Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Stephan Bodian
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love Kindle Edition

by Stephan Bodian (Author), John J. Prendergast (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 187 ratings
See all formats and editions

Written by meditation expert, psychotherapist, and spiritual teacher Stephan Bodian, this book takes you beyond familiar mindfulness practices by offering guided meditations and direct pointers that invite you to realize your natural state of inherent wakefulness and peace. No regular practice is required, just the willingness to open yourself to a transformative new way of experiencing life.

Mindfulness has permeated our modern lives, and with good reason—it’s been proven to boost mood, reduce stress, improve health, and maximize performance. But in our achievement-oriented culture, the practice of mindfulness can feel laborious and mechanical, like one more task on your endless to-do list. What if you could let go of effort and struggle and relax back into the happiness and ease that is your birthright—and is always readily available to you?

Beyond Mindfulness offers teachings and practices based on the direct approach to spiritual awakening that take you beyond the mechanics of being mindful and open you to the non-dual dimension of being, where the separation between self and other reveals itself to be a painful but seductive illusion. Once you realize this new way of seeing, you’ll learn how to move beyond mindfulness into awakened awareness and discover that the love, compassion, wholeness, health, and happiness you’ve been seeking were there all along.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    138 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Non-Duality
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2017
  5. File size
    675 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Stephan Bodian draws the reader into a direct experience of his subject: the peaceful and liberating ground of awareness in which experiences come and go. His own great depth of insight and heart comes through on every page as he offers clear descriptions of subtle matters, practical suggestions, and experiential practices. Truly, a jewel of a book.”
—Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha’s Brain and Hardwiring Happiness

“This provocative and profound book shines a light on how practicing meditation can reify the doer—the self who is being mindful. With great lucidity and care, author Stephan Bodian introduces approaches drawn from non-dual wisdom traditions that allow us to relax back and realize the indivisible radiant awareness that is already and always here.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

“Stephan Bodian takes us beyond mere words, ideas, and mental fabrications into the very heart of the matter. I heartily recommend this excellent book.”
—Lama Surya Das, best-selling author of Awakening the Buddha Within and Awakening to the Sacred

About the Author

Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the non-dual wisdom tradition of Zen and Advaita a pioneer in the integration of Eastern wisdom and Western psychology, and an internationally recognized expert on meditation and mindfulness. His books include Wake Up Now and the guidebook Meditation for Dummies. A licensed psychotherapist, he leads classes, workshops, and retreats in the direct approach to spiritual realization and offers counseling and mentoring to people worldwide. www.stephanbodian.org

Foreword writer John J. Prendergast, PhD, is author of In Touch,senior editor of The Sacred Mirror and Listening from the Heart of Silence,and retired adjunct professor of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He is a spiritual teacher and also a psychotherapist in private practice. www.listeningfromsilence.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XGSDZLQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Non-Duality; 1st edition (September 1, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 675 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 138 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1941768032
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 187 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Stephan Bodian

Stephan Bodian

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Stephan Bodian is a pioneer in the integration of Eastern wisdom and Western psychology. His books include "Meditation for Dummies"; "Wake Up Now: A Guide to the Journey of Spiritual Awakening": and the new book "Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love." Stephan graduated from Columbia University and did graduate work at Stanford, then spent 10 years as a Buddhist monk and another decade studying with a master of Indian non dualism. He leads workshops and retreats on the "direct approach" to spiritual realization and offers counseling and mentoring to people worldwide.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
187 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book offers solid explanations and exercises for Zen Buddhism. They find it helpful and motivational, with practical advice and guided practices. The book provides a clear perspective on the direct path to spiritual awakening, providing simple pointers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
InsightEase of useSimplicity
22 customers mention "Insight"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers clear explanations and exercises for Zen. They find it helpful and motivational, with good information and practical advice. The author provides simple yet profound ideas and meditations toward understanding and Source.

"...The author also gives some meditation techniques to help us deepen into it and to abide as it." Read more

"It’s like this book was written specifically for me. I had been a mindfulness practitioner for years. It developed into something very useful...." Read more

"...This book is really motivational since it makes you to remember to practice more and the benefits of practice...." Read more

"Great follow-up to "Wake Up Now." I like that, as this author "progresses" (don't get me started on the applicability of that word),..." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book practical and helpful.

"...I find his book to be both practical and inspiring." Read more

"Clear and helpful..." Read more

"Practical and Profound..." Read more

3 customers mention "Simplicity"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a clear perspective and concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening. They appreciate Stephan Bodian's simple pointers and meditations.

"Stephan's simple and clear ideas are life transforming. A must-read for people that are interested in the direct approach for enlightenment." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stephan Bodian’s simple pointers and meditations toward understanding and Source." Read more

"A clear, concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening..." Read more

A clear, concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening
4 out of 5 stars
A clear, concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening
This book discusses topics and a spiritual path that are difficult for our rational minds to understand. The main challenge of this subject matter is to discuss something that is beyond concepts (even that previous sentence may seem like a riddle to one's rational mind).Not an easy task for any author! Yet, Stephan Bodian does an excellent job discussing the ideas of non-duality and spiritual awakening. He does this skillfully using clear, simple language, and in a contemporary style. I found myself highlighting many areas of the book that resonated with me at a deeper level. There are also guided practices and helpful "questions and answers" sections sprinkled throughout the book.Stephan also discusses the limits and potential pitfalls of conventional mindfulness, which I found helpful.Overall, a wonderful book and introduction to non-dual approaches and the direct path of spiritual awakening.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • CL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I learned from this book that it's not about a progressive approach to attain something that is in a distant future, but to achieve and unfold what we are, which is already present. The author also gives some meditation techniques to help us deepen into it and to abide as it.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Tom Mitchell
    5.0 out of 5 stars So beyond grateful for this wisdom
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It’s like this book was written specifically for me. I had been a mindfulness practitioner for years. It developed into something very useful. And my life changed in many positive ways. Yet I was noticing that I didn’t feel as close to the action as I could be. This book gave me my answer.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Olli Erjanti
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great book from with insight
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A great book with great insight. I was really impressed by the clarity how Stephen shows that there is something beyond mindfulness as it is usually taught now a days. This something is consciousness itself and resting in it has some wonderful qualities like calm and joy that are expressed as friendliness and love towards others. Concentrating too hard on means only (mindfulness) one can forget the actual goal (consciousness and it's free expression as friendliness towards oneself and others).

    By holding on to the method of of mindfulness it is easy to maintain a detached observer attitude towards one's own life while it is happening and so holding back. But in reality there is no detached observer or someone who is experiencing stuff (pleasant or discomfort) there is only experience itself and resting in it as embodied consciousness is a way to freedom, peace and happiness. Stephen shows this nicely.

    The book has a lot of exercises but for me the book is still a bit too much intellectual in the end. This is good in the sense that it really makes you understand that there is something even more valuable beyond mindfulness but in the end it is just the practice that matters. The practice of resting as involved consciousness (not detached observer). This book is really motivational since it makes you to remember to practice more and the benefits of practice. This book is a must read for every body that is deep in to mindfulness and wants to learn what is even more valuable beyond mindfulness. It also tells what is the origin of mindfulness practice and what is the real reason to practice it and to go beyond it.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Honest Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mostly, bravo!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Great follow-up to "Wake Up Now." I like that, as this author "progresses" (don't get me started on the applicability of that word), his books "progress" as well, and he shares with us what he has learned, with no apologies for where he was in the past.

    My only complaint about this book is the author's propensity for plugging his website, teaching services, and former works. Perhaps his editors suggested this type of self-promotion, or perhaps the enlightenment business is tough and he needs the income, but I'm a firm believer in letting your work speak for you. If your ideas are compelling enough, your readers will seek out more information without your prompting. After all, his target audience is more than likely intelligent, well-educated, and computer-savvy enough to find him on the web.

    Other than that, bravo!
    19 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • art-c
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    saw him on the PBS special. decided to check out this book. i am glad that i did because it's very good.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • William T. Gibbons
    5.0 out of 5 stars I keep coming back to this book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a particularly clear and lucid exposition of the 'direct approach' to nonduality - the more I return to it, the more useful I find it. I highly recommend it.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Greg B
    4.0 out of 5 stars A clear, concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book discusses topics and a spiritual path that are difficult for our rational minds to understand. The main challenge of this subject matter is to discuss something that is beyond concepts (even that previous sentence may seem like a riddle to one's rational mind).

    Not an easy task for any author! Yet, Stephan Bodian does an excellent job discussing the ideas of non-duality and spiritual awakening. He does this skillfully using clear, simple language, and in a contemporary style. I found myself highlighting many areas of the book that resonated with me at a deeper level. There are also guided practices and helpful "questions and answers" sections sprinkled throughout the book.

    Stephan also discusses the limits and potential pitfalls of conventional mindfulness, which I found helpful.

    Overall, a wonderful book and introduction to non-dual approaches and the direct path of spiritual awakening.
    Customer image
    Greg B
    4.0 out of 5 stars A clear, concise guide about the direct path to spiritual awakening
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
    This book discusses topics and a spiritual path that are difficult for our rational minds to understand. The main challenge of this subject matter is to discuss something that is beyond concepts (even that previous sentence may seem like a riddle to one's rational mind).

    Not an easy task for any author! Yet, Stephan Bodian does an excellent job discussing the ideas of non-duality and spiritual awakening. He does this skillfully using clear, simple language, and in a contemporary style. I found myself highlighting many areas of the book that resonated with me at a deeper level. There are also guided practices and helpful "questions and answers" sections sprinkled throughout the book.

    Stephan also discusses the limits and potential pitfalls of conventional mindfulness, which I found helpful.

    Overall, a wonderful book and introduction to non-dual approaches and the direct path of spiritual awakening.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mauricio Goldstein
    5.0 out of 5 stars A simple and clear perspective on the direct approach
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Stephan's simple and clear ideas are life transforming. A must-read for people that are interested in the direct approach for enlightenment.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Srinivas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for a seeker who fails to understand why the reality is not attained...
    Reviewed in India on May 16, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book on Kindle and landed up highlighting every word of it. Every word is so meaningful. This kind of reading does require some background teachings and knowledge for some of us, if you are the lucky one... This is all you need to realise the self. Sincere Gratitude for the book
    Report
  • OJ Godoy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good!!!
    Reviewed in Spain on December 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book points out to who we really are, what we have to realize in life and how we can life effortless. Non dualistic phylosophy which is focused in what real is.
    Report
  • Steven Lane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book - at the top of its genre
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I write this as a spiritual coach and long time meditator. This is an outstanding book, which points you to non dual truth without religion, cultural baggage or mystical concepts. It is well written and wonderfully inspiring. Few books point to the truth with easy and practical meditations as does this book. So many pearls of wisdom!
    Report
  • Rheal Raymond
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book that will transform my life as I keep re-reading it.
    Report
  • michele biotti
    2.0 out of 5 stars Non mi convince
    Reviewed in Italy on March 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Il testo si basa sul sentiero diretto ispirato all'advaita, ma ho come l'impressione che l'autore non sia lo Yogi classico che troviamo negli ashram dell'India, ispirato e convincente, ma un rivisitatore degli insegnamenti del vedanta all'americana. Non mi piace nemmeno quando pubblicizza le sue scuole, cade di stile. In complesso, non sufficiente
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report