Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat with Sylvia Boorstein (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When I was offered the opportunity to write this manual, I was delighted..." (more)
Key Phrases: mental noting, lovingkindness practice, mindfulness retreat, Sylvia Boorstein, Day Two, First Afternoon Walk Instructions (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Graceful, clear, completely user-friendly instructions for mindfulness practice." -- Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

Product Description

Get away from doing and into being with this lively, down-to-earth guide to your own meditation retreat by beloved mindfulness meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein.Presenting what Jon Kabat-Zinn has called "endearingly personal mindfulness wisdom," she offers a three-day retreat plan accompanied by timeless lessons -- always grounded in real life -- on how anyone can achieve calm, clarity and joy through meditation practices.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1st edition (February 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060612525
• ISBN-13: 978-0060612528
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #167,232 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading -- and practicing, February 9, 2003

By	bribri (San Rafael, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I've been practicing "Mindfulness" meditation for about 7 months now. It's been very helpful, and suits me well. A couple of months ago, I attended my first retreat, of 4 days, at Spirit Rock. It was easily the most profound thing I've done in my life. And one of the hardest. And I'd do it again in a second.

Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I'm not able to attend another retreat for several months. So, when I heard about people taking "personal" weekend retreats alone, I decided to try one myself. This book is a -wonderful- "manual" for doing such a retreat. I locked myself in my house for 3 days, and used this book as my teacher. Sylvia writes so warmly... I really needed her compassionate words when my meditations got rough. I found myself laughing aloud many times during the retreat. It was a hard retreat (I find meditation -very- hard to practice daily, but I do it anyway because that's the only way really), but I emerged with a similar feeling as my first retreat -- more aware, and more loving toward myself.

I would not recommend this book if you have never attended a formal retreat (in a group setting, with experienced teachers). But, if you've done that, then this is a great way to supplement and boost awareness "in-between" formal retreats.

I took one star away only because I found the timetables hard to keep up with. My 2nd night, I didn't get to bed until 11pm. Maybe I should have given it five. Oh, just let me have this one grudge, please? :)

Thank goodness for people like Sylvia. She knows exactly how to make the self-critic in my meditation ("I'm not DOING it right!") run for cover.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost "instant meditation", May 19, 2000

By	Marianne Gillis (Winnipeg, Canada) - See all my reviews

Sylvia Boorstein simply and clearly outlines the first steps into meditation. They worked for me. Clear three days off your calendar and try it.

3.0 out of 5 stars Review of Don't Just Do Something, July 10, 2008

By	H. Wilson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful step by step manual for the novice. For someone experienced in meditation and/or relaxation exercises, there is nothing new here. While I did not find the book useful for myself, I have added it to my library as an instruction/reference manual to be lent out to friends and clients.