You Have the Right to Remain Silent: Bringing Meditation to Life [Paperback]

Rick Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

With sparkling clarity and humour, Rick Lewis explains exactly what meditation can offer to those who are ready to establish an island of sanity in the midst of an active life. This book offers a comprehensive look at everything a beginner would need to start a meditation practice, including how to befriend an overactive mind and how to bring the fruits of meditation into all aspects of daily life. Experienced mediators will also find refreshing perspectives to both nourish and refine their practice. Lewis's twenty-five years of disciplined sitting practice allow him to clarify common myths and confusions about meditation and its applications to life. His use of both inspiring insights and practical examples, together with anecdotes from the lives of masters and students of many traditions, make this book immediately accessible for mediators of all levels.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lewis hails from the maverick-guru school of meditation. He was a resident of the Oregon community begun by Indian spiritual teacher Osho Rajneesh; he occasionally cites the work of controversial human potential movement pioneer Werner Erhard; and his teacher Lee Lozowick has forged his own syncretic spiritual path to enlightenment, in the style of enlightenment teacher Andrew Cohen. Yet much of what Lewis, a writer and entertainer, says about the everyday practice of meditation is useful, uncontroversial wisdom: sit up straight on your cushion, eat right and don't sleep around. Practice, practice, practice will not make perfect, but it will lead the way to greater clarity for the disciplined meditator. Lewis certainly works hard at integrating meditation into the context of non-monastic, average Western lives and making his presentation unintimidating. Yet his humor can fall flat; for example, his "mind as salesman" routine would not work in comedy clubs. Pop culture references run the risk of going stale quickly, and some metaphors are overwrought (e.g., "candy of consolation filled with the lead shot of suffering"). There are also a few anecdotes about the greatness of his guru that don't survive translation for those who weren't there. Ultimately, Lewis is trying too hard to explain it all, and the result is an overarching and under-explained metaphysic of mind.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As the title implies, humor is key to this spirited and very accessible meditation book. Lewis (The Perfection of Nothing) teaches a form of meditation that focuses on correct posture. He supplements this with instructions for a moderated lifestyle including the practice of presence outside of meditation, study, diet, exercise, a monogamous sexual relationship, and work. Although the book is full of how-to advice, he keeps his instructions rather vague and suggests that commitment to a teacher is necessary for success. Ultimately, he believes that we are only responsible for one percent of our spiritual progress (a very committed one percent), and the other 99 percent comes to us through divine grace. At times Lewis interrupts the text with pointless asides, but his brilliant, concise statements make up for these outbursts. This book would fit well into spiritual self-help collections. Annette Haines, Sch. of Art & Design, Ann Arbor, MI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Hohm Pr (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890772232
• ISBN-13: 978-1890772239
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from the Buster Keaton of Meditators!!!, December 27, 2002

By 

Dirty Aghori (West Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Have the Right to Remain Silent: Bringing Meditation to Life (Paperback)

I don't agree with publishers weekly That Lewis is trying too hard with his metaphors and humor. What he is doing is being creative and bringing a 'lighten up' approach to a subject that is often bone dry or a culturely alien export from the East. As a westerner Rick Lewis brings a fresh perspective from a tradition and context that is distictly western and as such he offers fresh insights and timely cultural critques of western materialism, consumerism, and the business that keeps us estranged from ourselves. Meditation is the method, par excellence, for bringing us home to what we are essentially(dancing fools!) and orienting us from a context prior to all the culturally conditioned garbage the is crammed into our minds. If you are tired of all the Zen and eastern books that are devoid of an understanding of the dilemnas of our busy western lives and are looking for a fresh perspective from someone who is an exemplar of spiritual disciple in a mad, mad world, you should buy this book. We need more books like this that are Unromantic, Humanistic and FULL of Vitality and Humor. Five thumbs up on one hand clapping!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and transformational, January 20, 2003

By 

Ken Lapp (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Have the Right to Remain Silent: Bringing Meditation to Life (Paperback)

Generally the book was well written and clear, but every once in a while I came to a section that was beautifully written, and truly inspirational. ...."

As a person who has meditated for a few years I sometimes found his perspective to be transformational. Some of his points are worded in a way that readers can `realize' instead of simply understand. ...

Books on this topic are sometimes esoteric and dry but Lewis' humorous titles and anecdotes were accurate and effective, and always contained a deeper meaning which facilitated greater comprehension. This book is proof of the maxim that `A person who understands his topic can explain it in a few simple words.' He explains why meditation is beneficial, how to do it, why it works, and guides the reader through potential pitfalls. He states each point clearly and moves on. This book was entertaining, interesting, and a quick easy read. My hope is that it will go a long way towards bringing meditation to the general public.