Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation. But its essence is universal and of deep practical benefit to everyone. Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in our lives, and awakening us to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment. He shows us how this simple meditation technique can enable us to be truly in touch with where we already are, so that we can be fully aware at all times. Jon Kabat-Zinn explains: What 'mindfulness' is; How to achieve mindfulness using simple meditation techniques; How mindful meditation can enhance every aspect of your life; How to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life
In his follow-up to Full Catastrophe Living--a book in which he presented basic meditation techniques as a way of reducing stress and healing from illness--here Jon Kabat-Zinn goes much more deeply into the practice of meditation for its own sake. To Kabat-Zinn, meditation is important because it brings about a state of "mindfulness," a condition of "being" rather than "doing" during which you pay attention to the moment rather than the past, the future, or the multitudinous distractions of modern life. In brief, rather poetic chapters, he describes different meditative practices and what they can do for the practitioner. The idea that meditation is "spiritual" is often confusing to people, Kabat-Zinn writes; he prefers to think of it as what you might call a workout for your consciousness. This book makes learning meditation remarkably easy (although practicing it is not). But it also makes it seem infinitely appealing. --Ben Kallen
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Wherever You Go, There You Are:
This is a classic. Any day that I spend time with this book - usually just one entry at a time - greater peacefulness and focus are assured. And often the author's insights turn my views upside down - there's much to discover here.
Solid introduction to Meditation Practices:
This book was recommended to me by a Sociology professor as a practical guide to exploring stress management techniques. I found it to be an interesting and basically useful introduction to Meditation Techniques and especially appreciated its inclusive, light-handed approach to encompassing more than just Buddhism when promoting the spiritual benefits of meditation. There is certainly something to be gained from this book, whether it is life-changing "mindfulness meditation" or simply a new approach to... more info
6 stars:
For someone growing up from a Buddhist culture, I feel the author has captured the essence of meditation. Specifically, the author reminds to practice meditation without feeling that you are better than everyone else, which is what I have felt. He also suggests to practice meditation without the goal of becoming a better person, more calm, more relaxed, more focused... etc. These are merely by-products of practicing meditation. So why do we do it? Better read the book to find out! A reviewer who gave... more info
Kabat-Zinn & Tolle:
I read this book after reading Ekhart Tolle's two books and listening to Jon Kabat-Zinn on Oprah's radio program. His ideas parallel Tolle. I devoured the book and recommend it to anyone who wants to grow in mindfulness.