Why We Meditate
The Science and Practice of Clarity and Compassion
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
This “rare and exquisite exploration of the art, science, and practice of meditation” (Roshni Joan Halifax, author of Standing at the Edge) offers a much-needed antidote to the forces of stress that overwhelm so many of us—from New York Times bestselling author Daniel Goleman and renowned meditation teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche.
We all experience negative emotions from time to time. But in a world with as much frenzy and pressure as ours, it’s incredibly easy for these same emotions to become destructive. Now, by blending Eastern tradition with Western science, Why We Meditate effortlessly helps you embrace and understand meditation as never before with advice that is “fresh, accessible, and profound” (Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart).
Based on groundbreaking neuroscience, Why We Meditate is a guidebook that will help you not only break free from negative patterns of thought and behavior but radically embrace your very being. Revolutionize your health, relationships, and soul with this book that is perfect for both serious meditators and those new to the practice.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this illuminating program, psychologist Goleman (Altered Traits) and Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche (The Wakeful Body) share advice on how readers can overcome distraction with meditation. Tsoknyi imparts guidance on bringing one's mind, body, and feelings into alignment, while Goleman contributes dispatches on the science behind Tsoknyi's principles and exercises. Tsoknyi details his "handshake" method for bringing together "our awareness and our feelings" by focusing one's attention on one's body and emotions. This practice, Tsoknyi contends, allows practitioners to confront harmful emotional patterns and alter them to be less destructive. He elaborates that the ideal outcome is to rediscover one's "essence love," which happens when "we are just okay for no particular reason." Goleman notes that this advice resembles cognitive therapy's focus on disrupting "troubling emotional patterns" and offers research support for Tsoknyi's insights, as when he details a study that found people who acknowledged their anxiety in an "accepting, nonreactive way" felt less anxious after doing so. Goleman includes many vignettes about his time working with Tsoknyi that feel a bit superfluous compared to the meatiness of Tsoknyi's offerings, but the science enlightens and Tsoknyi's charisma and compassion will please meditators of all stripes. Those looking for an accessible, jargon-free primer on meditation should check this out.
