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50 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsA Coherent Framework
ByBen Butinaon September 17, 2016
For most of human history, a person who wanted to learn to meditate had one teacher who taught a single, unified approach, with a coherent set of practices and terminology. An American in the 21st century, however, faces a bewilderingly diverse array of traditions, each of which has its own practices and special terms. To complicate things further, many of these traditions use the *same* terms to mean different things and the same practices aimed at different goals.
Faced with this Tower of Babel, it's easy to superficially jump from one approach to another, not sticking with any practice long enough to make any meaningful progress. It's also easy to respond to this confusion by throwing one's hands in the air and simply giving up.
The value of this book is that it gives one a coherent mental framework with which understand all the world's meditation practices. This is the sense in which we can say the author presents a "science." Just as the scientific classification of animals equips a biologist to make sense of a newly-discovered species, this "scientific" classification of meditation practices equips one to make sense of the bewildering array of meditation practices they are likely to encounter in the modern "marketplace" of spiritual ideas.
The book has much to offer in addition to this, but this is the biggest payoff for a new reader in my opinion.
Faced with this Tower of Babel, it's easy to superficially jump from one approach to another, not sticking with any practice long enough to make any meaningful progress. It's also easy to respond to this confusion by throwing one's hands in the air and simply giving up.
The value of this book is that it gives one a coherent mental framework with which understand all the world's meditation practices. This is the sense in which we can say the author presents a "science." Just as the scientific classification of animals equips a biologist to make sense of a newly-discovered species, this "scientific" classification of meditation practices equips one to make sense of the bewildering array of meditation practices they are likely to encounter in the modern "marketplace" of spiritual ideas.
The book has much to offer in addition to this, but this is the biggest payoff for a new reader in my opinion.
Top critical review
3 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsProvides a nice roadmap for what you might (or might not) experience ...
ByR.V.on December 29, 2016
I was hoping for more instruction, but considering that Shinzen gives away a ton of instructions for free, I guess that's not much of a deficit. Provides a nice roadmap for what you might (or might not) experience on the path of practice. His attempts to put heretofore incommunicable ideas into words should be admired and appreciated.
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ByBen Butinaon September 17, 2016
For most of human history, a person who wanted to learn to meditate had one teacher who taught a single, unified approach, with a coherent set of practices and terminology. An American in the 21st century, however, faces a bewilderingly diverse array of traditions, each of which has its own practices and special terms. To complicate things further, many of these traditions use the *same* terms to mean different things and the same practices aimed at different goals.
Faced with this Tower of Babel, it's easy to superficially jump from one approach to another, not sticking with any practice long enough to make any meaningful progress. It's also easy to respond to this confusion by throwing one's hands in the air and simply giving up.
The value of this book is that it gives one a coherent mental framework with which understand all the world's meditation practices. This is the sense in which we can say the author presents a "science." Just as the scientific classification of animals equips a biologist to make sense of a newly-discovered species, this "scientific" classification of meditation practices equips one to make sense of the bewildering array of meditation practices they are likely to encounter in the modern "marketplace" of spiritual ideas.
The book has much to offer in addition to this, but this is the biggest payoff for a new reader in my opinion.
Faced with this Tower of Babel, it's easy to superficially jump from one approach to another, not sticking with any practice long enough to make any meaningful progress. It's also easy to respond to this confusion by throwing one's hands in the air and simply giving up.
The value of this book is that it gives one a coherent mental framework with which understand all the world's meditation practices. This is the sense in which we can say the author presents a "science." Just as the scientific classification of animals equips a biologist to make sense of a newly-discovered species, this "scientific" classification of meditation practices equips one to make sense of the bewildering array of meditation practices they are likely to encounter in the modern "marketplace" of spiritual ideas.
The book has much to offer in addition to this, but this is the biggest payoff for a new reader in my opinion.
50 people found this helpful
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ByCharmelloon April 9, 2017
Shinzen Young is a rarity among meditation teachers. He is educated as a scholar in Buddhist studies and Asian languages. He lived as a Shingon monk in Japan, a branch of the Vajrayana school (a distant relative of Tibetan Buddhism), and has trained extensively in Zen and Theravadan Vipassana. Combine this with his studies of worldwide meditative traditions and you get a teacher with an extraordinary breadth and depth of experience and training, and decades of teaching experience. Shinzen is very articulate at describing meditation and spiritual practice with exceptional clarity. I have read many books by well-known teachers and I have attended several retreats. Yet, there were a few facets that were vague to me, but I didn't even realize it until Shinzen clarified it.
For example, "clear knowing" is a fundamental aspect of vipassana meditation. However, I understood what this meant much better after Shinzen explaining it as meaning a finer grained resolution of experience (e.g. the tiny microsensations that make up any larger bodily sensation), as well as discriminating clearly between the components of experience (seeing, hearing, feeling, mental talk, mental image, etc.). Concentration serves as an awareness-extending tool in the same way a microscope allows a biologist to see what was not apparent to the naked eye. Maybe his most famous formulation is Suffering = Pain x Resistance, where "pain" can be any form of distressing experience (sensations, emotion, or thoughts). Equanimity, then is non-resistance to these experiences. So, as we reduce our resistance, the pain may remain the same, but suffering is progressively reduced. These are classic concepts in meditative traditions, but here they are seamlessly integrated and placed in the broader context.
Shinzen further describes more subtle aspects of meditation practice and how these progress toward Enlightenment. Enlightenment is not a magical, mythological fiction, but in fact a real phenomenon, a shift in consciousness that happens to regular people who do sufficient and strategic practice, which greatly enhances a person's resilience, joy, wisdom, and compassion, magnifying their quality of life. Here is where the "science" part of the title really comes in. Shinzen is fascinated by the sciences and has a proficient understanding of them. He sees "spiritual" practice and science as two parallel but complementary human developments, where each can inform the other and collaborate. Ultimately the collaboration between these two endeavors may make enlightenment more accessible to a greater number of people, possibly changing the course of humanity for the better.
Much of the content of this book was released from his audio CD series, also called The Science of Enlightenment, which radically changed my understanding and practice. This text version is not a mere transcription of that series, however. It is updated with a lot of newer material.
For example, "clear knowing" is a fundamental aspect of vipassana meditation. However, I understood what this meant much better after Shinzen explaining it as meaning a finer grained resolution of experience (e.g. the tiny microsensations that make up any larger bodily sensation), as well as discriminating clearly between the components of experience (seeing, hearing, feeling, mental talk, mental image, etc.). Concentration serves as an awareness-extending tool in the same way a microscope allows a biologist to see what was not apparent to the naked eye. Maybe his most famous formulation is Suffering = Pain x Resistance, where "pain" can be any form of distressing experience (sensations, emotion, or thoughts). Equanimity, then is non-resistance to these experiences. So, as we reduce our resistance, the pain may remain the same, but suffering is progressively reduced. These are classic concepts in meditative traditions, but here they are seamlessly integrated and placed in the broader context.
Shinzen further describes more subtle aspects of meditation practice and how these progress toward Enlightenment. Enlightenment is not a magical, mythological fiction, but in fact a real phenomenon, a shift in consciousness that happens to regular people who do sufficient and strategic practice, which greatly enhances a person's resilience, joy, wisdom, and compassion, magnifying their quality of life. Here is where the "science" part of the title really comes in. Shinzen is fascinated by the sciences and has a proficient understanding of them. He sees "spiritual" practice and science as two parallel but complementary human developments, where each can inform the other and collaborate. Ultimately the collaboration between these two endeavors may make enlightenment more accessible to a greater number of people, possibly changing the course of humanity for the better.
Much of the content of this book was released from his audio CD series, also called The Science of Enlightenment, which radically changed my understanding and practice. This text version is not a mere transcription of that series, however. It is updated with a lot of newer material.
ByA. Golsbyon February 11, 2018
Shinzen Young's magnum opus. It describes awakening clearly, correctly, concisely, and precisely.
Shinzen describes what it actually feels like when you meditate. Whether you're meditating for the very first time, or whether you've done it for 50 years, he'll speak directly to you about what's going on in your practice. What's more, he makes it so simple and practical, a first grader could understand it.
If you want meditation to be more than just "relaxation practice"--in other words, if you want to change your life--get this book and follow the instructions. It's nothing complicated or fancy. It's just a set of skills. You practice happiness and clarity, and you get better at them. Just like cooking or running or painting or anything else. Shinzen shows you how to practice awakening.
Shinzen describes what it actually feels like when you meditate. Whether you're meditating for the very first time, or whether you've done it for 50 years, he'll speak directly to you about what's going on in your practice. What's more, he makes it so simple and practical, a first grader could understand it.
If you want meditation to be more than just "relaxation practice"--in other words, if you want to change your life--get this book and follow the instructions. It's nothing complicated or fancy. It's just a set of skills. You practice happiness and clarity, and you get better at them. Just like cooking or running or painting or anything else. Shinzen shows you how to practice awakening.
ByT. Hodgmanon November 17, 2016
I enjoyed the practical and logical approach taken by Shinzen Young. He offers clear explanations of Eastern philosophical concepts that are often confusing or misleading. His advice gave my practice a boost and a greater sense of purpose. The closing chapter of the book give his hope and dream that someday, meditation will be taught from a rationally based, quasi-scientific point of view. Thus, it would be easily and perhaps more efficiently learned. In the meantime, his book serves as a very good guide to develop and deepen one's meditative practice. His writing is clear and very readable.
Bysusandcon November 16, 2016
Clearly written, with deep insights and clarity about the benefits of meditation and why it has such a powerful potential to change individuals. He has created a paradigm that is inclusive of all meditation traditions and uses the rigor of science to create techniques that deepen and expand the practice of meditation. Written with a deep humanity and humor that makes it accessible to the non- scientist. A must read for anyone serious about meditation.
ByPritom Phookunon June 21, 2017
What often comes in the way of people accepting something of immense value is the cultural and historical baggage that accompanies it. The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly referred to as the "Buddha", is one such example. This book helps to separate the shining gem of the Buddha's teachings from the camaflouging "dirt" of its cultural and historical trappings. It is, thereby, a significant piece of work on the modern, secular path to wisdom, fulfilment , and a peaceful world.
ByFred Rosenthalon March 30, 2017
This is the clearest explanation of the background and practice of meditation that I've read. The audio book version is also excellent. I can recommend this both for novices and for long-term practitioners. The author deftly and clear cuts through esoteric concepts and language that can be off-putting for secular Westerners.
ByHarrison H.on May 30, 2017
Before I encountered Shinzen Young’s teachings, I was leery and skeptical of spiritual and contemplative traditions. But Shinzen Young’s way of explaining and teaching meditation appeal to my western cultural background and scientific sensibilities. He’s able to explain with clarity and humor how the systematic methodology of meditation works—which has the effect of “taking the mist out of mysticism” as he puts it. The book is peppered with interesting anecdotes of his own meditation practice and bona fide, rigorous monastic training that makes him an authority on the subject of meditation. Shinzen’s methodology of mindfulness meditation practice has had a more profound effect on my happiness and peace of mind than anything I ever learned (though for actual instruction, his website is best). The book ends with an inspiring and uplifting message of optimism that the marriage of science and meditation bodes well for the future of humanity and life on earth. I highly recommend this book!
5.0 out of 5 starsIf you are interested in mindfulness but don't like the extra fluff that typically comes with it then ...
ByKenneth Schlueteron September 29, 2017
Must have for fans of Shinzen's work. If you are interested in mindfulness but don't like the extra fluff that typically comes with it then I highly recommend!
ByLinda M. Smithon November 16, 2016
Shinzen Young is a engaging teacher with credentials of 50 years practicing and teaching meditation. His knowledge and insights have helped me to broaden and deepen my practice. This is a book you'll want to read more than once since it is rich with details. Lastly Shinzen's vision of how understanding the science of meditation can change our world is real and timely.
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