Customer Reviews

True Meditation: Discover the Freedom of Pure Awareness

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True Zen is about Waking Up and discovering the Truth of your Being, the Unborn, your Buddha Nature here and now, but for the most part Zen has become very rigid and institutionalized, often mistaking the finger for the moon it is pointing to.

Adyashanti and his teaching style are a wonderful and refreshing exception to this as Adya's teachings arise spontaneously out of prajna, like the teachings of the ancient Zen masters of China. Wake up now!

Adya's "True Meditation" seems to be based on the Zen practice of shikantaza, or just sitting and allowing everything to be as it is, and koan practice, which once was a spontaneous inquiry into Truth, but has become a formalized and ritualized practice that is not of particular value to the present day Western spiritual seeker. Adya has very appropriately modernized these ancient practices so they are very useful to anyone sincerely wanting to wake up without getting all caught up in some sect, religion or belief system. True meditation and meditative self-inquiry are like the two wings of an airplane. Both are needed if it is going to fly.

The teaching here is so direct, simple and clear that it can be easily overlooked by those who are highly trained in one system of meditation or another, or those with complex belief systems about what it takes to wake up. If your intention is to simply wake up and discover what is true rather than learn a system or gather more information, then these CDs are for you. They are really all you need!

"Our minds are surely gone
when we see everything as God.
Prepare yourself Mother Earth
the inmates are loose
the fools have
broken free of their chains." (Adyashanti)

This is a three CD set devoted to what Adyashanti calls "true meditation". In the first two CDs he describes what separates the meditator from the goal of meditation (the meditator!) and in the third CD he leads the listener in arriving at the goal of meditation through the dismantling of the meditator - he does this in three different guided meditations. In other words, he speaks to the "illusory self" the listener takes himself to be so that that illusory self is seen for what it is. Then in the 3rd CD he takes the listener "by the hand" and step-by-step leads him/her to what remains (consciousness) when the grip of the ego is loosened and finally dropped altogether. This loosening and dismantling of the ego is accomplished by the recognition and then dropping of the many ways in which the ego manipulates what arises within the mind so that the foundation of what one is stands alone and unobscured.

There are many forms of meditation and Adyashanti briefly mentions the goals of some of these. But when it comes to discovering what one truly is Adyashanti assserts, and I agree with him on this, that one must realize and then discover directly for oneself that the impediment to the goal of Self-realization is the very one who seeks for that goal, the ego entity. It is this ego entity which gets in the way of "true meditation" and which obscures the natural state of awareness which is here always. One IS the natural state of awareness, and by no longer manipulating anything this is discovered directly. Adyashanti is brilliant in leading you to this discovery for yourself.

The object of meditation for me is to find out what we really are, not what we 'think' we are or are 'taught' we are. To awaken to my true nature or being.

I think the problem for me has been in the trying to get something, or to achieve something. As Adyashanti points out, True Meditation isn't about 'trying' to get anything. The problem is in the effort, the solution is in the letting go, "effortless effort". The quided meditation CD that comes with the book helps to develop that attitude.

Interestingly, Adyashanti inquires "What Am I". It is a more profound question that the mind cannot try and grasp as easily as "Who Am I"? After all, were not looking for something that the mind can grasp. From page 50 "Thoughts come and go, but that which is witnessing the thoughts remains."

I teach anger management and depression classes for a hospital and have been looking for some meditations on CD to bring to class. I got this three CD set today, and went right to the meditation on the third CD called "Allow Everything To Be As It Is." I listened to it once to see if I could use it- because if it had any overt spiritual references I wouldn't be able to- and then took it to class to play for them. It worked out really, really well. I especially appreciate the wisdom and technique demonstrated in allowing the listener to let go of the meditator in the meditation. This practice makes so much sense to me. I imagine I will be back with more appreciation of this CD set after I have experienced the rest of it. It is just that I liked it so much, and my class liked the meditation we did so much I just couldn't wait to tell you!

I love the way Adyashanti speaks and I recommend his book "Emptiness Dancing", HIGHLY. This "True Meditation" book comes with a CD, so that's cool. The written part, though, isn't in the same quality as "Emptiness Dancing". The chapters are short, and aside from one or two sentences per chapter, spoken in his way, the rest is filler. Chapter after chapter does the same thing, and often repeats itself. It seems more like a marketing tool than anything else. It seems like someone took Adyashanti's words and then put together this handy dandy $20 book-with-a-CD for promotional purposes. The book reads like a flyer insert, accompanying the CD. So, that was a drag. But you get a CD, right?

I bought the CD version for True Meditation from Adyashanti. I now listen to this set of CDs in my car ride usually. I attended a class a couple years ago around different ways to meditate (Buddhists meditation around compassion, breath, body awareness, mantra, visualization, healing etc). I have been to the Zen Center on a regular basis just to meditate.

This book helps me reconcile all the various type of meditations I learned. Yes, Adyashanti was right that each type of meditation has its purpose to alleviate suffering and help us dream better. These various types of meditations play important roles on the aspects of lessen suffering. In fact, they are usually the stepping stones to the path Adyashanti is pointing to. I am glad I did not purchase this set of CDs a couple years ago because I knew I would have listened to it once (might not be able to even get through it once) and let it gather dust somewhere because I had too pain to "allow everything to be as it is" nor have any extra energy to ask "Who am I". This set of CDs might not be good for beginners who are looking for an approach to lessen suffering (dream better). I would suggest Jon Kabit Zinn's series of books and CDs first unless the person truly feels very ripe and ready for this. There is nothing wrong to dream a little better first before deep realizations and waking up from the dream.

However, when healing starts to take place and suffering has been lessened in one's own psyche, True Meditation might be the one that will help us realize who we truly are (or wake up from the dream of form/delusion/illusion). The CDs talk about the meditator who is trying to control experiences and clarifications on the technicality of posture and eyes (close or open the eyes). His words are very concise and clear in pointing to reality and I love that.

The 3rd CDs has 3 guided meditations. They are tremendously helpful. However, I suggest doing the guided meditation in conjunction to silent meditation using his words as pointers... not to achieve some goal ... but to come back to our natural state of mind.

Yes, some people might say isn't this what Zen has on Shikantaza and Ramana Maharshi's self inquiry approach? Well, there are many fingers pointing to the moon. We can spend countless time in categorizing what Adyashanti's teaching (like examining and categorizing what type of fingers it is) instead of focusing the essence of the teaching (the moon). Which one would you choose? I would much rather spend time looking at the moon personally.

Thank you for reading.

If you're interested in opening up your meditation practice, drawing close to enlightenment, and seeing things as they truly are. . . this is the book. The CD included makes this an excellent training guide to "no mind"-fulness. Get it.

I thought this was a great book. During hypnosis sessions I had been guided by spirit to "MEDITATE". What I had been taught about meditation in my life made me uncomfortable. I had tried meditating (the way I thought it had to be done) but found it to be very boring! I thought I was doing it "wrong" because my mind would wander. Plus, I could not just sit still for hours. Yuk! Anyway, with Adyashanti's guidance through this book and CD, I was able to let go of a lot of what I thought meditation was supposed to be. I was able to open up and accept that my mind was going to wander, etc. I also am now at the point where I realize that I am in a constant state of meditation when I am present. When I am not projecting my thoughts in the past or in the future. My "meditation time" is better spent walking in nature, or just walking around my neighborhood. God (or whatever you prefer to call the all that is), is always there for me when I am walking and asking questions. Always! When I am walking and enjoying the beauty all around me, I am present. This book and CD are well worth the read and listen. Thank you Adyashanti! Bless your heart!

Yes, it was simple. I had missed this little point for a very long time. He was so clever to spot it, however. We're born with it without even realizing it. It's - as Adyashanti points out - our subconscious need for control.

Amazing! I woke up in about 5 seconds after hearing that! Yes, he is correct!

Let go of control and you'll get there!

Only the mind wants to fix the mind. It wants to be in control. It wants to fix everything.

You could meditate for 12 hours, but if don't let go of control you'll be stuck for a long time. Things like... "Gee, I'm still the same.. Nothing has changed.."

Simple but really powerful. Probably the end of your journey.

This is a great little book. The meditation CD is an excellent way to get started on the meditation path.