Customer Reviews

Leap Before You Look: 72 Shortcuts for Getting Out of Your Mind and into the Moment

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Mugged at the bookstore again. And, so so glad I was.

Wandering through my local bookstore, as I often do, this book jumped into my arms and cried, "take me." Although unfamiliar with the author, the subtitle "72 shortcuts for getting out of your mind and into the moment" resonated with me.

What a gem of a book! The author has compiled 72 delightful ways to get into the moment. Every one of his offerings may not be right for you, but I suspect that few readers will not quickly find a half dozen techniques that will work well.

Let me give a concrete example of the power of this wonderful book. My wife and I are the caregivers for a multipli-disabled man who has been blind since birth. I often think what it must be like to be blind from birth. For me, and likely most of those of us who can see, our idea of blindness is as if lights were suddenly turned off. But, we are still left with vivid impressions of what this world looks like as a result of our years of sight. Blind since birth means one never got those impressions.

So wtih that backdrop, along comes the author with a meditation practice (one of his 72 practices) that he calls "Enter the Darkness." Wow...did this excite me. Later today, I will be joining my dear friend for some shared time in the darkness. How powerful for my own peace of mind, and hopefully how wonderful for my dear friend. I fully expect this will be a practice I embrace for years to come.

Other equally impactful connections were made with the described practices.

I am stout believer in the importance of personal PEACE. My construct for personal peak performance has PEACE as one of three foundational elements. As such, I am always looking for processes that can help me to create more PEACE in my life. Well, this gem is chock full of ideas to do exactly that.

So PEACE be with YOU. Let this book show you how you don't have to adopt some norm of meditation, but instead can adopt any of one of a number of rituals that will help to keep one centered in a world that too often seems lacking in PEACE.

Arjuna Ardagh (the author)...I am deeply grateful.

Is it really possible to achieve a full experience of self-acceptance and clear-sighted realization in a single moment? Without being trite or superficial this slender volume, Leap Before You Look, presents spiritual practice "shortcuts" that do indeed take us into an immediate experience of being in the present--and into all of the richness and possibility each moment affords us. Author Arjuna Ardagh refers to these exercises as "the art of a translucent spiritual practice." It is a practice without a goal, and translucent because "translucent people...are lit up by their deepest nature, yet they remain fully engaged in their daily personal lives. Translucent people appear to glow, as if from within themselves."

Leap Before You Look is an original compendium of useful and simple exercises that precipitate a shift out of our mind and into an awakening that embodies ordinary, day-to-day life. The book is divided into twelve sections, each focusing on a particular aspect of practice: meditation, insight, daily routine, body, feeling, intimate relationship, sex, family, nature, devotional, compassion, and community practices. Most of the exercises (more like tools, really) take only a few minutes and can be done anywhere. A brief explanation or anecdote follows each exercise, filling in the gaps of understanding that our mind inevitably yearns for, although such a practice is inherently one that we live, rather than understand. Although the shortcuts are primarily designed to assist us in transforming habits of the personality, the greatest value from any spiritual practice is how it enhances our collective mind and compassion for others, and ends up in service to the whole.

Readers can decide for themselves how they use the book: randomly, by practice subject, in sequential order, with friends or alone, daily, or as called to. The practices are rated according to their level of difficulty, but I'm sure each reader will uniquely determine this for herself; the greater challenge may be to freely give ourselves the gifts offered within the present. This is a delightful, practical, spiritual book and one that I intend to return to time and again.

Arjuna Ardagh is an international teacher, author of five books, and founder of the Living Essence Foundation dedicated to the awakening of consciousness in the context of ordinary life.

Review by Julie Clayton

This is a fantastic audiobook for anyone interested in meditation, buddhism, yoga, mindfulness practice. I listen in the car, and always have a neat, fun meditative exercise to practice. It really makes the driving time worthwhile, and keeps me in a better state of mind! I love this audio and highly recomend to all listeners!

I always find Ardaugh helpful, clear, and like to listen to his words as I work. This one is short, concise and easy to hear. Spiritually, and psychologically helpful.

This book is very straight-forward and easy to read. You can open to any page and see what you need to read that day! Wonderful insights! Love it!

I was happy with the book and will re-read it soon, following the exercises therein. I am sure they will be beneficial to me. The book arrived on time and in good order.

Leap Before You Look: 72 Shortcuts for Getting out of Your Mind and into the Moment
By Arjuna Ardagh
ISBN-10: 1-59179-636-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59179-636-7 (Sounds True, 2008)
Let's face it, we live in a world where if it's not quick, to the point, and fun, chances are we will not do it. Arjuna's book is precisely this. Nothing is more fun than seeing and feeling results. His 72 shortcuts for getting you out of your mind and into the moment will give you a new perspective on your life. Everything in your life that is stressful can become part of a meditative practice with awareness and presence. Whether it's waiting in line, sipping on a cup of tea, or making love, it all becomes something entirely different when you are fully present. I also found the companion CD with Arjuna's voice guiding me a welcome plus.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide Magazine and Author of "To Believe Or Not To Believe: The Social & Neurological Consequences of Belief Systems"

Don't waste your time and money. There are too many books and too little time. This book is trite. I read it and got nothing new or useful out of it.