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Top positive review
153 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsGuidebook for Changing Your Life
ByHarvesteron June 19, 2016
In trying to write a proper review for this book, it's first worth noting that this stands as a masterpiece of knowledge that has quite literally changed my life. It's not often that I'll read a book twice, but for this one I'm certain I'll be re-reading it for years to come. To be fair, I've not read many other books in this area, but I'm sure that I've somehow stumbled onto one of the best in its class.
I should start out by saying that I'm not a Buddhist, and quite frankly have developed a degree of skepticism and disappointment for all religions of the world. In saying that I'm not an atheist by any means, but really a seeker of the ultimate universal truth. Culadasa (and team) are able to guide the reader through a very thoughtful process of how to understand your own consciousness, where one's actual understanding of truth are compiled. Indeed, I've taken college level classes on neuroscience, and heard more than once that we know where all the components of your mind are located (emotions, memory, anger, happiness, etc.), but consciousness has no actual locus. This book takes you on a journey in the attempt to understand what that means, and ultimately provides one of the best articulations I have ever read on describing the conscious mind.
How can doing something so simple, like paying attention to one thing (i.e. breathing) for an extended period of time be so profound? How can this process cause so much turmoil as your entire belief system is turned upside down? And finally, how does this result in answering some of the deepest questions that have swirled around in your mind from as long as you can remember? As I began a practice of meditation using techniques outlined in the book, there were questions and thoughts that were followed by more questions and thoughts. I was (and still am) amazed at how thoroughly everything is addressed in complete detail. In fact, I went through something quite traumatic that's referred to as "The Dark Night of the Soul". It's ultimately caused when you come to the realization your whole concept of self is something fabricated in the mind. I went through a crisis of sorts, as the ego tried to hang onto its tenuous moorings in consensus reality. In letting go of the ego so to speak, and beginning the process of unifying the many components of the mind into one cohesive process has brought about an inner peace with clarity and focus like I've never had before. I'm convinced that this is just the beginning of something more profound as the journey unfolds.
I originally had just the Kindle version, but now went out and bought a hard copy for my coffee table in the meditation area. It's a book that gets opened just about every day. As mentioned, I'm now almost finished with the second cover-to-cover reading. I've actually created a document to outline the key points of the book. There are a number of lists, levels, and other important points that really need to be committed to memory. The book is organized using side notes, diagrams, and key points in offsets. It's suffice to say that the important points, are indeed *important* to remember.
If your looking for a treatise on mindfulness, or life changing guidebook to help you with the quest for truth, then I wholeheartedly recommend the knowledge in this book as the means to get you there.
I should start out by saying that I'm not a Buddhist, and quite frankly have developed a degree of skepticism and disappointment for all religions of the world. In saying that I'm not an atheist by any means, but really a seeker of the ultimate universal truth. Culadasa (and team) are able to guide the reader through a very thoughtful process of how to understand your own consciousness, where one's actual understanding of truth are compiled. Indeed, I've taken college level classes on neuroscience, and heard more than once that we know where all the components of your mind are located (emotions, memory, anger, happiness, etc.), but consciousness has no actual locus. This book takes you on a journey in the attempt to understand what that means, and ultimately provides one of the best articulations I have ever read on describing the conscious mind.
How can doing something so simple, like paying attention to one thing (i.e. breathing) for an extended period of time be so profound? How can this process cause so much turmoil as your entire belief system is turned upside down? And finally, how does this result in answering some of the deepest questions that have swirled around in your mind from as long as you can remember? As I began a practice of meditation using techniques outlined in the book, there were questions and thoughts that were followed by more questions and thoughts. I was (and still am) amazed at how thoroughly everything is addressed in complete detail. In fact, I went through something quite traumatic that's referred to as "The Dark Night of the Soul". It's ultimately caused when you come to the realization your whole concept of self is something fabricated in the mind. I went through a crisis of sorts, as the ego tried to hang onto its tenuous moorings in consensus reality. In letting go of the ego so to speak, and beginning the process of unifying the many components of the mind into one cohesive process has brought about an inner peace with clarity and focus like I've never had before. I'm convinced that this is just the beginning of something more profound as the journey unfolds.
I originally had just the Kindle version, but now went out and bought a hard copy for my coffee table in the meditation area. It's a book that gets opened just about every day. As mentioned, I'm now almost finished with the second cover-to-cover reading. I've actually created a document to outline the key points of the book. There are a number of lists, levels, and other important points that really need to be committed to memory. The book is organized using side notes, diagrams, and key points in offsets. It's suffice to say that the important points, are indeed *important* to remember.
If your looking for a treatise on mindfulness, or life changing guidebook to help you with the quest for truth, then I wholeheartedly recommend the knowledge in this book as the means to get you there.
Top critical review
One person found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars
ByAmazon Customeron January 16, 2018
The author did try to explain everything! Including the parts that “only be known by direct experiences” !
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ByHarvesteron June 19, 2016
In trying to write a proper review for this book, it's first worth noting that this stands as a masterpiece of knowledge that has quite literally changed my life. It's not often that I'll read a book twice, but for this one I'm certain I'll be re-reading it for years to come. To be fair, I've not read many other books in this area, but I'm sure that I've somehow stumbled onto one of the best in its class.
I should start out by saying that I'm not a Buddhist, and quite frankly have developed a degree of skepticism and disappointment for all religions of the world. In saying that I'm not an atheist by any means, but really a seeker of the ultimate universal truth. Culadasa (and team) are able to guide the reader through a very thoughtful process of how to understand your own consciousness, where one's actual understanding of truth are compiled. Indeed, I've taken college level classes on neuroscience, and heard more than once that we know where all the components of your mind are located (emotions, memory, anger, happiness, etc.), but consciousness has no actual locus. This book takes you on a journey in the attempt to understand what that means, and ultimately provides one of the best articulations I have ever read on describing the conscious mind.
How can doing something so simple, like paying attention to one thing (i.e. breathing) for an extended period of time be so profound? How can this process cause so much turmoil as your entire belief system is turned upside down? And finally, how does this result in answering some of the deepest questions that have swirled around in your mind from as long as you can remember? As I began a practice of meditation using techniques outlined in the book, there were questions and thoughts that were followed by more questions and thoughts. I was (and still am) amazed at how thoroughly everything is addressed in complete detail. In fact, I went through something quite traumatic that's referred to as "The Dark Night of the Soul". It's ultimately caused when you come to the realization your whole concept of self is something fabricated in the mind. I went through a crisis of sorts, as the ego tried to hang onto its tenuous moorings in consensus reality. In letting go of the ego so to speak, and beginning the process of unifying the many components of the mind into one cohesive process has brought about an inner peace with clarity and focus like I've never had before. I'm convinced that this is just the beginning of something more profound as the journey unfolds.
I originally had just the Kindle version, but now went out and bought a hard copy for my coffee table in the meditation area. It's a book that gets opened just about every day. As mentioned, I'm now almost finished with the second cover-to-cover reading. I've actually created a document to outline the key points of the book. There are a number of lists, levels, and other important points that really need to be committed to memory. The book is organized using side notes, diagrams, and key points in offsets. It's suffice to say that the important points, are indeed *important* to remember.
If your looking for a treatise on mindfulness, or life changing guidebook to help you with the quest for truth, then I wholeheartedly recommend the knowledge in this book as the means to get you there.
I should start out by saying that I'm not a Buddhist, and quite frankly have developed a degree of skepticism and disappointment for all religions of the world. In saying that I'm not an atheist by any means, but really a seeker of the ultimate universal truth. Culadasa (and team) are able to guide the reader through a very thoughtful process of how to understand your own consciousness, where one's actual understanding of truth are compiled. Indeed, I've taken college level classes on neuroscience, and heard more than once that we know where all the components of your mind are located (emotions, memory, anger, happiness, etc.), but consciousness has no actual locus. This book takes you on a journey in the attempt to understand what that means, and ultimately provides one of the best articulations I have ever read on describing the conscious mind.
How can doing something so simple, like paying attention to one thing (i.e. breathing) for an extended period of time be so profound? How can this process cause so much turmoil as your entire belief system is turned upside down? And finally, how does this result in answering some of the deepest questions that have swirled around in your mind from as long as you can remember? As I began a practice of meditation using techniques outlined in the book, there were questions and thoughts that were followed by more questions and thoughts. I was (and still am) amazed at how thoroughly everything is addressed in complete detail. In fact, I went through something quite traumatic that's referred to as "The Dark Night of the Soul". It's ultimately caused when you come to the realization your whole concept of self is something fabricated in the mind. I went through a crisis of sorts, as the ego tried to hang onto its tenuous moorings in consensus reality. In letting go of the ego so to speak, and beginning the process of unifying the many components of the mind into one cohesive process has brought about an inner peace with clarity and focus like I've never had before. I'm convinced that this is just the beginning of something more profound as the journey unfolds.
I originally had just the Kindle version, but now went out and bought a hard copy for my coffee table in the meditation area. It's a book that gets opened just about every day. As mentioned, I'm now almost finished with the second cover-to-cover reading. I've actually created a document to outline the key points of the book. There are a number of lists, levels, and other important points that really need to be committed to memory. The book is organized using side notes, diagrams, and key points in offsets. It's suffice to say that the important points, are indeed *important* to remember.
If your looking for a treatise on mindfulness, or life changing guidebook to help you with the quest for truth, then I wholeheartedly recommend the knowledge in this book as the means to get you there.
153 people found this helpful
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ByK Knoxon September 11, 2015
The subtitle here, “A Complete Meditation Guide,” understates this astonishing book's comprehensiveness and profundity by half. This is a 475 page long magnum opus that's exponentially more useful than all of the previous guides to meditation I've read (and I've read plenty, having been involved in Buddhist study and practice since the early 1970's).
For a newcomer to meditation this book is the best possible introduction as well as a lifelong companion. For someone with an established practice, be it in the Theravadin, Tibetan or Zen tradition (or for that matter secular mindfulness or non-Buddhist contemplative approaches) The MInd Illuminated is a treasure trove of encouragement and clarification of key points in practice that no other book I'm aware of addresses. It comes as close as any book possibly can to having not just a teacher but a living meditation master with personal experience of every step of the path into your home.
While grounded in decades of obviously very serious and intensive practice and study of Buddhism this book uses the absolute minimum number of foreign words and defines them precisely. Someone with a purely secular interest in meditation will have no problem with the content, while devoted adherents of particular contemplative paths will feel supported. The tone throughout is kind, warm, clear and encouraging.
Anyone who's practiced meditation for years knows that motivation for practice often waxes and wanes, and that it's all-too-easy to run into dead ends that seem impossible to overcome, to stagnate in one's practice, or to stop sitting altogether out of frustration or fear. Culadasa anticipates all of this, starting with a chapter titled “Establishing a Practice” that in and of itself is worth the price of the book, and following up with dozens of pith instructions that seem to address even the subtlest mistakes in practice, obviously born from a combination of deep realization and extensive experience coaching meditators ranging from beginner to very advanced.
My only regret about this book is that it wasn't published decades ago!
For a newcomer to meditation this book is the best possible introduction as well as a lifelong companion. For someone with an established practice, be it in the Theravadin, Tibetan or Zen tradition (or for that matter secular mindfulness or non-Buddhist contemplative approaches) The MInd Illuminated is a treasure trove of encouragement and clarification of key points in practice that no other book I'm aware of addresses. It comes as close as any book possibly can to having not just a teacher but a living meditation master with personal experience of every step of the path into your home.
While grounded in decades of obviously very serious and intensive practice and study of Buddhism this book uses the absolute minimum number of foreign words and defines them precisely. Someone with a purely secular interest in meditation will have no problem with the content, while devoted adherents of particular contemplative paths will feel supported. The tone throughout is kind, warm, clear and encouraging.
Anyone who's practiced meditation for years knows that motivation for practice often waxes and wanes, and that it's all-too-easy to run into dead ends that seem impossible to overcome, to stagnate in one's practice, or to stop sitting altogether out of frustration or fear. Culadasa anticipates all of this, starting with a chapter titled “Establishing a Practice” that in and of itself is worth the price of the book, and following up with dozens of pith instructions that seem to address even the subtlest mistakes in practice, obviously born from a combination of deep realization and extensive experience coaching meditators ranging from beginner to very advanced.
My only regret about this book is that it wasn't published decades ago!
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is the best instruction book on buddhistic meditation I have read since ...
Byreviewer1on December 29, 2015
This book is the best instruction book on buddhistic meditation I have read since Daniel Ingram's `mastering the core teachings of the buddha'. However, Culadasa's book lacks the controversy surrounding the latter one. His book does not really deal with Buddhist orthodoxy but is a very precise and motivating manual how to meditate and how to achieve the higher meditation states that have been described over and over again in the oldest Buddhist literature (Pali canon and Visuddhimagga). These achievements are well-known within the Theravada literature and modern practice and can be achieved by proper practice (never withstanding the popular new wave/zen light misconception that the practice doesn't really matter and that there is nothing to be accomplished). I have never read a better and to-the-point manual how to start a dedicated meditation practice and how to actually do any relevant meditation exercise in a way that it leads to results. The book is extremely good in combining classical meditation instructions with the right mind set for motivation and positive reinforcement of the practice. If one has a decent background in some meditation discipline and some knowledge of the maps of what might happen with dedicated practice, then this book is in my opinion the only book one needs, together with actually doing the practice, to really get started and get a long way to achieve certain states and insights that can result from meditation. This is the one and only Dharma book you want to take to an inhabited island for a long time.
ByJack Islandon October 8, 2016
I hastened to review this book after seeing the overwhelmingly positive reviews. Many books on spirituality enjoy something of an equivalent to grade inflation. Gratitude and reciprocity go together, sometimes to the detriment of a more objective, and useful review.
I read this book first on Kindle for the reduced price. Inspired to almost immediately purchase the print edition. The lush diagrams, artful cover, and tangible reading experience made for fuller immersion and better retention.
After six months and at least three readings later, I stick to my five star review.
Around the same time of my initial exposure to this book, I stumbled across Peak by Anders Erickson. He qualifies the oft cited 10,000 hour rule with the concept of purposeful practice. To master something we need both time and awareness.
I started meditating off and on almost ten years ago; merely sitting with a vague understanding of meditation meant many plateaus and confusion. I tended more toward what Culadasa calls insight practice, at the expense of calm abiding (in the introduction of this book, he explains how the two approaches interdependently produce fertile conditions for awakening).
I knew that I needed more concentration in my practice. I decided to make meditation my keystone habit. For the first time (with the watchful eye of this book) I maintained a daily habit now six months strong.
Make no mistake, this book demands effort. The first stage in the ten stages of mastery means making meditation a daily habit, and Culadasa advises longer sits (working up to at least 40 minutes). Without a strong commitment, not sure how much long term value one can expect. But that was exactly what I wanted - realistic expectations and vicarious coaching to make marginal gains and real progress.
Critically engaging with the techniques, setting goals both inside and outside sessions, and practicing the walking meditations, no doubt accelerated my progress. I started around stage two or three and now primarily practice at stage six. I noticed discernible differences in the stages. For example, overcoming subtle dullness considerably turned up the voltage on my sessions.
I would watch out for not identifying too much with progress. I'm also not sure how much you can expect to overcome a stage once and for all. Adding judgement to a temporary regression can only make it worse. I struggled to internalize positive reinforcement for whenever I caught my mind wandering because I thought it reflected poorly on my practice. I would recommended over blowing the positives in each session, with faith that time and awareness will inexorably improve your baseline of concentration.
Excited to see how my practice turns out over the coming months and years, but the fact that I practiced the teachings in this book now for hundreds of hours speaks volumes to my personal investment. I never had a book weave itself so thoroughly into my daily life.
I read this book first on Kindle for the reduced price. Inspired to almost immediately purchase the print edition. The lush diagrams, artful cover, and tangible reading experience made for fuller immersion and better retention.
After six months and at least three readings later, I stick to my five star review.
Around the same time of my initial exposure to this book, I stumbled across Peak by Anders Erickson. He qualifies the oft cited 10,000 hour rule with the concept of purposeful practice. To master something we need both time and awareness.
I started meditating off and on almost ten years ago; merely sitting with a vague understanding of meditation meant many plateaus and confusion. I tended more toward what Culadasa calls insight practice, at the expense of calm abiding (in the introduction of this book, he explains how the two approaches interdependently produce fertile conditions for awakening).
I knew that I needed more concentration in my practice. I decided to make meditation my keystone habit. For the first time (with the watchful eye of this book) I maintained a daily habit now six months strong.
Make no mistake, this book demands effort. The first stage in the ten stages of mastery means making meditation a daily habit, and Culadasa advises longer sits (working up to at least 40 minutes). Without a strong commitment, not sure how much long term value one can expect. But that was exactly what I wanted - realistic expectations and vicarious coaching to make marginal gains and real progress.
Critically engaging with the techniques, setting goals both inside and outside sessions, and practicing the walking meditations, no doubt accelerated my progress. I started around stage two or three and now primarily practice at stage six. I noticed discernible differences in the stages. For example, overcoming subtle dullness considerably turned up the voltage on my sessions.
I would watch out for not identifying too much with progress. I'm also not sure how much you can expect to overcome a stage once and for all. Adding judgement to a temporary regression can only make it worse. I struggled to internalize positive reinforcement for whenever I caught my mind wandering because I thought it reflected poorly on my practice. I would recommended over blowing the positives in each session, with faith that time and awareness will inexorably improve your baseline of concentration.
Excited to see how my practice turns out over the coming months and years, but the fact that I practiced the teachings in this book now for hundreds of hours speaks volumes to my personal investment. I never had a book weave itself so thoroughly into my daily life.
ByYvonneon April 13, 2016
I was very hesitant to buy yet another book on meditation. I passed on this book several times over the past months. Now, not only have I read the book, which runs about 460 pages (not counting the table of contents and index) in its entirety, but I am about 100 pages into a second reading.
The book is brilliant. It is extremely well-written in lucid prose. The text is clear, concise, packed full of practical instruction. This book has managed to illuminate the areas of meditation practice that have always seemed unclear and difficult to me before. The authors do not rely on the use of words taken from Pali, Sanskrit, or Tibetan, in order to describe concepts that other authors have found difficult to explain in English. They have found a way to fully explain the practice of mediation using words already in the English language.
Meditation Instructions are presented in easy stages, in such a way that even very advanced meditative states do not seem to be beyond reach. Each set of instructions builds on previous understanding and gently leads the reader through the stages of meditation. In addition, the instructions are provided within a framework of how the brain functions. This is especially helpful in providing a working concept of the interactions between the conscious, and the unconscious minds and how both can be influenced though intention. No longer will you perceive sheer will power to be the way to train the mind. The authors show how to use these models of brain function, to facilitate stable attention using positive tools; like intention, present moment awareness, relaxation and enjoyment.
Reading this book I have so much appreciation for how much knowledge the authors must have, from their teachers, from their own extensive meditative experiences and from what they have learned while teaching many, many other individuals. Every time I pick up this book, it seems impossible that so much knowledge could be contained in such a compact object. I did not think such a book could ever be written.
This book is exquisite and is sure to become a classic on the subject. In addition It is extremely well priced, and I want to thank the authors for making it so affordable.
The book is brilliant. It is extremely well-written in lucid prose. The text is clear, concise, packed full of practical instruction. This book has managed to illuminate the areas of meditation practice that have always seemed unclear and difficult to me before. The authors do not rely on the use of words taken from Pali, Sanskrit, or Tibetan, in order to describe concepts that other authors have found difficult to explain in English. They have found a way to fully explain the practice of mediation using words already in the English language.
Meditation Instructions are presented in easy stages, in such a way that even very advanced meditative states do not seem to be beyond reach. Each set of instructions builds on previous understanding and gently leads the reader through the stages of meditation. In addition, the instructions are provided within a framework of how the brain functions. This is especially helpful in providing a working concept of the interactions between the conscious, and the unconscious minds and how both can be influenced though intention. No longer will you perceive sheer will power to be the way to train the mind. The authors show how to use these models of brain function, to facilitate stable attention using positive tools; like intention, present moment awareness, relaxation and enjoyment.
Reading this book I have so much appreciation for how much knowledge the authors must have, from their teachers, from their own extensive meditative experiences and from what they have learned while teaching many, many other individuals. Every time I pick up this book, it seems impossible that so much knowledge could be contained in such a compact object. I did not think such a book could ever be written.
This book is exquisite and is sure to become a classic on the subject. In addition It is extremely well priced, and I want to thank the authors for making it so affordable.
ByP. Steeleon April 12, 2018
It may sound strange, but this is a meditation book that I would recommend even to people who have no intention of ever meditating:
I'm on my second cover-to-cover reading of this 500-page tome, and I'm convinced it will be regarded by future historians as a scientific milestone and a masterpiece.
The reason I would recommend it to everyone (meditator or not) is that it describes, better than any previous effort I've seen, how the human mind actually works. And it does so clearly, in astonishing detail, and with scientific rigor.
The author is a neuroscientist, and has a fully scientific worldview, but he's also a 40-year-veteran meditator and scholar of the Buddhist literature on the mind.
He's done something unprecedented here: He's taken the wordy, redundant, and nearly indecipherable gobbledygook of the ancient Buddhist teachings, lifted out the real scientific truths concealed in the old mystical language, and combined it with modern neuroscience to come up with a super-clear, step-by-step description of how a mind works and how meditation works to train a mind.
An analogy: What he's done here is like a modern scientist taking the old witch-doctor recommendation to chew the bark of a willow when you have a toothache. The modern scientist analyzes willow bark to find that it contains salicylic acid (which it does) and then points out: This recommendation is valid because willow bark contains aspirin. That's why this folk remedy works. And also, here is exactly how much bark you should chew to get the effective dose. Or if you prefer, I have some bottled aspirin here you could take instead.
Yates has done an immense service to humankind by separating the wheat from the chaff of this 2600-year-old practice.
And I'm even more impressed, on the second reading, with the astonishing level of detail and clarity with which he presents this. It's incredibly detailed in its presentation of a step-by-step guide through ever-advancing stages of mental training via meditation. Basically 500 pages of step-by-step instruction through ten "Stages" of progress as a meditator (I discovered that I'm on Stage 3).
I had felt stalled for years as a meditator, but since reading this I'm rapidly making progress again.
And more importantly, I see a clear path ahead to clearly defined goals for the first time. And I have easy-to-understand criteria to measure progress and know where I'm going and why.
This is revolutionary. It's so different from the vaguely defined practices and goals taught by traditional teachers.
It's also great to see what the full path looks like, through all 10 stages, and to realize that there are important benefits to be found at each stage, even if you don't want to reach the top of the mountain.
I still don't know if I want to reach "Awakening" (in theory the ultimate goal of meditation), because I'm not sure I want to be one with the universe, or at least at this point in my life. I'm having too much fun with my compulsions and bad habits to want full enlightenment right now. But maybe one day. (Regarding Awakening, I often feel like St. Augustine, who famously prayed: "Lord give me chastity, but not yet.")
I think anyone who is highly introspective, and who wants to understand his or her own mind better, can benefit from reading this book. Of course, I can't imagine reading it and NOT wanting to meditate intensively, but I think it would be valuable to anyone. And for me, it has been super-helpful to understand that I'm at Stage 3 of the 10 stages, and his practical tips have me "unstuck" and moving toward Stage 4 rapidly (well I hope it's rapidly).
I recommend the physical book, not Kindle, because the illustrations are extremely clarifying and they may not come through as well in Kindle format.
I can't say enough good things about this book. A real achievement.
I'm on my second cover-to-cover reading of this 500-page tome, and I'm convinced it will be regarded by future historians as a scientific milestone and a masterpiece.
The reason I would recommend it to everyone (meditator or not) is that it describes, better than any previous effort I've seen, how the human mind actually works. And it does so clearly, in astonishing detail, and with scientific rigor.
The author is a neuroscientist, and has a fully scientific worldview, but he's also a 40-year-veteran meditator and scholar of the Buddhist literature on the mind.
He's done something unprecedented here: He's taken the wordy, redundant, and nearly indecipherable gobbledygook of the ancient Buddhist teachings, lifted out the real scientific truths concealed in the old mystical language, and combined it with modern neuroscience to come up with a super-clear, step-by-step description of how a mind works and how meditation works to train a mind.
An analogy: What he's done here is like a modern scientist taking the old witch-doctor recommendation to chew the bark of a willow when you have a toothache. The modern scientist analyzes willow bark to find that it contains salicylic acid (which it does) and then points out: This recommendation is valid because willow bark contains aspirin. That's why this folk remedy works. And also, here is exactly how much bark you should chew to get the effective dose. Or if you prefer, I have some bottled aspirin here you could take instead.
Yates has done an immense service to humankind by separating the wheat from the chaff of this 2600-year-old practice.
And I'm even more impressed, on the second reading, with the astonishing level of detail and clarity with which he presents this. It's incredibly detailed in its presentation of a step-by-step guide through ever-advancing stages of mental training via meditation. Basically 500 pages of step-by-step instruction through ten "Stages" of progress as a meditator (I discovered that I'm on Stage 3).
I had felt stalled for years as a meditator, but since reading this I'm rapidly making progress again.
And more importantly, I see a clear path ahead to clearly defined goals for the first time. And I have easy-to-understand criteria to measure progress and know where I'm going and why.
This is revolutionary. It's so different from the vaguely defined practices and goals taught by traditional teachers.
It's also great to see what the full path looks like, through all 10 stages, and to realize that there are important benefits to be found at each stage, even if you don't want to reach the top of the mountain.
I still don't know if I want to reach "Awakening" (in theory the ultimate goal of meditation), because I'm not sure I want to be one with the universe, or at least at this point in my life. I'm having too much fun with my compulsions and bad habits to want full enlightenment right now. But maybe one day. (Regarding Awakening, I often feel like St. Augustine, who famously prayed: "Lord give me chastity, but not yet.")
I think anyone who is highly introspective, and who wants to understand his or her own mind better, can benefit from reading this book. Of course, I can't imagine reading it and NOT wanting to meditate intensively, but I think it would be valuable to anyone. And for me, it has been super-helpful to understand that I'm at Stage 3 of the 10 stages, and his practical tips have me "unstuck" and moving toward Stage 4 rapidly (well I hope it's rapidly).
I recommend the physical book, not Kindle, because the illustrations are extremely clarifying and they may not come through as well in Kindle format.
I can't say enough good things about this book. A real achievement.
ByNamafeon November 29, 2017
This book got me back on my cushion and turned my practice upside down in the most positive way possible. I've been meditating on and off for about 10 years, but sooner or later always burning out on the effort to get will power to reign in my unruly, wandering mind. My yoga teacher training required daily meditation which I performed dutifully but soon abandoned after I got my certification. In the past I understood mediation as a brain or head exercise while my body would sit in stillness. I wasn't aware that my expectations of blending out all distractions and achieving total absorption were feeding into my ever growing tension and agitation till the practice grew into an intolerable chore .
'The mind illuminated' first taught me to appreciate my wandering mind for recognizing that it is wandering, and instead of getting frustrated I simply was grateful for the 'wake up call' and peacefully returned to the breath. It only took a couple of days of cultivating this much more positive attitude to not get distracted from the breath any longer, and within a couple of months I found myself starting stage five. Here it gets really interesting because now the practice takes you out of your head and into the rest of your nervous system. I was almost immediately met with strong prolonged piti that soon involved my whole body. For me this was a pleasant but totally unexpected and therefore unsettling experience, however as long I remembered to let things come, let things be, and let them go, I was greatly enjoying my 'shaking from head to toe' sessions.
The amazing part about working with this book is that once you are on your way your mind and body almost automatically progress through the stages even without having read about what's coming next. There where plenty of times when I was getting a little worried while sitting and observing things changing and evolving past my intentions and goals I set for this day (and therefore my expectations), only to figure out later referencing the book that I simply was moving along on the path. Currently I am working in stage 7, learning to trust my mind (or my submind collective) to stay on track so I can fully relax and sink into the experience.
I am now looking forward to my practice every day, which somehow now happens at six in the morning even though I love to sleep in. Something (my subminds I guess) drags me on the cushion before sun up almost against my will, and it puts a deep smile on my face writing about it. And I am almost embarrassed how this new way of meditating turned me from a rather critical and often cynical person into someone who now has the proverbial pink glasses glued to their nose.
I found this book and my way back to the practice in hope for peace of mind and also pain management for my chronic sciatica, I wasn't signing up for joy and happiness because joyful and happy people tend to make me a little nervous lol. So I am looking forward to the later stages that are supposed to bring more calm and equanimity, but meanwhile I let the pink glasses be, ready to let them go in due time, enjoying them while they last :)
Can't recommend this book strongly enough, it was a life changer for me.
'The mind illuminated' first taught me to appreciate my wandering mind for recognizing that it is wandering, and instead of getting frustrated I simply was grateful for the 'wake up call' and peacefully returned to the breath. It only took a couple of days of cultivating this much more positive attitude to not get distracted from the breath any longer, and within a couple of months I found myself starting stage five. Here it gets really interesting because now the practice takes you out of your head and into the rest of your nervous system. I was almost immediately met with strong prolonged piti that soon involved my whole body. For me this was a pleasant but totally unexpected and therefore unsettling experience, however as long I remembered to let things come, let things be, and let them go, I was greatly enjoying my 'shaking from head to toe' sessions.
The amazing part about working with this book is that once you are on your way your mind and body almost automatically progress through the stages even without having read about what's coming next. There where plenty of times when I was getting a little worried while sitting and observing things changing and evolving past my intentions and goals I set for this day (and therefore my expectations), only to figure out later referencing the book that I simply was moving along on the path. Currently I am working in stage 7, learning to trust my mind (or my submind collective) to stay on track so I can fully relax and sink into the experience.
I am now looking forward to my practice every day, which somehow now happens at six in the morning even though I love to sleep in. Something (my subminds I guess) drags me on the cushion before sun up almost against my will, and it puts a deep smile on my face writing about it. And I am almost embarrassed how this new way of meditating turned me from a rather critical and often cynical person into someone who now has the proverbial pink glasses glued to their nose.
I found this book and my way back to the practice in hope for peace of mind and also pain management for my chronic sciatica, I wasn't signing up for joy and happiness because joyful and happy people tend to make me a little nervous lol. So I am looking forward to the later stages that are supposed to bring more calm and equanimity, but meanwhile I let the pink glasses be, ready to let them go in due time, enjoying them while they last :)
Can't recommend this book strongly enough, it was a life changer for me.
BySamyamaon December 12, 2016
This has answered questions that I've been exploring for 27 years including how best to use my meditation time. Culadasa's guide is INDISPENSABLE in demystifying the signal-to-noise ratio of seated practice. He discloses how to effectively deal with the gap that seemed to exist between the real & ideal with steps that are simple, easy-to-follow & effective. I'm filled with enthusiasm & enormous gratitude to be able to practice with such clarity. This guide has made an immediate & tangible impact on the *quality*, consistency & quantity of my practice. The best part is that I'm able to sit on the cushion & stay for extended periods now. I refer back to this book again & again, as other reviewers have said --> read, reread & rereread. It's a pleasure to do so. I'm not sure that what I was doing before was entirely meditation--even though I did my best. Now, rather than by sheer force of will, I'm able to use the momentum ignited by Culadasa to fuel my attention & awareness. I daresay I'm enjoying meditation--though I'm sure there will be a range of experiences ahead along with a sine-wave type learning curve. I keep updating this review because the process is evoking so transformation. I feel blessed every day. Since discovering this book I've cleared away many books from the bookshelf. Meditation is one of my favorite subjects & I've been a long-time student. This volume clarifies many things (known & unknown--as others have noted as well). The bottom line is that I was able to clear/donate so many books because now I'm able to *practice* rather than second-guess myself, wondering if I'm doing it right. Sidenote: I also recommend "The Attention Revolution" by Wallace as an excellent counterpart (I especially find the audio version helpful). Both books shine light on perhaps the *most* important question: What allows real transformation to take place? (I also like what Einstein posed as the most important question we can ask ourselves: "Is the Universe a friendly place or not?") This book is such a gift. I trust this path & I'm grateful it found me. I'm overcome with relief, appreciation & delight. Thank You Culadasa & best wishes to all on your chosen path!
ByDRTon February 9, 2018
Wow, at age 67, this is the book I've looked for all my life. I've tried to get into meditation dozens of times over the years, I've read countless books, gone to lectures and workshops, tried to establish a regular practice, and ultimately experienced frustration at never being able to quite "get it." I started again several months ago -- dedicated, diligent, and trying all the things I had heard in my previous attempts. While I was able to stick with a daily practice, I could feel my resolve slowly evaporating into frustration with each passing session. Then, a relative mentioned this book and how much it had helped her. I got a copy and feel like I have finally found the path. The book is well-written, clear in its instructions, and extremely encouraging. It has moved me further along than anything I have ever tried. Culadasa outlines ten stages from beginner to advanced -- I was able to quickly identify my stage, begin applying his instruction, and am thrilled with my progress. I finally feel like I'm "getting it," because I'm actually experiencing changes in my attention, the stability of my awareness, and a more continuous focus on the meditation object. I've read a few negative reviews of this book that seem to suggest the reviewers were reading through the book -- I don't see this as a book to read through, rather one to work through. The first quarter of my copy is underlined, highlighted, and full of marginalia. I'll read through a section, work with the material until I feel I've internalized it, then read another 20 or so pages and start working on that piece. One of the biggest helps so far is his advice on dealing with the hinderances, the distractions, and self-pralazing doubt. I'm finally understanding how much attitude can play into early progress and that has done wonders. I highly recommend this book -- its value greatly exceeds its modest cover price...
ByTable_for_5on March 30, 2017
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide is just that -- a COMPLETE meditation guide. This book is a game changer for meditators, whether just beginning or those with years of experience and all points between. The book demystifies meditation and reveals it for what it is: training of the mind so the it can become unified and able to penetrate the nature of reality in the now. Dr. Yates comprehensively details the ten stages of meditation, clearly delineating the goals for each stage, the obstacles one will encounter in each stage, the mitigating practices to navigate through the obstacles, the states the mind can expect to experience with each stage, and the markers that one has successfully mastered each particular stage.
The book warns against training the mind to chase after the various phenomena that arise during meditation, which, while being pleasing, intriguing and seemingly profound, the phenomena are distractions that take one's attention off the meditation object and will thwart one's progress. Dr. Yates also writes about dullness of mind, during which seemingly profound experiences can occur, but, again, only thwart one's progress. He does not only list the various obstacles and distracting mind states that arise, but he teaches the reader to identify them and gives remediating practices to help the meditator move beyond them.
The book also includes a number of appendices with supplemental meditation practices, as well as a helpful glossary. I cannot recommend this book enough to those who are interested in meditation or who already meditate. The instruction and wisdom shared in the book will truly help your meditation practice to progress in ways that are verifiable and clear to the meditator.
The book warns against training the mind to chase after the various phenomena that arise during meditation, which, while being pleasing, intriguing and seemingly profound, the phenomena are distractions that take one's attention off the meditation object and will thwart one's progress. Dr. Yates also writes about dullness of mind, during which seemingly profound experiences can occur, but, again, only thwart one's progress. He does not only list the various obstacles and distracting mind states that arise, but he teaches the reader to identify them and gives remediating practices to help the meditator move beyond them.
The book also includes a number of appendices with supplemental meditation practices, as well as a helpful glossary. I cannot recommend this book enough to those who are interested in meditation or who already meditate. The instruction and wisdom shared in the book will truly help your meditation practice to progress in ways that are verifiable and clear to the meditator.
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