The Science of Enlightenment

By: Shinzen Young

Narrated by: Shinzen Young

Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Demystify mysticism and learn techniques to move yourself beyond emotional and intellectual blocks into a realm of clear insight and inner peace. In this complete curriculum for self-investigation Shinzen Young - one of America's foremost meditation teachers - covers traditional teachings, scientific insights, and practical instruction to show you exactly how enlightenment works, and how to begin your own journey to inner liberation. Topics include concentration, awareness, and merging techniques to explore the self and the world around you, how spiritual practices work in Buddhism, Christianity, Jewish mysticism, Sufism, Hinduism, shamanism, and many other mystical traditions, as well as 6 complete guided meditation sessions and a host of insights on how to choose and establish your own meditation practice.

©1997 Shinzen Young (P)1997 Shinzen Young

Crisp Communication

The author has a tremendous ability to take a complex subject and make it understandable through crystal clear and crisp communication. Excellent set of speeches!

The Science of Enlightenment

I will highly recommend this title. Shinzen Young is amazing. He has deep knowledge of multiple subjects, and amazing voice. If you are interested in the path of meditation and enlightenment, please buy this audio-book. I will suggest listenting it at least twice, so you can appreciate the depth of this audio-book. I wish he had more audio-books on this subject.

Best meditation guidance

Any additional comments?

Shinzen Young bridges science and enlightenment through sound explanations that have the ability to increase a more involved-self meditation sessions, no matter what level you believe to be as a meditator. One of the best-guided meditation books I've read.

When you really want to understand Meditation...

When you really want to understand Meditation, this audio set will give you many hours of fun and enlightenment, instruction and a stronger curiosity to seek further, perhaps learn Yoga or Tai Chi. It's definitely a great jumping-off point to a whole new interest, or surely a fun listen if it's all 'old hat' to you. Starting with the most enthusiastic voice, clear, articulate and bright as a brand new silver dollar, the author, Shinzen Young, prepares you for the time of your life and somehow keeps the energy levels and enthusiam up, up and up, beginning to end. It's easy to listen to again and again - and I have, partly because it's new to me, partly because I bought it for targeted information, which requires scanning, but mostly just because it's so much fun. He's great company on a lonely evening, and once or twice listening has cheered me when life seemed a little down. The information contained, which seems vast to a newby like me, none-the-less doesn't intimidate, and makes meditation sound immensely sensible, without sounding too foreign or exotic. A bonus is that the author has additional recordings and written works to enjoy, easily available, too. The Science of Enlightenment could be just what many people are looking for in this world. It's more of a full-fledged course, than just a passive listen -- if that's what you want to make of it, so it's a bargain at any price.

Amazing

Took my practice to a whole next level. Something in here for everyone. Please Read.

There is nothing else that comes close to this

For Westerners, and those accustomed to the Western point of view, especially those with a science background, there is no one who can relay ideas about awakening like Shinzen. Not only is he a real deal awakened teacher, but, in a field of original awakened teachers, he stands out as particularly gifted in combining West and East.

my experience

I found layers and layers of insights in these recordings. I took what I could, and let the rest open to me = make sense to me as I went through life.
I also found "Stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert to complement this material.
The two together gave me guidelines on how to observe the formation and movement of my thoughts and feelings, moment by moment. I listened to these two in late 2006. Today, 01/08, I find that I am more humble, more clear headed and more focused. The majority of my interactions with people are pleasant, but of course, even Jesus did not please everybody =O.
These are not the results of listening to these books. These are the enduring results of maintaining the attitude (of vigilant observation and self-achieved submission to the impersonal, dymamic nature of existence=life=holy spirit=the source=allah=...) by applying the recommended techniques in everyday life. I find that I have more control over my actions, perform better under duress, and I am less desperate at trying circumstances. This recording was the beginning of a spiritual backpacking trip for me.
I want to say, not everything has been perfect. But perfection is hardly the point (See Karen Armstrong - The Great Transformation).

WOW! WOW!

This is hands down the best reference for meditation. It gives Eastern concepts in clear Western conceptual ways along with the science behind it that Americans will find necessary. Not only is this a "how to" guide to meditation, but he has answered in advance almost any and all questions that you will have along the path including, "why are we doing this?", "where are we going?", "what will happen along the way?", "what pitfalls can I expect and what do I do about them?". He even explains Zen in an understandable way.
WAY better than my expectations. If you get only ONE guide to meditation- get this one. He DOES speak slowly, but if this bothers you, then download it to your IPod and you can speed it up. I USUALLY do that with my audiobooks, but this one is so packed with great information that I didn't want to miss anything that was said.

Medition for you!

I've found his explanation of meditation and the exercises he has provided in this book to be helpful. I'm still hooked on the first meditation exercise "Global Relaxation". One tip, which I don't think he mentions specifically, you have to be sitting up to meditate, if you lie down, once you start getting deeper into that peaceful state, you can't help but dose off. Buy it, you'll enjoy it!

Detailed, broad and deep. Good comprehensive view.

containing useful practical guided meditations as well as history large thousand foot global view theory and application.