Customer Reviews

Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World

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Let me start this review by recounting an amazing coincidence.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote one of the two forewords to this book, and I read it during a break. Only a few minutes after I finished reading it, I received a phone call. My company sells electronic translators; the caller phoned from the U.K. to ask about a Tibetan-English electronic translator. She said she was buying it for someone else, and would be taking it to India with her.

"Uh, would that be northwest India?" I recalled that was the home of Tibetan refugees.

She said that was her destination and she was there often. I asked her if she'd ever seen HH the Dalai Lama, perhaps in one of his public appearances. She replied that she was looking for an electronic translator for a man on HH's staff and if it worked for him then others in the office might be interested. He was trying to learn English and she had been helping him but they thought an electronic dictionary would speed up his learning significantly.

HH's staff? Let's see, by the Kevin Bacon principle did that make me one degree away from HH or two? I later went online to look at our Italian and German translators, figuring that would trigger a call from someone at the Vatican (but that didn't happen).

Anyhow, in our conversation she conveyed to me the essence of the book I was about to read even though I had not mentioned anything about the book. The subtitle describes not a wish but an ongoing project and it's one in which this pleasant lady is heavily involved. What are the odds....

She was obviously well-grounded and purposeful. And she was moving in circles I had merely read about, yet she was open with me and entirely there during the conversation.

To paraphrase HH, I'm just a simple wonk. In the Midwest USA. Yet, I get a phone call like that. I felt elevated and humbled at the same time.

When I next returned to the book, I read the foreword by Bob Thurman (named one of the 25 most influential Americans by Time Magazine). Mr. Thurman could easily be a braggart, considering his many accomplishments. But instead, he is genuinely humble. This came through in what he said in the foreword he wrote. After my experience that morning, I read Mr. Thurman's thoughts and concluded there is something powerful already at work between this book and me. I chose to read it carefully.

Many people in mainstream western culture doubt the power of meditation. I studied martial arts for many years, and what I learned under girds a way of life for me. I am known for "having a way with animals." The key is to become very calm inside, to relax totally, and empty your mind of all thoughts except just being present. When you do this, even wild animals will come very close to check you out. I mean very close. Once, a ferruginous hawk landed within grabbing distance from me and calmly observed me for several minutes before flying away. Try getting close to a large predatory bird sometime.

That "transform the world" part isn't hokum. If inner stillness can have a calming effect with wild animals, think of the possibilities for inner stillness on a massive scale with the human race. And remember, my skill is low compared to what others achieve routinely. This sort of thing is much harder to do it with people, partly because so many people emanate anxiety and give off negative energy. It is precisely because of this negative energy that more skillful meditation is needed. And this book can help.

Be The Change provides much insight into how to reach that inner stillness and even project it outward. You may recall Simon and Garfunkel's song, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." My favorite line in that song is "Still waters run deep." It makes a great philosophy for life. Many contributors to this book have learned how to still their waters. They freely share their insight. The list of contributors is long, and the people on that list are remarkable.

While most books put forth the views of the authors as experts, this book puts forth the views of many experts with the authors as guides to the experience. And it's an experience worth having!

This book consists of eighteen chapters arranged into four Parts.

Part I, The Greatest Adventure of All, consists of 4 chapters. The basic point is the world's a mess and we can fix it only by reaching into ourselves. In the martial arts, a core philosophy is you have two enemies: the one within and the one in front of you. You must first learn to conquer the enemy within, then you will be ready for any other enemy. My take on these four chapters is they collectively point to that philosophy.

Part II, Transforming From the Inside Out, consists of 4 chapters. This one was a bit tougher to digest, due to the many viewpoints. I think the title of Chapter 5 "Growing Roses From the Compost" sets the tone for all four chapters.

Part III, Transforming Us Transforms the World, consists of six chapters. I'm not sure which chapter is the leader here, but Chapter 12, Contemplative Activism, would not be a bad choice. It helps illustrate that the transformation part doesn't happen because people sit around chanting (or whatever your view of meditation may be). The examples here show how people empowered by meditation can take real action in the real world. The examples are what motivational people like to call "powerful stuff."

Part IV, Practice Makes Perfect, consists of four chapters. Each chapter provides guidance on actually doing meditation. The titles are, in order, Doing It, Sitting Meditation, Sounding Meditation, and Moving Meditation.

You may not be interested in changing the world, and that's fine. If you are interested, that's wonderful. Most of us, however, have enough to do just to put up with daily frustrations and concerns. Isn't it overwhelming, sometimes?

The problem with these daily frustrations and concerns is all of them trigger the flight or fight response. That means stress. The whole cortisol elevation, chronic fatigue, heart problems scenario. And unhappiness. You can't change what comes at you. But you can change how you respond to it. The insights in this book can help you find the inner stillness that refuses to give stress a foothold.

This book may not transform the entire world, but if it can surely help you transform your inner world. And that's worth a lot.

This book has truly been life changing. The biggest thing I love about this book is the diversity. Ed and Deb have brought together people from all different backgrounds and have collected their stories and views on meditation and presented them in such a way that is easy to understand and feel. If you're new to meditation or not, you will get something out of this book, and you will learn from all of the amazing stories. I am so thankful this book has found me.

This is by far a stellar book.... truthfully, one that anyone can relate to!
Something I would like to share with others readers who might be considering this purchase... you will be pleased!
Why do I say this? Well, first of all, it is put together very well and the stories and advice really stick because they are presented in such a harmonious layout.
The eyes never get tired from reading this book, as my experience with many books has been, that they tend to tax our vision.
Having said that, it is obvious that authors were mindful of this, thats why it has been so fun and easy to read.
It is a page turner of insights and methods... things that we can do for ourselves, and more importantly, without sacrificing our own personal beliefs!
At the same time, there is so much helpul information, and it is presented so elegantly, I love it.
Thank you and bless you both for writing such a inspiring and motivating book!

Be The Change is an inspirational compilation of teachings from many different perspectives. I particularly appreciated the sections on sound and walking meditations. The authors worked hard to weave the individual perspectives into complete sections that transcend religious background and demonstrate that meditation is a key in our conscious awakening. I highly recommend it!

I've read many books on meditation and yours is so warm, human and accessible that it makes me smile. Meditation is more of a character in your book than the subject of it! ... Meditation is the magic carpet that carries all the people telling their stories, on a journey that transforms them from whatever they were before to something better after. ... as the reader I get to be along for the ride. Thank you Ed and Deb Shapiro!

The problem: our ego, often addicted to its most self-centered whims. The solution: meditation, which "gives us the space to see ourselves clearly and objectively, a place from which we can witness our own behavior and reduce the ego's influence" (p. 10). Authors Ed and Deb Shapiro are highly qualified to write this book to inspire us to meditate. The award-winning authors of 14 other books on meditation, they have taught this art at corporations as well as jails. The forewords are written by the His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also Robert Thurman (a professor of Indio-Tibetan studies at Columbia University).

This book can be used as a daily read to inspire you to meditate. What I especially love about it is that you can even randomly open the book to any page and read a contribution by one of the 108 other contributing authors to the book. (These range from one paragraph to a couple of pages.) Most of these authors are famous, and include spiritual teachers like Michael Bernard Beckwith, Ram Dass, Byron Katie, Andrew Cohen, and Gangaji; New Age authors such as Dan Millman, Jack Kornfield and Marianne Williamson; musicians such as Gabrielle Roth; and even actresses such as Jane Fonda and Lindsay Wagner. If you don't know who the person is, there is a brief bio of each contributor in the back.

The book is divided into four parts. Part I focuses on what meditation is (dissolving the ego, merging into oneness, becoming aware of the present, etc.) and why we need to meditate (ex: drug addiction, bad childhood, stress, etc).

Part II discusses the transformation brought by meditation--how it helps in relationships, and how it increases the ability to forgive, as well as increasing kindness, compassion and love. Part III deals with how meditation affects the world and leads people to contemplative and political activism as well as right livelihood. (One of the contributors discusses how meditation helped him start a tofu business that went from $500 to $295 million!) Finally, part IV gives us the "how to" on meditation, with techniques under the umbrellas of sitting, sounding and moving meditations. Everyone is likely to find one or more of these modalities compatible with their temperament and lifestyle.

This is a great book to educate people on the power of meditation to transform lives, and inspire them along their journey. It is filled with many inspiring stories from the Shapiros as well as the contributing authors.

Deb and Ed Shapiro have written a wonderful book that de-mystifies meditation. It shows how each of us can change our lives and make a positive contribution to changing the world. And all of this not out of some other-worldly idealism, but using simple tools to realize our innate strengths and shared aspirations.

I love the collection of insights and stories Ed and Deb Shapiro have collected in their book, "Be the Change." I've meditated for over four decades (and knew Ed Shapiro when he was first initiated into meditation by my teacher, Swami Satchidananda), and I found the information in this book increased my understanding of why I meditate and the benefits that are derived from it. The forward by H. H. the Dalai Lama revealed why meditation is important individually and globally. The light, conversational tone of the text is easy to read. Each segment is brief and easy to access. There's nothing ponderous or lugubrious about the more than 300 pages. At first, I thought it was a cheap gimmick to interview dozens of New Age celebrities about meditation, but I found what they had to say was valuable. And the personal narrative from the two authors provided rich texture that functioned to bind together all the interviews. The interviews come from people from all walks of life: from spiritual practitioners, scientists, artists, actors, sociologists, diplomats and ordinary folk. I found myself making ample use of the index in the back of the book, where I could look up and learn about the diverse backgrounds of the interviewees and note when and where I would want to learn more from them. Most of all: Reading just a short segment of the book usually inspired me to close my eyes and to turn within, to actualize the words I had just read by spending time in meditation and so, with my own practice, be the change I want to see in the world.

i have just begun reading this book and find it very interesting. i recommend it.
i wish it came in a large print edition. if it does, please let me know. i'll buy one.
thanks.
peace.
[...]
enjoy.
heal the world.
"be the change".

A friend gave this book to me, and I have to admit that the cover was the most interesting part of the book. If you are a new-age far left person, you may enjoy this book! But if you are a Christian who already has a moral compass and a relationship with our Lord, then you are already self-aware and you won't find much value in this book. The concept that meditation or proper breathing can transform one's self is a bit "out there" as is the authors' intellectual leap from inner-contemplation to changing the world (via activism). Absolutely not for me.