Diamond Mind [Hardcover]

Rob Nairn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 1999

     If meditation were easier, Rob Nairn writes, more people would hang in there and become enlightened. Fortunately, Rob's training in both Buddhism and psychology make him especially well qualified to help us do just that. With clarity and humor, he helps us understand how we generate the clouds of anxiety, desire, and anger that obscure our inherent happiness. Eight specific practices and five question-and-answer sessions illuminate the psychology of meditation—how our minds work when we meditate, and how we might release and dissolve the conditioning and unresolved issues that get in our way.
     
     This book is suitable as a course of study by individuals or groups, and includes a special appendix for group facilitators.
     

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The friend or colleague who is always right there to help you with computer problems: "Oh, yes, that happened to me once. Here's what you do.... You see, it's because the CPU is bottle-necking while caching the...." That's what Rob Nairn is like in Diamond Mind: A Psychology of Meditation. This isn't a psychoanalytic take on meditation but a roll-up-your-sleeves and get-down-to-basics examination of the average meditator's experiences of training the mind in meditation. Nairn, who began practicing meditation in 1964 in India, and who has attended and led numerous meditation retreats, describes the mental processes that a meditator goes through, the obstacles the meditator encounters, and the practices that lead to advancement--all in the most unencumbered language. In addition to his descriptions, Nairn offers Q&A sessions from a retreat, specific practices with clear, step-by-step instructions and the reasons for doing them, and a guide for group meditation leaders that elucidates practices and anticipates difficulties surrounding them. In other words, here is an experienced friend to turn to when working with that bug-prone computer in your head. --Brian Bruya

Review

     "Rob writes with great simplicity, wisdom, and compassion as he skillfully guides the reader along the path of awakening. This book is a joy to read." – Joseph Goldstein, author of Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 115 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st Shambh edition (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570625360
• ISBN-13: 978-1570625367
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets to the essence, August 20, 2001

By 

E. L. Oneill "Lee O'Neill" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamond Mind (Hardcover)

I've been meditating for a couple of years and it has unquestionably changed my perspective but I could never have put the reason for it into words. Diamond Mind presents a bright, uncluttered look at the process of meditation that not only rang true in the context of my experience but also pointed out directions for future growth. Nairn uses language borrowed from western psychology (without the jargon and psychobabble) to explain the process and the essence of the meditative experience and I found it extraordinarily powerful.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clarifies the mental process of meditaion into laymens terms, February 2, 2001

By 

D. LeMaster (Terre Haute, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamond Mind (Hardcover)

Rob Nairn has written the handbook on how to meditate. He cuts through all the extra fill and gets to the core of the mental process. This is a simple and easy book to read. You need not have any background in psychology or eastern thought. If you ever wanted to try meditation and just can't seem to find the right book, try Diamond Mind. Even if you just want to improve your mental skills, his directions are clear and simple. What he offers us will change our lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wonders just exactly how do you meditate. Diamond Mind will simply and elegantly answer those questions.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is meditation?, February 16, 2000

By 

Todd Holloway (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamond Mind (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book that will help anyone who is either just beginning to meditate or has been meditating for years. It helps answer questions like "What do I meditate about?", "Why is this not working?" and "What should my goal be?". Whether one is buddhist or not this book can help you bring tranquillity to your mind, thus benefiting you and others. I thank Rob Nairn for writing such a joyful and helpful book.