice as character traits seem to be gone from the world and only found in the writings of dead Greeks and Romans. But in reading these texts the virtues are reborn, as is the "Greek lifestyle" of austerity, civic duty and integrity, at least in the mind and heart of the reader.

The Meditations is all about how to endure the stresses of the world while coming out on top of them even stronger than before, and even more excellent. I found Marcus' words to be a godsend in times of hopelessnessand longing as I discovered that the things which caused me grief were only temporary in nature, were outside of my control, or were irrelevant considering the immense scope of the cosmos (time) and our minute proportion of it.

Meditations
In Plato's Republic, Socrates discusses the possibility of a philosopher king; that is, a person who would rule in a way that is just, because their thoughts and desires are outgrowths of their philosophical ideologies.Socrates suggests that this would be the best of all possible rulers - and, of course, the implication is that Plato would be this greatest ruler, because the philosophy a ruler 'should' follow, was Plato's.Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Rome from 161 A.D. until his death in 180 A.D.He was the last of the five great Emperors who ruled Rome during a period which Edward Gibbon, writing his magnificent The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, described as the time when the world was at its happiest and most prosperous.He was not, as far as anyone else knew, a philosopher - he was simply (and sufficiently) a proficient Emperor, an able ruler, a good statesmen.And yet, in those quiet moments of leisure when he was able to take off the mantle of Emperor, Marcus Aurelius composed some of the most important works of Stoic philosophy.A series of meditations, exercises for himself, admonitions to himself, exhortations of how to be a better person.

What is immediately clear about Aurelius' Meditations is that they were written for an intimate audience of one.There is no grandstanding or pompous declarations of power or influence.There are no revelations or secrets or negative comments about current affairs.Whatever Marcus Aurelius' thoughts on the world outside himself, we are left mostly in the dark for this work.Rather, what he has done - or aims to do - is to intimately examine himself, to highlight his flaws and to recognise, but not always praise, his positive qualities.Most importantly, the Meditations are just that - a collection of thoughts, concepts, ideas and moral positions which Aurelius wishes to follow at all times.It is a handbook to himself on how best to live his life.

Two strains of thought which run through almost every page of the Meditations is first, the responsibility of a person's actions, and second, the concept of death.In Book 5, Aurelius writes, 'Another does wrong.What is that to me?Let him see to it: he has his own disposition, his own action.I have now what universal nature wishes me to have now, and I do what my own nature wishes me to do now.'Personal responsibility is an important theme for Aurelius, but more than that, he requires a constant awareness within himself that while he is responsible for his own actions, he is not responsible for the actions of others, and should not let himself be affected by their bad deeds.He writes that if a man smells bad, it does no good to get angry.Rather, what should be done is to calmly inform the person, and then leave the matter in their hands.If they change and improve themselves, you have done your duty.If not, your duty has still been done - the fault remains with the other person.This concept of the self's responsibility for the self is an interesting one when taken into interactions with others.If we are to examine our feelings, does it really make sense for us to become angry at the folly of another?Surely, as Aurelius states, it is best simply to help them as much as we can, and then leave the choice of being angry or upset to them.What have we to be angry for?Nothing, if we live our lives the best way we can.

A second major thought is death.Aurelius reminds himself that death is something that will happen to everyone, and thus should not be feared.'Think of the whole of existence, of which you are the tiniest part; think of the whole of time, in which you have been assigned a brief and fleeting moment; think of destiny - what fraction of that are you?'And again: 'How many who once rose to fame are now consigned to oblivion: and how many who sang their fame are long disappeared.'Marcus Aurelius writes to remind himself that fame, no matter how glorious, begins to fade the moment death takes you away - and sometimes before.He believed death to be either a cessation of thought, which meant it wouldn't matter to you once you were dead, or an alteration of consciousness (ie Heaven), which meant the current consciousness - your current life - would not matter then, either.Thus, the important thing to do with yourself is to be the best and most noble person you can be.'The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.'

It is important to remember that the man who wrote these words was arguably the most powerful man in the world at the time.That he could rule the greatest Empire the world had yet seen, and still write with such modesty and grace, is something truly admirable.He calls for the moral life, the good life, and is constantly chastening himself to live the way he knows is best.As these works were most likely never intended for publication, they can and should be seen as Aurelius stripping himself of all physical and temporal difficulties to concern his mind purely and only with what is truly important.That he was able to explore himself with such honesty, and write with such clarity, is nothing short of astonishing.Each page contains short passages of great wisdom, alongside longer paragraphs of thought that tower above the carefully crafted citadel of morality which concerns most of the work.

The Penguin Classic edition of this work contains one hundred and thirty pages of notes, an index of names and an index of quotations, as well as a general index.These indexes offer the non-specialist reader a wealth of information regarding the scattered quotes and references that populate Aurelius' text.It is the notes section, however, that truly shines.Each of the twelve books of the Meditations are summarised and explained, and then the more difficult concepts and allusions are further detailed.Thus, a curious reader is able to read the explanation, while a scholar or student has, in the same book, detailed references and starting points for further research.Complimentary to that is a fine introduction by Diskin Clay, who gives an overview of Marcus Aurelius' life and times.

The Meditations is very short, at one hundred and twenty-two pages.Each book is roughly ten pages, with most of the writings being only a few lines.What this means is that it is a remarkably easy work to pick up and put down, and coupled with the directness and elegance of his writing, the Meditations becomes a novel that could easily serve as a companion for life.Marcus Aurelius' writing is not directed towards a race or class or gender or temperament, rather, it is directed inwards, at the mind and the soul, two fundamental aspects of humanity we all possess.It is somewhat trite to say that there is 'something for everything' within a work, but in the case of the Meditations, it is true.Read this book and find solace in the work of an elegant mind and a worthy outlook on life.

that's what a classic is for
There are 4 books to the New Testament.I would never even wish to add on to this but a person would have to be equally as greatful to those"Dark Age" monks who translated and preserved alot of the classical works,in this case the Meditations.The Roman spirit of renunciation is well preserved in this translation.Although some of the passages don't seem to make sense(probably because of translation from the original tongue).Too much stress is placed on the Roman military achievement,in fact they conquered more with their philosophy of life.When the mind is persuaded the next step in conquest is more easily achieved.This Roman emperor seems like a guy you could talk sense with over a cup of a good red wine.Matter of fact I think I'll go talk to him now!!and.........one swig i'll dedicate to the Christian monks who preserved his meditations.(maybe two) ... Read more

Book Description
AN ANCHOR BOOKS ORIGINAL

As more and more people in the West pursue yoga in its various forms, whether at traditional centers, in the high-powered atmosphere of sports clubs, or on their own, they begin to realize that far from being just another exercise routine, yoga is a discipline of the body and the mind.

The 365 meditations incluided in this book offer a way to integrate the mindfulness that yoga teaches into everyday life. Whether used in the morning to set the tone for the day, during yoga exercise itself, or at the end of the day, during evening reflection, Meditations from the Matwill support and enhance anyone’s yoga journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Absolutely stunning
A moving and insightful daily meditation book with a clear description of the 8 limb path and insight into the yamas and niyamas. A must for anyone interested in a deeper experience of the true sense of yoga.

Life Changer
Truly changing the way I see myself and my life EVERYDAY.It is superb reading, and not just for those who practice yoga, but for those who want a better, more peaceful, more beautiful existence in this world.Outstanding book!

life on the mat
Phenomenal! Rolf Gates breadth of information and personal experience is impressive. this is an indispensable book for any serious true yogi that wants to learn about his/her own personal psyche. how we do life shows up on the yoga mat and Gates explains this concept and helps us understand how to learn about ourselves and our responses to life.

Not just another yoga book
Meditation From The Mat is a wonderful read and one of those books you will go back to for the rest of your life. Deep insights from the heart that could have only come by moving into the stillnessand returning. Rolf Gates format of breaking down the Eight limbs of yoga over the course of 365 days is totally inspiring and goes straight to the core. Many books explain the Eight fold path of yoga in academic terms but this is the only book that I have come across in which deep personal reflection has been the catylast for profound insights . If you thought yoga was only about postures(asanas) then think again and read this book, then run for your mat!!!

Excellent for Meditation
This is an excellent book for anyone doing yoga.Along with yoga practice, these meditations fulfill the spiritual and growth oriented part of the yoga traditions. ... Read more

Book Description
Join Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein -- two of America's most respected instructors -- for a step-by-step course in Insight Meditation. Learn at home, at your own pace, with this complete curriculum. The course includes:

-A 240-page Insight Meditation workbook: This workbook is designed as a complete self-guided curriculum. Organized into nine lessons, your workbook features more than 75 step-by-step mindfulness exercises, question-and-answer sections, glossaries, and photographs illustrating correct meditation postures.

-Two 70-minute compact discs: Six meditations teach you these cornerstone practices in the Insight tradition.

-Twelve Insight study cards: Reinforce your practice with these daily reminders of the fundamentals of meditation in a convenient, portable form. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

had great expectations and they were all met
A great beginning or addition to anyone interested in Buddhism and/or meditation. Materials are indepth, yet easily understood by anyone starting out in meditation.

Ugh... her tone of voice
I gave the CD several tries just in case it was my mood or mental state but nope, this woman's tone of voice is condescending.There were times that I actually opened my eyes and looked down at which ever body part she was referring to because her tone of voice made me think I was doing it wrong. In order for a guided meditation to be effective for me, the speaker must have a calm, soothing voice and an even tone. This woman would say something like "just let it go" and the vision I would get would be her standing over me trying to pry and yank "it" out of my hands.I want to visualize "it" floating quietly away.Because I didn't care for the CD I merely flipped thru the book.It all comes in a nice box with pockets for the CD and some little study cards.

This got me started
The book and cd's were great.I used this to kick-off my learning about insight meditation.The book is a great introduction, and the cd's helped me to get the feel for meditation.I sometimes hung up a card to remind me to be mindful of particular things during the day.Every now and then I will use a meditation on the cds when I want help focusing on something specific in my meditation.I highly recommend this to someone who is wanting to start meditating.

it helps to stay focused
i have a real problem with paying attention. constant thoughts cloud my brain, either day dreams or things i need to get done or do. but through meditation i'm able to focus and payation to whats going on around me with out the constant thoughts.
the cd helps too. it lets you know when you time is up, and helps keep you focused while your doing it. i'd recremed this for any one who has add
it also helps me feel more relaxed.when i get done meditating i feel completly stress free and i'm in iraq so that tells you something

Outstanding Beginner Guide
This beginner's guide is the most enjoyable I have read.The guided meditations are a big hit with my meditation group and the authors have a clear method of explaining a difficult subject in western terms.The material is nicely packaged, with great thought into the type of binding, CD storage and card storage.Thank you to the authors. ... Read more

Book Description
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is the founder of Transcendental Meditation, and this one-of-a-kind book remains the definitive introduction to its practice.Since it was first published in 1963, the book has sold more than 1.1 million copies in the U.S. alone. In Science of Being and Art of Living, Maharishi unfolds his vision for bringing life to fulfillment through a simple, effortless technique that anyone can easily learn and enjoy. Currently, there are more than six million practitioners worldwide, with TM centers in more than108 countries.

More than 600 scientific studies have shown that Transcendental Meditation technique helps to:

* Expand the mind to its unlimited cosmic potential
* Improve health and reverse the aging process
* Lower high blood pressure and risk of stroke
* Increase intelligence and creativity
* Boost memory and learning ability
* Reduce stress, tension, and anxiety
* Increase energy, vitality, and well-being
* Nourish inner contentment, happiness, fulfillment-the state ofenlightenment.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

The great cost of enlightenment
This book I found to be a difficult read. It says that this form of meditation needs to be taught to you, and it can eventually bring about world peace. Well, it neglects to say that it costs about $2,500 to do so. It also says that you cannot become enlightened unless you do nothing like business or run a household, so it is not for most people. How does the maharishi fit in here, being a man of business, if I am not mistaken?

This is confusing. You already need a lot of excess cash to learn TM; where does this money go? If they think TM is the cure to the world's ills, then why not make it more accessible, ie. make it affordable to the masses? I would think David Lynch has the right idea; his foundation is making it available to school children. Perhaps these children will one day decide that no one owns TM and it should be taught to anyone wo wants it for free.

Success Hunter ?, BUY IT AND READ IT NOW !
MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI Who I wish ALL POSITIVE AND WEALTH, HEALTH AND WHAT EVER GOOD THINGS YOU THING that it EXISTS for HIM, HE easily gave the world the real technique of how to reach what ever you want, You want my opinion; "IT IS WORTH TO INVEST BUY it and give it to all the ones you LOVE! "

TM's Price Debunked and More
For those curious about why TM is so "expensive":

Basically what happened was, in the 60's and 70's TM used be very reasonably priced ($50-150), and because of this many people used it and began to abuse it. Maharishi's response to this was to raise the price to filter out all those who didn't truly appreciate it. Unfortunately, Maharishi is thoroughly anti-capitalist and has a seemingly distorted view of western wealth (i.e. thinks everyone is rich), hence the hefty $2500 price tag on the technique in the west (it's dirt cheap in poorer countries). But, if you think of TM instruction as an educational course (it is), then $2,500 isn't that much to pay for a 3-day course and lifelong support checkups for the technique (colleges charge $40,000 a year now right?).

As for those who accuse Maharishi's technique of being a profiteering scam hear two things. First, even with the high price tags of its technique, the TM movement barely has enough money to maintain its own centers. Second, the organization's belief in the peace-creating impact of large group TM practice (as supported by studies in DC, Moscow, and Beirut) is so strong that they are currently offering free instruction in advanced TM techniques to those willing to meditate in these groups, and are even paying (yes paying$$) advanced meditators to participate in these groups. Would a group that promotes a "marketing scam" do that?

If I asked you if you'd pay $2500 to lower daily stress, your chance of heart disease, depression, and mental illness, increase your brain power, and likely lengthen your lifespan (many TM'ers look a good 15 years younger than they are) you'd probably throw down the cash in a heartbeat. But when it requires doing some "weird" technique that's claims thouroughly challenge the mainstream western societal paradigm, you naturally clutch your wallet and walk away. Well consider freeing yourself of that paradigm.

Read this book, but keep in mind that you don't have to subscribe to the more esoteric hindu-esque ideas to benefit from TM.

The botton line is that TM is a flexible technique that can benefit anyone from a conservative christian diabetic who wants to reduce his blood-sugar to a neospiritual hippie who wants to become an enlightened yogic master.

Try it, it can't hurt.

- 9-year practitioner who's thankful for every day of it.

(Also, for those curious about my subjective observation of TM'ers looking very youthful I can share one experience I had when I went to get my practice checked at a TM center. The center was run by a bright young couple. Thewife was a beautiful girl who looked about 21 or 22, the husband looked early to mid thirties. I later found out that the woman was 33 and the husband was over fifty. That experience alone was enough to affirm my confindece in TM.)

It's about the simplest thing in the world ...
This is a wonderful book.I read it when I was 19 years old in the late 1970s because I was interested in spiritual ideas that would lead to a wider view of life, the world, the universe, etc.It certainly did that quite well.If all one wants to know is how to meditate transcendentally, just read the chapter titled "How to Contact Being"; it's really about the easiest thing a person can "learn" how to do.I use quotation marks around learn because most all people meditate in this way all the time; they just don't realize it, or do it systematically.

How do I know?When I was 21 my dear old mother paid $150 for me to take the transcendental meditation course. (She was a physician at a student health center and had seen her patients become healthier as they reduced their anxieties by meditating.Was the benefit psychosomatic, I asked her?Of course, she answered, the health benefits of anxiety/stress reduction are ALL psychosomatic but nonetheless real.)When I first "learned" I worried that "nothing was happening", so I asked my TM instructor.He basically answered that as long as my experience was consistent with the description of meditation in the book's chapter titled "How to Contact Being", then exactly what was supposed to be happening was indeed happening.In fact, as I continued to meditate over the next several days/months/years I became aware that what was happening during meditation was *exactly* as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi describes in the chapter.

As I recall Maharishi Mahesh Yogi points out in the book that meditation is completely natural in the sense people already know, subconsciously, how to do it and do it all the time without knowing it.About 10 years ago I tested this by teaching a friend of mine TM.The teaching consisted of explaining the ideas in the first 50-or-so pages of the book to him, then guiding him in the choice of a neutral mantra.He then practiced TM for several weeks and we had a few discussions where I confirmed his experiences were essentially the exactly the same as those I experienced in TM over about 15 years.

So ... the book provides an excellent explanation of what TM is, and why it's beneficial and important to us and society.

what is the good book on meditation
i logged on to the site of this maharishi and and in just a few clicks i got to a point where i cannot go beyond if i couldnot spend few hundred bucks. i am in to meditation and its philosophy from my school and i am an indian.(so i know pretty much more about all meditation & hindu philosophy stuff than foreigners and its difficult to foolme) and i have never come acrossa so called teacher who asks for money to sell his so called secret.

the problem with the meditation is no one will take you in the arms and carry you. you have to walk on your own feet allalone. mark my words" anyone saying "give me some bucks and i will take you there" is only fooling you. money is necessary isfor oranizations to spread knowledge. but one can always tell the difference between asking money for survival (in the form of donation and which usually small) or make money(2,500$).

meditation(zen, indian, buddhist) is a subjective science. it has survived from centuries even with out all those statistics these people give.

if you are insearch of a comprehensive book abouthindu philosophy and meditation, read "Raja Yoga" by swami vivekananda.

he is the authority on meditation. his life says so. and this book is a beautiful explanation of the yoga sutras of "Patanjali"
the original ancient indian saint, who brought into existance the comprehensive system of yoga.(yoga here is not practising different postures. yoga literally means 'science to know oneself' meditation is but one step in it)( the popular meaning of yoga- which is practising different postures- is actually called 'hathayoga'; B.K.S.Iyengar is the authority here) no one can be a greater authority than sage patanjali in this area. the book has original sanskrit text, with beautiful explanation by a competent author in the form of swami vivekananda. it is the purest knowledge from ancient india. dont expect to understand every thing in the book in a few moments or days. many things seem irrelavant, but as you go further and every thing unfolds you can see the beauty. the bud blooms by itself when the time comes. you cannot hasten it. ... Read more

Book Description
Have you ever thought about trying meditation, but didn't know where to start? With Meditation for Beginners, trusted teacher Jack Kornfield shows you how simple it is to start--and stick with--a daily meditation practice. Now, this indispensable guide that has sold more than 100,000 copies in previous formats, is available in paperback for the first time. "Insight" or vipassana meditation is the time-honored skill of moment-to-moment mindfulness which results in greater clarity and "effortless flow" in any situation. In this complete course created especially for beginners, renowned teacher Jack Kornfield offers a straightforward, step-by-step method for bringing the fruits of insight meditation into your life. Using the six guided meditations on the included CD, readers will discover how easy it is to use the breath, physical sensations--and even difficult emotions--to create tranquility and lovingkindness in everyday life. These simple, elegant practices are so easy to learn that readers will begin enjoying the benefits of meditation immediately--while laying the foundation for a lifetime of inner discovery and awakening. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

I Finally Learned to Meditate..in 5 Minutes!
I've been trying to meditate for about 20 years and found i could stay focused for about 30 seconds max. Jack's kind and soothing voice and words made it happen almost instantly..a miracle!

"Sleep is wonderful . . . but it's different than meditation."
MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS is a very helpful CD/book combination package. The book is slender and a bit poetical, more a staging item for the CD than anything else.

The CD features Jack Kornfeld guiding the novice meditator through a series of four meditations with breathing exercises. Not surprisingly, the majority of this disc consists of silence. The beginner will find Kornfeld's gentle reminders to "watch your breath" or "let go of that thought" very helpful, though the more experienced meditator will be able to largely disregard the occasional commentary.

This CD makes an excellent introductory presentation of the practice of Vipassana Meditation or Zazen; what is particularly helpful, especially for the practitioner sitting at home or meditating alone, is the discretely timed sittings, each ending with a chime (inkin). Thus the meditator can relax and worry not at all about the passage of time.

This is largely a pragmatic user's guide; the disc lacks any discussion of "theory" or any references to the various schools and forms of meditative practice. In sum, it's the Sounds of Silence.

Meditation for Beginners
This is a fabulous CD set, with life changing value.Anyone remotely interested in meditation or personal reflection will truly benefit from the teachings of Jack Kornfield.

Meditation for Beginners
This is a very easy way to get started with meditation. Jack Kornfield is one of the most informative instructors for meditation.

Meditation for Beginners
As someone who only recently began seriously trying to meditate, I found this CD helpful. It explained how to quiet and focus the mind in preparation for the meditative state. ... Read more

Book Description
Perhaps no other person has done more to bring mindfulness meditation into the contemporary landscape of America than Jon Kabat-Zinn. Th rough a number of research studies, and through Kabat-Zinn's pioneering work at the University of Massachusetts Medical School where he is founder of its world-renowned Stress Reduction Clinic, mindfulness is finally being recognized as a highly effective tool for dealing with stress, chronic pain, and other illnesses. Today, with a four-part home training course, Jon Kabat-Zinn offers listeners the definitive mindfulness meditation practice on CD. "We are not trying to actively achieve a state of deep relaxation—or any other state for that matter—while practicing mindfulness," he teaches. "But interestingly, by opening to an awareness of how things actually are in the present moment, we often taste very deep states of relaxation and well-being—of both body and mind." Join the bestselling author of Coming to Our Senses (Hyperion, 2005) and Wherever You Go, There You Are (Hyperion 1995) to develop and deepen your personal mindfulness practice, and to taste the universal aspects of stillness, clarity, wisdom, compassion, and well-being that Guided Mindfulness Meditation offers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

great guide
If you read "Full Catastrophe Living" as I did, and found it difficult to putinto practice the mindfulness meditations described, these CD's will be a great help. They have been for me, especially with the body scan.
I actually found it easier to follow without a musical background, as I find myself extremely distracted and annoyed when in an environment where I do not really like the background music.On the other hand, Kabat-Zinn's voice was actually soothing and relaxing to me.
As for the 'buddhist' comments: I'm sure the Buddha would not have a problem with this bookor the related CD's. I'll bet he would welcome anything that helps one to increased mindfullness. I also believe the teachings of Jesus admonish us to be and act mindfully, and this book and CD set have turned out to be a great help in my own personal spiritual growth.

How do I order a copyfor my son?
I am trying to place a reorder to be shipped to my son as I feel that he would like/benefit from it and I cannot find it again on Amazon.HELP!

Does Zinn have a myspace page?
The purpose of meditation is to let go, not to listen to music.Accept everything, let your thoughts and feelings escape as quickly as they enter.There is no enjoyment in meditation, per se.Ultimately, you will not be disturbed, when you have mastered meditation, you will have learned to accept all things as they come in whatever form they arrive, and in a state of relaxation and "mindfulness" let them pass just as easy.We all fight daily with noises and feelings and pains and distractions. For 10,15,45, or 60 minutes you will have made a conscious choice to accept that your spirit is your soul and there is nothing but peace and harmony here and there.The enjoyment will be an effect of peace within, but is actually another distraction.Jon Kabat-Zinn rocks!But sometimes it's difficult to convey what one feels and knows to another in writing, or even in speaking for that matter.Sometimes It is the listener who has the difficulties.This and Jon's book may not have communicated messages well, but there is truth to be found for all searchers.

Good for revitalizing your practice but you might need to buy the book too.
I was almost put off buying this set by some negative reviews here, but I enjoy his books very much and find JK-Z's approach to mindfulness interesting and imaginative so, after much research, I bought this set. (FWIW, I think his voice is great. If you do a search for the author you can hear free audio clips on many sites.)

I've done some meditation before and was looking for guided meditations because I felt my practice had gone a bit stale. This set has helped me to achieve what I wanted - to refresh my commitment to making meditation a regular part of my life.

So far I've only worked through the Body Scan CD - this is very relaxing, almost too relaxing as I often fall asleep (totally cheating). I'm pleased with the first CD, but there are two points worth mentioning:

1. At 45 mins, these guided meditations are looong, and JK-Z recommends that you do these meditations every day.

2. I wish I'd known that this set on its own is not a full program. The set is described as a 'complete mindfulness program' but when you buy the set and read the liner notes, it says the yoga postures are outlined in his book Full Catastrophe Living. There are no diagrams in the CD liner so you've no idea what the poses are supposed to look like and have to rely entirely on the audio. I've listened to the yoga CD to see if it sounds feasible but haven't 'done' it yet.

I've heard good things about Full Catastrophe Living and, sure, I'd love to read it sometime. However I think omitting the posture illustrations from the notes and just referring you to another book is a bit... off. It was probably a commercial decision taken by the publisher rather than the author, and to be fair, he does describe the poses without referring you to page 72, etc. But I think it should be clearer that the CD was designed to be used in conjunction with the book so you have that information when you buy. Either that or include the illustrations as a courtesy to people who only buy the CD set.

Not What I Expected
I know that Jon Kabat-Zinn has a tremendous amount of knowledge to share however it did not come through for me in this CD collection.The pacing of the movement sequences is very slow and the voice quality is somewhat distracting.Based on the title of the CD's I was under the impression that there would be more information about meditation techniques, however the majority of the information presented is a very gentle guided yoga practice.Somewhat disappointing. ... Read more

Book Description
Morning and evening meditations to literally create your heart's desire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (99)

Things I Wish I'd Known Beforehand....
I have been using this CD for about 2 weeks now, mostly in the car on the way to work and on the way to pick up my kids from school. For the most part I enjoy the "Ah" meditations. Although Dr. Dyer's tonality is off at times, and that can be distracting, I enjoy the gentle reminders and directions. But I do have some problems with some of the affirmations that I find rather negative (ie: "My judgments prevent me from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances"). To make the most of the cd I no longer listen to the affirmations, instead I rewind back to the guided meditation and focus on my own affirmations for the day.

I was finally able to listen to the evening "Om" meditation and was very disappointed. The Om sound is fine, but the meditation itself disturbed me. It is very "God-oriented" and directs one to "find God within yourself" and really learn how to love God. As Dr. Dyer continues through the Om meditation he diverges from thankfulness and gratitude affirmations and begins to intersperse quotes from Meher Baba on the 12 ways of realizing God - Longing("have the same longing and thirst for union with God as one who has been laying for days in the hot sun of the Sahara experiences the longing for water, then you will realize God."), Peace of Mind, Humility, Desperation ("if you experience the desperation that causes a man to commit suicide and you feel that you cannot live without seeing God, then you will see God"), Faith, Fidelity, Control Through Love, Selfless Service, Renunciation ("if you renounce for God everything physical, mental and spiritual then you have God"), Obedience, Surrender, Love ("if you have that love for me which St. Francis had for Jesus then not only will you realize God, but you will please God"). Then he finishes off with Shaloms.

I wish that a transcript of the CD had been provided or that more detailed information had been included in the "book description" as the evening meditation is definitely not about manifesting or even gratitude, but rather Meher Baba's religious philosophy. Dr. Dyer also states that this is not the way that he does this meditation every day, but then does not go on to explain how he does do it and we're left to wonder what the difference is.

rewind
this is a must but you must keep it up,great cd it is perfect partner to [the calling of your true self] on amazon uk both these will change the way you look at your life brillant stuff
medation is the way forward just try this and read the book

Disappointed
One of the main tenets of meditation is to become quite within and concentrate on the inner being. Quite the conscious mind and connect with one's inner being. Dr. Dyer on this CD attempts to rewrite 5,000 years of meditation practices. Dr. Dyer is the only person that I am aware of that suggests that chanting is a form of meditation - I wonder what Gandhi would think? I am greatly disappointed with this CD and if I had known what was on it I would never have purchased it.

AWFUL
If I had known this CD was of middle eastern humming and chanting, I would
never have bought it.

Weird
I didn't like this one bit. The meditations are just too weird. He uses the sounds ohm and ahh. It's hard to get into and a bit uncomfortable. Since he leads the meditation, it was too personal and I kept feeling like I was spying on him in his bedroom. He has other much better CDs. ... Read more

Product Description
The Secret Universal Mind Meditation imparts the sacred truth spiritual masters have taught for centuries. This truth is real and powerful. It starts by changing your belief system, slowly, subtly and gently while you sleep. As you are lulled into blissful slumber, secret messages are whispered into your ears--first audibly, and then just below the level of consciousness.

Over days and weeks to come, your conscious and your subconscious mind will accept the secret as true. Without knowing how or why, everything you need and desire will come to you through communing with the Universal Mind.

With this program you will overcome limiting, outmoded beliefs that have hindered your ability to create the life you've always wanted. While theta and delta waves gently lull you to sleep, your mind is re-programed with new knowledge and beliefs that unleash your power to create a new reality; a reality that fulfills your deepest needs and desires.

Through nightly listening, your subconscious will accept the information it receives as true. When this happens, what you need and desire comes to you. And there is nothing you need to do except relax and listen. If you fall asleep while listening, that's even better; the messages are still absorbed into your subconscious. The results are profound. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

6 week p
Excellent style and content plus delivery.Highly recommend use of this product.Follow the regular usage.

Any trouble sleeping?
I bought this CD because I liked "The Secret" DVD I wasn't sure what this one was but I love it.I have always had trouble falling asleep and I'm usually out before the end of this cd. I am dealing with Cancer and thought I could use some positive thoughts before sleep and it seems this does the job. I haven't seen any miracles YET but for me just being able to sleep is a miracle. The voice on the cd is smoothing and the music feels just right.
I have tried to listen to other cd's for meditation but the voices for some reason made me feel uncomfortable. I'm going to check to see if Kelly Howell has any meditation that you should stay awake to.

so far so good
I bought this cd at a book store. After reading a lot of cd jackets this one seemed to strike a cord.
Her voice is nice and doesn't turn you off with to much over pronouncing on some words if you know what Imean.
I've been listening to her cd for awhile and I still like it .
I don't like the ending where she says you are God.
I would rather she said one with God.
I am looking forward to getting The Secret Universal Mind Meditation II

Kelly Powell Meditation CD
I love this CD!!! Kelly's voice is very soothing. And the price was fantastic as usual!

Splendid Somnolence
I have never availed myself of this type of product, so I don't know how it stacks up against similar offerings.A friend of mine received a million dollars from John Beresford Tipton after listening to this CD.I borrowed it for a six-week trial.

When I first listened, I was a little creeped out by a woman's voice intoning "woooOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooo."After that, the program consists of Kelly Howell whispering and cooing sensuously in your ear.Sometimes you can hear three Kellys at once dropping sweet morsels of ultra-positive thought into your psyche.The soothing sound track consists of whooshing sounds like a distant sirocco or waves ebbing from the shore.There are dreamy new age musical tones.For me, the overall effect is highly relaxing, even when I climb into bed with my mind racing. It seems to help me wake up in a better mood.

Kelly's sultry voice is likely to please male listeners.She should issue a program to alleviate erectile dysfuntion. Why not?Check out the scary side effects of ED medications.Kelly has a program for myriad conditions that might improve with positive thinking, so an ED CD makes sense.

There are issues with this program, however.Amazon participants have reported the following:

--The Secret Universal Mind Meditation was not produced by, nor is it connected with Rhonda Byrne, bestselling author of "The Secret." A couple of Amazon participants have accordingly blasted The Secret UMM because of this.

Yes, it was probably created to capitalize on the commercialsuccess ofThe Secret. The wrapper of my CD emphasizes THE SECRET in large type.Kelly might have taken some heat over that because the current cover (shown on Amazon) has The Secret in a tiny font, with universal mind MEDITATION emphasized.

At the start of The Secret UMM, however, Kelly credits U. S. Andersen for the content.Andersen put out a book called The Secret of Secrets in 1958, so does Rhonda Byrne deserve a drubbing too?

--There are potentially disturbing biblical implications.Participants have objected to the CD's references to God.If you are sensitive about how people think about God or talk about God in ways that differ from your concepts, I suggest not buying this program.It will make you drop to the floor and flail your legs wildly, causing you to spin like a dervish as you go "chuffachuffachuffa" like Curly Howard.

--Subliminal messages may be embedded.Upon a signal generated from the Ashland, Oregon, headquarters of Brain Sync, the organization that produces The Secret UMM, users of Kelly's programs will be induced to...who knows?Buy Kelly's new ED CD?Vote for Ron Paul?

--A transcript of the program is not included with the CD.A transcript might put to rest fears that the program feeds you messages that will undermine your mental or spiritual integrity.My CD didn't include a transcript.Since I always fall asleep in about 5 minutes, I have no idea whether my precious bodily fluids are still pure.If Kelly is really up to no good, she could just print a false transcript.

If you can put these issues aside, you will probably be satisfied with the product if only as an enjoyable sleep aid that doesn't leave you groggy or turn you into a marauding night creeper.Who knows, maybe Michael Anthony will come knocking at your door. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Long-term meditators experience 80 percent less heart disease and 50 percent less cancer than nonmediators, according to a large body of studies. Meditation has been shown to improve sleep and reduce chronic pain. Not all meditation is equally effective, however. Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., has developed a form of advanced meditation he calls "Medical Meditation," which "more fully addresses every element of our physical and ethereal makeup... a full-service approach." Medical Meditation is an adaptation of kundalini yoga combined with meditation, using specific breathing patterns, posture and movements, mantras, and mental focus.

Different Medical Meditation focus on different physiological benefits for specific conditions, so once you've learned the basics, you can choose a specific Medical Meditation for high blood pressure, to improve digestion, or to strengthen the immune system or the heart, for example. Line drawings illustrate the postures, and Khalsa's stories about his patients are inspiring and involving.

Meditation as Medicine is not a brisk read or a "read-today-do-tomorrow" guide, however. Be prepared to immerse your mind in a study of chakras, mantras, breathing exercises, movement exercises, poses, and meditations--and discipline yourself to practice Khalsa's techniques patiently. Are the benefits worth all the work involved? Khalsa thinks so: "For the ill and injured, Medical Meditation is not a problem. It's a solution."

Khalsa is both a physician and a yogi. He is board certified in anesthesiology, pain management, and antiaging medicine, and president and medical director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Foundation. Cowriter Cameron Stauth, author of 12 books, was named Journalist of the Year by the National Health Foundation. --Joan Price Book Description
Proven effective by scientific research and presented here by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth, the practice of Medical Meditation revolutionizes the healing process. By balancing and regenerating the body's ethereal and physical energies through simple meditations, Medical Meditation unites the mind, body, and spirit into a powerful triad.

Each Medical Meditation here has a specific physiological effect, targeting afflictions from arthritis to ulcers to cancer. Dr. Khalsa details the five unique attributes that endow this type of meditation with far more power than standard meditation. The combination of special postures and movements; exact positioning of the hands and fingers; particular mantras; specific breathing patterns; and a unique focus of concentration can change your entire biochemical profile, easing you into a calm, healing state. Practiced in conjunction with conventional or alternative medical treatments, cutting-edge Medical Meditation activates the healing force within you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Beware the lack of science....
I noticed a review that noted the lack of references to specific scientific studies in this text.Its definitely good to remind folks to be careful of any information someone is presenting, especially since so many of us are desperately seeking more effective approaches with regard to health.I would venture to say the "science" of today is a significant part of the reason the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth is ranked 36th in wellness in the world.With those numbers it certainly begs the question as to what science we would want to compare the info in the book. Much of the US today is still operating off 17th century science, rather than more recent advances in quantum physics, etc..

There is a reason meditation in its many forms has been around for so long - it works.Its also free, and readily available to anyone.2500 years of study by millions of people has proven that.

Good reading.

Effective healing program for deep injuries
Reading this book straight through, the book is interesting. But when one begins to practice the recommended meditations regularly, one begins to feel the benefits first hand. This is ancient yoga methods for a contemporary audience, with some info on scientific studies that support the theories of yoga. Keep inmind, this book is not merely meditation, but also includes stretches, prayers, and various yoga poses and breathing exercises. About half of the book is narrating "miracle" healing stories that the author has been a part of. This portion of the book is to build the faith of the readerm because to heal one must believe in the power of the body to heal itself. This book goes well with the author's other book, Food as Medicine. It is also realistic. Meditation can help healing, but only put out as much as the practitioner puts in.

Well worth the effort
I first read this book about five years ago and found it a bit overwhelming - this time around I read it with a sense of anticipatory excitement. I didn't know whether to read it all the way through, first, and then try some of the techniques, or try them as I went.
There are some great reviews written about this book already. All I would like to add is this:I have made the effort to learn several of the techniques, and THEY WORK!
I personally do not have an illness, aside from rather intense mood swings that leave me with feelings of panic and anxiety.The exercises for the fourth chakra (heart) have brought a much greater calm to my life. I would warn people to avoid doing some of the exercises designed to increase energy at night. I made this mistake and was unable to get to sleep!It is best, like the author says, to do them as soon after you awaken as possible.I would also like to note that these exercises do require EFFORT!After some of them, I feel like I have done a hard physical work-out.If you have a yoga or meditation background already, you will be somewhat prepared. You will also have to take some time to really master these exercises. On the plus side, many of them take only 3-11 minutes to perform, so you have much gain for a little pain!!!What I chose to do was learn the ones that looked the easiest first.Experiencing the clear head, peaceful calm, yet alert energy has given me the encouragement to keep trying the other techniques.Some of the techniques I found made be positively euphoric.There is a reason why Yogis always have a smile on their faces!I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to put effort into their own well-being, who likes the idea of "natural high" as opposed to drug-induced mood-altering.Peace, alertness, energy and no ugly side-effects.
I've no doubt that those who use these techniques for serious medical problems will experience at least some relief if not eventual cure.I've no doubt that if I continue to practice these techniques I might prevent some future illness in my own self.

Meditation as Medicine, a Prescription we can all Afford
If you are searching for inner peace, in the process of healing yourself, or healing others, Meditation as Medicine is an essential reference. Dr. Khalsa gives practical, step-by-step instructions on how to understand and heal your physical and ethereal bodies by combining techniques from yoga, meditation, and chanting. He presents numerous scientific studies plus his own experiences and those of his patients. He explains how the chakras, nadis, endocrine systems, and brain interconnect the body, mind and spirit.

Dr. Khalsa reveals many gems as he explains how our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies are miraculously intertwined. "Breath is the kiss of God," he writes,"With the proper breath, posture, movement, and mental focus, we can heal ourselves." He proposes that "The chanting of mantras endows us with a single-mindedness that is needed for a life of passion, commitment, and peace and heightens the proper replication of DNA."

Even if you only follow a few of his recommendations, you will be convinced that his approach is valid.

The techniques synchronize with each other to reinforce the magnificence of our creation. "The sixth chakra is the path of the soul," Khalsa reflects. If you are ready to explore the path of your soul, then try some of the exercises. Experiment with the mantras and notice how sound affects your energy. Take time to meditate and discover a renewed sense of vitality. Incorporate these techniques into your morning or evening routines and witness the miracle of the healing within.

Meditation yes, but not medical science
This is an excellent book about Kundalini Yoga techniques and the chakra system.There are many great exercises.But there are no endnotes, footnotes or references to any scientific studies.The author has a medical degree but none of the techniques in here have been tested in scientific studies.That doesn't mean that they don't work medically.But the title of the book and the "M.D.," after the author's name implies that there is something scientific going on here.There is not. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Golden Pool of Abundance Guided Meditation" is a powerful guided visualization meditation which helps you to tap into and use the infinite Source of energy, Abundance. It's essential that you focus on what you want to increase or enhance, rather than what you do not want. Since this meditation ends quietly, it's appropriate for sleep. It can also be used in the middle of the day, helping you to be invigorated and replenished.
Disc 1 Jeanie's voice with Breath of Time II by Charles Vald & Soothing Waters by Partners in Rhyme 38 min. 49 sec.
Disc 2 Jeanie's voice alone 37 min. 13 sec. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Cheesy but helpful
This was a tad cheesy and you get 2 cd's, both with the same words but one has music behind it.I was hoping for $20 to have two different types of cd's.But, highly effective and great message.

Open The Door to Abundance
I'm new to meditation and have always been intrigued by the positive benefits others have shared with me. I experienced meditation for the first time when I was introduced to Jeanie Marshall's, The Golden Pool of Abundance.

Jeanie's calming voice and the soothing sound of water and bells will relax your mind and body.She guides you to find stillness in your thoughts and focus on what you desire in your life.

After listening to "The Golden Pool of Abundance" numerous times, I'm pleased to say that I've found an excellent resource to help me find peace and open the door to abundance thinking.

Leslie Freude
Santa Clarita, CA

Soothing
Listening to Jeanie Marshall's "The Golden Pool of Abundance" has become a wonderfully calming routine for me.Her soothing voice and ease of visualization helps to regain focus and gather the tools necessary to make my ideas a reality.
I look forward to the next opportunity I have to sit down and gather my thoughts and energy to develop a better me.

The Golden Pool of Abundance - Awesome!
"The Golden Pool of Abundance" Guided Meditation Visualization CD has to be the best meditation CD I have ever used in my meditation study. The bells and water in the music immediately captivated my mind. The voice of Ms. Marshall is so calming and reassuring that I find myself following her voice into a journey of abundance. I love the awesome feeling I have when Ms. Marshall brings me back to reality.

This is the best CD to help you start or deepen your meditation journey. You will not be disappointed with this CD.

Meditation With Results.
Jeanie Marshall's, The Golden Pool of Abundance, has given me a new perspective in meditating. I have been a student of meditation for many years, but found myself wanting and needing more from the journey.

The Golden Pool of Abundance warms my heart, settles my mind, and stirs my soul. Jeanie Marshall has a voice that captures and holds my attention.
Leads me in the direction that I wish to go, a place of total relaxation and rejuvenation .

The Golden Pool of Abundance is akin to a great Love song, you just can't get enough of hearing it!

I highly recommend The Golden Pool of Abundance.

Thank you Jeanie, I am grateful for your work.
The Golden Pool Of Abundance Guided Meditation


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Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Wonderful inspirational cd set!
This two cd set is wonderful!I use it almost every day.There are meditations for all your every day scenarios.The key to living a happy loving life is to let go of the all the negative things we tend to hang on to in our lives.This set helps you to be able to let go of those things you do not need any more.I would highly recommend this set for any one.

Recommend
I like this. I used to listen to her original morning and evening meditations. She has expanded that idea to include some other meditations as well with topics such as Forgiveness, Health, Work and Finances. I enjoy it quite a bit. If you like Marianne Williamson and her "little ball of golden light" meditations, you will like this.

Prayer made easy
I use these meditations every day.One of the easiest meditation tapes to use.It is more of a prayer than a guided meditation.Wonderful! Soothing.

Miraculous as Always
Marianne Williamson never fails to uncover the truth and convey its message to her audiences.These meditations are designed to help deal with the everyday perils of life, that if we are unaware, can keep us bound in fear and pain.A must have for those who are trying to experience the freedom of Heaven on earth.

Mediocre. Should not be titled "Meditation"
Her famous book, Return to LOve is good, but this
CD was a very poor investment.Seemed shallow and her voice
does not lend itself to meditative mood.No comparison to
real professionalism of Pema CHodron. I am putting this CD back on sale on
"used" market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Had to write a school term paper
I had to write a school term paper.I chose Mediation. After researching it a bit, I changed the paper's subject.I only looked through this book I have not read it.

The best introduction to modern philosophy in a reliable and cheap edition!
Descartes' meditations really is the place to start for thinking through the philosophical obsessions of the modern era -- the value of skepticism, the nature and extent of knowledge, the relation between mind and body, the role of theology in a rational account of the universe, subjectivity vs. objectivity, the primacy of the subject, freedom, etc.

This is a book that can be read for these themes even by those who are encountering it for the first time without guidance.At the same time this is a book that rewards reading and rereading, not only in the sense that you should read it more than once but that you should come back to it again and again after you have read the other classical works of philosophy that both preceeded it and that it paved the way for.After a serious study of Kant, for example, you may find that you can come back to Descartes and see that much of the work of Kant's critical project was already prepared for in this little treatise.That is not to say that Kant is not original, but that part of Kant's genius is in thinking through and making explicit the scope of the philosophical landscape that was first mapped out in the Meditations.

Classic of Modern Western Philosophy
Rene Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy is arguably the starting point for much of modern western philosophy.This short work comprises approximately 60 pages.Potential buyers should note that it does not include the "Objections and Replies" portion that is available in some other editions.

Although there are many important and helpful philosophical works, Meditations is probably one of the few must read for students of philosophy.Cress' translation does a commendable job of allowing readers to interact with this significant historic text.In Meditations Descartes touches on many key philosophical questions, the role of scepticism, the existence of God and mind-body dualism.This short 17th Century text is by no means an exhaustive examination of these issues - its value is largely the historical context it provides.Its arguements have, however, held up remarkably well over time.

Overall a true classic - I highly recommend it.This short book is a handy reference and good value.Some readers, however, may wish to consider purchasing Meditations as part of a broader collection.

The Father of Modern Rationalism Errs in Fundamental Ways
Rene Descartes, a great mathematician, surely a creative genius in the field, used his prodigious intellect to answer some of the great questions like how do we know, what can we know, what is the difference between thinking and sensing, and many other questions following from these basic ones.However, in doing so, he painted himself and generations of philosophers into a philosophical corner from which he and others have been trying to extricate themselves for hundreds of years.This philosophical cul-de-sac, this "corner," is known as Dualism.

Using the "method of doubt," Descartes concluded that there were two worlds, the world of mind and the world of the senses.The world of senses could be deceived, nay, easily deceived, whereas the world of mind could not be deceived because it was based on indubitable truths and understandings.These truths and understandings are indubitable because they are "clear and distinct" such as the fact that "I think."The thought "I think" is clear and distinct because it cannot be doubted as such.Whether I am deceived or not about what I perceive or think, there is always an "I" thinking.So even when in error there is an I...thinking.

For Descartes, other ideas are clear and distinct in our minds because God puts them there.For example, the idea of a perfect, immutable, eternally existent God is clear and distinct because God Himself places the idea of him into our minds.Our own finite minds could not even conceive of this God, let alone conceive of Him in a clear and distinct way just because our minds are finite; thus we must have a clear and distinct understanding of Him because He places that thought in our minds.

In sum, there are two worlds: an outside world which cannot be known clearly and distinctly, which is relegated to the realm of imperfection and confusion by the method of doubt, and an inside world (non-material) which can be known clearly and distinctly in two ways:
(1)the thinking I is known by eliminating everything except the I through the method of doubt; and (2) God is known because He put the idea of Himself into my mind. Thus, "Dualism"arises.

To write a full exposition of the problem of Dualism would, I think, require a lengthy treatise or monograph so I shall briefly list some of the problems with this theory at this point.
A. The mind is often telling us to move towards or away from various experiences and places; likewise various bodily sensations will effect our thinking.Dualism thus does not account for the influence or interaction of mind on the body or vice-versa.
B. Dualism does not really satisfactorily rule out that a body cannot think or that bodily motions are not thought.May it not be that body is implicated in some way in our thinking even though when I think or say "I think" I am not aware of that bodily involvement?Does the "I think" necessarily exclude the idea of extension?It's never demonstrated.
C. Has the idea of God really come from God?Has He put it in our minds?Does not our conception of Him also depend upon our books, our friends, our institutions, etc.?
Though an angel is more perfect than we, we might have an idea of an angel without the angel having caused it in us.
D. If the idea of God comes into our minds from God, why is it that many peoples in the world do not have the idea of the Christian Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their minds when they "think" of God?
E. Why does an atheist agree about the existence of a triangle (which is understood for Descartes in an a priori sense just like the way we experience God), but not about the existence of God?
F. Why cannot that which we perceive clearly and distinctly also be doubted?What can we ever embrace if clarity and distinctness are our criteria for knowing?
G. Since the mind according to Descartes can only comprehend God in a manner that is "utterly inadequate," how can one "investigate with sufficient clarity and distinctness" what or who God is as Descartes proposes to do?"
H. Why is it better to know of God's existence by a purely inferential criterion (He put the idea in my mind) rather than by the scholastic method of going back to a Cause of all existent things, the basic Prime Mover?Does not the scholastic method have the advantage of not being self-referent nor depending on a mere inference to justify God's existence?
I. How does it follow from the fact that one is unaware that anything else belongs to one's essence that nothing else really belongs to one's essence?
J. The mind is affirmed in Descartes by a process of negation of bodily knowledge.However, there is no real exposition of the mind's operations.
K. Why is there no discussion of morals in the dualistic scheme proposed by Descartes?Is this not a serious omission?
L. Why does the idea of an immutable, eternal God need a cause?The idea of a triangle is immutable and eternal, but does not need a cause.
M. Descartes has described an insecure universe.Rationalism is king.In his version of the universe, mathe-matics is king, but empirical understandings are built on shifting sand, and are always untrustworthy. Descartes' God has created an almost unintelligible material world.Yet, this goes against both our observations and against the dependability of scientific conclusions.
We observe a regularity of seasons and of day and night following each other, and many other regularities besides.Science observes and defines law-like operations in the material world that cannot be observed by the unaided eye; yet that knowledge produces remarkable and consistent results.Does not this suggest more certainty in empirical knowledge than Descartes would be prone to accept?

N. Descartes' rationalism verges on solipsism because of the unreliability of shared, "outer" experience.

With so many areas for possible objections, I think it would be fair to say that Descartes' Dualism is more problematic than helpful.

Good Translation, Interesting Book
If you are a fan of Descartes, you'll definitely enjoy this book.It contains six meditations which bring reality and existance into question.The first meditation is excellent and will seriously make you question everything you know.However his arguments drop off from there.The big problem is that Descartes' arguments are cyclical (The Cartesian Circle) which not only negates his opinions but also makes it difficult to understand.I'd definitely recommend this book if you are interested in the history of philosophy or if you enjoy the rationalists. ... Read more

Book Description
A solid sense of self-worth is the single most important factor in determining our happiness in life and our success in work and relationships. With it, virtually all things are possible. Without it, even victories can feel like defeats. That's why raising low self-esteem is an essential part of the healing process for those who are recovering from addictions and dependencies -- and for anyone who still feels the pain of childhood wounds or other hurts.

This enlightening book presents a meditation for every day of the year, complete with an inspirational quote and a thought-for-the-day. It addresses such subjects as: Why self-esteem seems so fragile; how to define ourselves in terms of our own standards and values; why attitude is so important when we make mistakes; the difference between conceit and self-approval; how self-doubt triggers unattractive behaviors; and how self-esteem blooms when we have a sense of purpose in life.

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Customer Reviews (6)

UPLIFTING !!!
a little voice of reason when your feeling blue or need encouragement.I have recommended this book many times over and have given it as a gift many times.

INDISPENSABLE
THIS LITTLE BOOK HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AT EVERY TURN, ONE OF MY MOST CHERISHED DEVOTIONALS.

Wouldn't start my day without it!
Gentle reminders that compell me to STAY PRESENT.Hope abounds!

Excellent book of meditations!!!
I just started this book, and I find the quotes, insights, and meditations to be absolutely on target.It is a must for anyone struggling with esteem issues.Buy one for everyone you know who could use the motivation, strength, and compelling insights to improve themselves, their lives, and their well-being!

Inspirational beyond measure.
I received "Believing in Myself" as a gift in 1991 and have read it every year since.In turn I have purchased this book many times forfriends and relatives.The wisdom and inspiration contained within arepriceless.Earnie Larsen & his sister Carol Hegarty are giftedauthors. I wish I had the opportunity to thank them personally forenriching my life through their writings. ... Read more

Book Description
This little book offers definite metaphysical methods of meditation for the student who has already struggled through the mobs of rowdy thought and has entered the portals of silence. The meditations are of three types: prayers or demands addressed to God, affirmations about God, and those spoken to the individual consciousness. Contents: devotion and worship; meditations on God; expansion of consciousness; on finding God; on material concerns; on self-improvement; Christmas meditations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Sacred
Yogi is a true Gru. Following his teachings will truly teach you how to commune with GOD, our creator.

Divine!
I have always respected other religions, and that's what i love about this book! No matter who or what you believe in... you WILL get what you need from these prayers!

THIS BOOK TOUCHES MY SOUL
Inspiring and uplifting words are what you will find in this book! The title 'Metaphysical Meditations'doesn't seem to do justice to the beauty of this book, and yet, I don't know what words would. Also, another reason to not be put off by the title is that this book, in my opinion, crosses over and into all religions. You do not need be a follower of Paramahansa Yogananda or Self-Realization to reap the rich benefits of reading these meditations. An open mind and heart and love of God is enough.

The book is small, pocket sized, which makes it perfect for carrying with you. -And once you begin reading this, you'll want to have it with you to glance at whenever you feel the need, have a need, or for an inspirational pick up, or whenever you happen to have a few moments to spare. I like to flip this open in the mornings, and anytime throughout the day and read whatever page I come to.

The book begins with a 'Prayer for a United World.' Then, there's a forward that goes over meditation briefly. Which begins with this: "Most persons would want to meditate if they understood how to do so. The purpose of meditation is to know God, to connect the little joy of the soul with the vast joy of the spirit."

The meditations are short, 3-5 lines per paragraph on a page, and easy to read. No complicated long winded stuff in here. Some of my favourite titles/meditations from this book are:
'Never Lose Hope'
'Spreading Divine Joy'
'Creative Activity'
'Overcoming Fear and Worry'
'Divine Prosperity'
There's also a "Christmas Meditations" section in the back.

There is so much love in this book.
This is a great gift to give as well.

Small but Mighty
This little book can be kept in pocket or purse. For decades I have known about its power to change the reader from darkness to light, from despair to hope, and from "give me" to "I give." Far ahead of its time, "Metaphysical Meditations" by the famous teacher Paramahansa Yogananda (Self-Realization Fellowship) will not disappoint. First published in 1932 by a teacher who sees positive similarities in many of the world's religions, this book urges the reader to actively pursue spiritual growth, self-love, love for others, kindness and positive thoughts for all our concerns. I love ya Yogananda, wherever your spirit is residing! Bless you!

Second only to Scripture!
This little book is so full of spiritual wisdom that I place it just short of scriptures such as the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita (both of which influenced the thought portrayed here). I have several copies of this book (car, work, home). Its perspective is a yogic one, but its truths are universally applicable. Paramahansa Yogananda is unique among so-called gurus in being one that truly walked his talk. There is advice for all areas of life and everything said is filled with love and moderation. You will find no book outside of scripture that has more spiritual bang for your buck, in my opinion. ... Read more

Book Description
Baby Buddhas: A Guide for Teaching Meditation to Children is the first book to show parents and educators how to teach meditation to preschool-age children. Through irresistible photos and easy-to-follow text, Lisa Desmond clearly explains her copyrighted method of teaching meditation to children 18 months to three years old. Baby Buddhas also highlights the benefits of meditation for parents and children and shows how to incorporate meditation into family life.

Part One, "Creating Your Space," explains how to create a simple meditation space in the home or school and explains the importance of sound, posture, and breathing. In Part Two, "Adult Meditations," adults learn three meditations to give them an opportunity to learn and meditate on their own before teaching children. Part Three, "Children's Meditations," includes 10 meditations suitable for children, organized from simplest to most complex. The children's meditations include the "Sunshine Meditation," in which the child learns to breathe in a "sunshine ball of light" full of love. The "Om Meditation" helps children calm themselves and feel love, even when their parents are away. All the children's meditations use repetition and simple words and images that children can easily understand.

Parents who have used Lisa's techniques marvel at how their children have become calmer and more focused since they started meditating. With Baby Buddhas parents and educators can give the children in their care a gift that will last a lifetime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Inspiring and helpful
The techniques are drawn from a variety of religious traditions, and the author does a good job of being specific and clear about how to set up your space, what props to collect, and how to approach the feared and revered practice of meditation with kids.This book also contains wonderful, inspriring, color photos of glowing children getting back to their true selves.my only complaint is that there is a lot of time spent re-hashing meditations that are essentially the same.I would have liked a more general descpriotn of types of chants, thoughts, and breathing techniques rather than a play-by-play of the "breathe in love/joy/light breathe out fear/anger/bad" in multiple chapters.One of a kind, and a great tool for mindful mamas and papas.

Excellent/ 5 stars
This book is perfect for busy parents trying to introduce their children to energy, meditation and other high level concepts. The author presents information in an easy to follow and read format.I enjoyed that the suggestions were not too out there to actually implement.
I am also a fan of the meditation/relaxation CD series "Indigo Dreams". The book and this CD have made it possible for me to introduce these healthy concepts to my children. (Sorry about the one star. I pressed the wrong button and the system will not let me change it) This is a 5 star book

A great resource for any parent!
We purchased the book after our daughter learned meditation in Lisa's program. We were truly amazed at the coping and calming techniques she learned as 2 year old. We have used the techniques in the book to help manage and enhance everyday life as well as for dealing with difficult situations (seperation, death, etc...). Lisa has made the process amazingly simple. It is an incredible tool for helping to connect with your child while providing them with some important skills.

Simple guidelines for setting up a meditation space
In Baby Buddhas: A Guide For Teaching Meditation To Children, author Lisa Desmond draws upon her more than 25 years of experience and expertise teaching meditation to children ages 18 months to three years, and children preschool through eight grade, to instruct parents and care givers on how to go about teaching preschool-aged children on how to meditate. Simple guidelines for setting up a meditation space, learning specific terms, specific meditations for adults (sending love to a child, cherishing hope for world peace) and children ('OM', cleansing breath, catching blessings, and much more) fill this gentle and patient guide to balancing family and spiritual needs. Color photographs, creative ideas, and guidelines round out an all-around superb guide for parents.
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