Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course on How to Meditate [Unabridged] [Spiral-bound]

Sharon Salzberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2006

The Insight Meditation twelve-month correspondence course is an unparalleled home immersion in vipassana meditation and philosophy, presented by the cofounders of the Insight Meditation Society, Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. Cultivate the sacred environment of a retreat in your own home, with the help of a personal instructor. Includes twelve sequential lessons, an 88-page workbook with interactive exercises, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This is original material, not available in print.

About the Author

Sharon Salzberg has been a student of Buddhism since 1970, and has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. She teaches both intensive awareness practice (Vipassana or Insight Meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion (the Brahma-viharas). She is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Forest Refuge, a new project for long term meditation practice. Sharon is the author of LOVINGKINDNESS: THE REVOLUTIONARY ART OF HAPPINESS and A HEART AS WIDE AS THE WORLD, by Shambhala Publications; LOVINGKINDNESS MEDITATION (audio) by Sounds True; and coauthor with Joseph Goldstein of INSIGHT MEDITATION, AN IN-DEPTH CORRESPONDENCE COURSE, also from Sounds True. She recently edited VOICES OF INSIGHT, an anthology of writings by vipassana teachers in the West, published by Shambhala. Sharon is currently writing a book about the spiritual quality of Faith.

Joseph Goldstein is a senior teacher of Insight (Vipassana) and Lovingkindness (Metta) Meditation. He studied with many leading Buddhist teachers in India, Burma, and Nepal and has led retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a cofounder and guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and The Forest Refuge, a new project for long term meditation practice. Joseph's books include THE EXPERIENCE OF INSIGHT; INSIGHT MEDITATION: THE PRACTICE OF FREEDOM; and SEEKING THE HEART OF WISDOM (with Jack Kornfield), published by Shambhala Publications. He is also coauthor with Sharon Salzberg of INSIGHT MEDITATION, AN IN-DEPTH CORRESPONDENCE COURSE (audio), published by Sounds True. Joseph is currently writing a new book, ONE DHARMA, on the integration of different Buddhist teachings and traditions.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (March 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564559068
• ISBN-13: 978-1564559067
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharon Salzberg has been a student of Buddhism since 1971, and leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. She teaches both intensive awareness practice (vipassana or insight meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion (the Brahma Viharas). She is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

Sharon's latest The Kindness Handbook, published by Sounds True, and she has recently begun to blog for the Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com. She is also the author of The Force of Kindness, published by Sounds True; Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, published by Riverhead Books; Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness and A Heart as Wide as the World, both published by Shambhala Publications; and co-author with Joseph Goldstein of Insight Meditation, a Step-by-Step Course on How to Meditate (audio), from Sounds True. She has edited Voices of Insight, an anthology of writings by vipassana teachers in the West, also published by Shambhala.

Sharon Salzberg is cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts. She has played a crucial role in bringing Asian meditation practices to the West. The ancient Buddhist practices of vipassana (mindfulness) and metta (lovingkindness) are the foundations of her work. "Each of us has a genuine capacity for love, forgiveness, wisdom and compassion. Meditation awakens these qualities so that we can discover for ourselves the unique happiness that is our birthright." For more information about Sharon, please visit: www.SharonSalzberg.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

264 of 270 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We all can feel Oneness with the Divine Within., November 13, 2002

By 

El Brujo "Brujo Hechisero" (Lowell, Ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course on How to Meditate (Spiral-bound)

I received this as a birthday gift this year, and let e say it was a great gift indeed. Within this excellent package you will receive an excellent Step Buy Step 124 page Guide, that has to be one of the best-published books on Meditation. The book is excellent for both beginners and advanced. Also in this package one gets two spoken Meditation and breathing exercises cds, as well as a pack of 12 cards, which I laminated and placed them on my refrigerator.

Just to get a quick pick at how excellent this package is, the cards are. The Four Noble Truths. The Six Wholesome and Unwholesome Roots of the Mind. The Noble Eightfold Path. The Five Handrances. The Three Kinds of Sufferings. The Four Brahma Viharas. The Eight Vicissitudes. The Six Sense Doors and Three Feeling Tones. The Four Metta Phrases. The Six Stages of Metta. The Seven Points of Posture, and The Five Precepts. The Set could have done well without the cards, but they are excellent to keep in handy, in a place where you can read them frequently.

The two cds are spoken and very relaxing. You here Sharon Salzburg's calming voice as she guides you through breathing exercises, and meditations.

I have a few books on Meditation, and to be honest, The book in this package, Insight Meditation, has to be my utmost favorite. I love this set, and I recommend it to all that want to relieve stress from their lives, or want to connect with the divine within. Highly Recommended.

97 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introductory meditation series, March 24, 2006

By 

Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL" (Livermore, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course on How to Meditate (Spiral-bound)

There are many things I liked about this guided meditation series. I particularly liked the way the walking meditation was presented. I haven't heard this explained very well on other audio resources, so this was a value add for me.

While I think the whole overall presentation is good and worth owning, especially at the price it is being offered, I do think there are a few shortcomings. For example, while the authors are well versed in their topic, they don't necessarily have the greatest voices for this type of recording. That may sound superficial, but this does make a difference for many people. Some of the volume control at different points in the recording were a bit jarring to me as well.

If you are new to Insight Meditation, you will find this a useful guide. If you are looking for a bit more depth, then consider reading Breath by Breath by Rosenberg. This helps flesh out some of the detail of what is presented in this series.

I gave this a four rather than a five larely because of the icing and not the cake. In other words, I think they could have presented their material better. However, this is solid and I think you can buy it with confidence for an introduction to meditation.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Wonderful Package, February 26, 2004

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course on How to Meditate (Spiral-bound)

This package of supplies is rich with aid for those struggling in practice. Do you have a long ride in for work in the morning? Toss in one of these CD's provided here for us; you'll find direct relief from whatever emotional hindrances you may be experiencing at the moment. Not by turning away, but by embracing the feeling into our entire scope of vision. The meditation cards Oshuniyi mentioned, are a wonderful way to further your practice. They laminated them onto their refrigerator. I took a card or two to work with me daily for a few months. When I had a rough day or stressful moments, I would simply glance over the cards and be instantly reminded of how wonderful everything potentially is.

The workbook supplied for you here is beyond price, synonymous with the CD's really. Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg have both been longtime standing Vipassana meditation teachers, both with all-embracing training in various traditions of the Buddhist path. While you use these CD's to really get in touch with the truth of your life, the workbook is a nice way to affirm what you are finding in your meditation. To nudge you in the right direction a bit. The cards can also be used to place on your home altar, to remind you of certain truths when the thinking mind wavers. What an all around great box filled with insight here.