How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind Hardcover – May 1, 2013

Not what I had hoped, but, cannot downgrade because it does offer valuable insight. A lot of talking/instruction, rather than companion music and/or empty space (time) for meditating.

In this 5 CD set, Pema Chodron expands on her prior works (but see  Pure Meditation ), honing in on Buddhist Shamatha (tranquil or calm abiding) meditation. This is a basic, eyes-open, being-fully-present technique (akin to mindfulness practice). It differs greatly from transcendental types as well as from Vipashyana (insight) meditation. Total time=5:52:48 in 46 tracks (CD1=65:18/9 tracks; CD2=63:29/10 tracks; CD3=69:54/9 tracks; CD4=74:53/9 tracks; CD5=79:14/tracks). Her presentation is comprehensive, including: Physical--much detail on 6 points of posture (seat, legs, torso, hands, eyes, & mouth); Emotional--being fully present, attention to tension, observing your pain/stress; Mental/Psychological--generosity, patience, sense of humor; & Spiritual/Mystical--(per Trungpa Rinpoche) "Mixing mind and space." Each CD includes a meditation experience & practices for the ensuing week.Ani Chodron explains the basic Tibetan Buddhist/Vajrayana approach of transforming poisons (kleshas or afflictions) into medicine (wisdom/enlightenment). This is similar to judo (vs. karate) & to transcendental alchemy ( The Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life ) with kleshas being the prima materia. Tibetans differentiate between pain and suffering; the latter being more psychological than physical--reaction to pain vs. pain itself. She, thus explores Shenpa, the process of getting hooked--see  Don't Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, and Other Destructive Emotions . Pema also briefly discusses Tonglen (exchanging oneself for others), a highly empathetic technique--see  Tonglen, the Path of Transformation  or  Good Medicine: How to Turn Pain into Compassion with Tonglen Meditation ; & includes some more advanced Mahamudra meditation, which I find particularly helpful, quoting a poet: "Thoughts are like clouds in the sky; they shimmer when they fly." Her use of sounds, sights, touch over the body is reminiscent of both the Western allover (or overall) exercise ( Wisdom of the Mystic Masters ) & the Dhyani Buddha families ( The Mandala of the Enlightened Feminine ). Overall, Pema's voice & presentation are extremely peaceful & meditative--quite conducive to these practices, though she aims at you becoming "your own meditation instructor." To have a more complete appreciation of Pema, see her  Good Medicine  video. This set is valuable for newbies (though some of the terminology may be unfamiliar) as well as those who have practiced meditation before. It is also a nice refresher.

Not sure why I was drawn to this particular book as my first thought when I look at the title is "I already know how to meditate", but I'm sure I was looking for another Pema Chodron book to read after finishing "Taking The Leap", so this was the one I went to. Great book, love her writing, I'll be looking for another one to add to the on deck circle as soon as I finish this review.I went back and forth on 4/5 star rating for this book before settling on four stars, mainly because some of the early parts moved slow for me, I left it and read another book before coming back and finishing this one - and that alone doesn't say "five star read" to me. But the last parts of this book are very good. The entire book is a great read, I probably picked it because I've been neglecting my meditation practice for quite some time now and would like to get back into it. Certainly reading this book is motivational to do just that.I don't like using guided imagery for meditation, and wouldn't like a book that gives you "meditation exercises" to follow, either. There are exercises included in parts of this book, but that's not the main gist of it. This book is more about where to take yourself, what techniques to use, what personal gain can be attained when adding meditation to your life. It found me when I needed it. If you've read this far, read it yourself because it found you as well... and it's a very good book.

Be prepared for never turning back. Why? Because once we know something...we can never ever again "un-know it" anymore. This is not like serving jury duty when the judge orders jurors to immediately "un-hear" a comment made by the defense. Nope. Not happening. Here, either you begin a path towards enlightenment or your demons will latch on even tighter than before you picked up this copy. But do not expect to find an in between because there is none.

If you only buy one book on how to meditate this is the one to get! I am reading a lot of books on how to meditate to prepare for a class I would like to give. I think this book really gives usable instructions on how to develop a personal meditation practice. I recommend any of the many books and videos and CDs produced by Pema Chodron as an excellent source of information on Buddhism. Her books are well written, personal, highly readable and easily understood. When I am reading or listening to her I feel as though she is speaking to me personally. You can't go wrong here.

I've been meditating for over 30 years and I found this "how to" refreshing and inspiring.Thank you Pema Chodron.

A good book. I am reminded of something I read on Keith Ellis, the author of TheMagic Lamp's website. He was asked about what to do in life by some person.He responded that life is much like how the Shaolin train. You push yourselfTo the edge, the limit, by working extremely hard. Then for the rest of your lifeYou go with the flow.What the above has to do with Pema Chodron's book is that it too is about aParadigm. It is a good book hence I have given it five stars. Pema's book is aboutBeing a brave man or woman and facing reality rather than avoiding unpleasantness.Once you obtain enlightenment you can go with the flow. I don't have any goals now,Not even financial ones. I am not saying I'm enlightened, but I am saying that I'veWorked so very hard when I was young that I only focus on spiritual matters,Or you could say not focus at all.My bias about this book is that I prefer yoga to Shambhala Buddhism. The exercisesIn this book should be practiced for no longer than six months to a year, becauseThere is too much mystical literature out there that you need to absorb.A buy!

Less than helpful and not the instruction I expected from Chodron.

This author helped me understand the way and intension behind meditating. Now I have to put into practice.Definitely would recommend.

Practical guide という副題のとおり、まず、瞑想の姿勢、雑念への対処法、感情への対処法、五感の捉え方などから説き始め、瞑想を行う時に気を付けるべきことを、優しい口調で述べています。最終章「すべてのことに心を開く」では、瞑想は自己変革の過程であり、日常のすべてのことがその途になる："Your life is it. There's no other place to practice." と結んでいます。北米や欧州の多くの瞑想実践者をサポートするための本だと思います。私はまだ、全部を理解できる段階には至っていませんが、各章は短いので読みやすいと思いますし、たとえ話も交えてまとめられているので面白いと思いました。たとえ話の一例としては：海の音の録音テープを聞いてリラックスした刑務所の収容者が、所内の仲間にも聞こえるように大音量で流したところ、海べりにあった刑務所では、洪水に襲われるという恐怖でパニックになった、という話を、音を瞑想の対象としたときに感覚を曇らせる例として挙げてあります。

Easy to read and understand, very applicable to real life. I would recommend this to any person beginning on their journey with meditation.

Easy to read and practical. Helped my time on the stool to be less judgemental and more accepting of 'this is just how I do meditation and that's OK'!

Eloquent, succinct, excellent, especially for those new to the Dharma. Highly recommended, a resource you will continually refer back to.