Mindfulness

Six Guided Practices for Awakening

By: Joseph Goldstein

Narrated by: Joseph Goldstein

Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A Classical Training Program in Mindfulness Meditation

The profound techniques of Vipassana (or insight meditation) are all rooted in the Satipatthana Sutta, the Buddha's practice-oriented teaching on the four foundations of mindfulness. With Mindfulness, Joseph Goldstein brings you a series of core teachings and guided practices for "looking directly at the nature of the mind and body, at how suffering is created, and how we can awaken and be free."

Designed to complement his book of the same title, as a stand-alone tool for daily practice, or for anyone wanting to go deeper in their experience of mindfulness, these profound meditations include:

• Mindfulness of the Elements—a practice for relating to your body not through concepts but as a constantly changing energy field
• Mindfulness of Feelings—discover how the experience of our sense perceptions conditions our reactions in the mind and our actions in the world
• Mindfulness of Mind—how we recognize skillful and unskillful states of mind and thought
• Big Sky Mind—an expansive practice for resting in a mind that is spacious enough to hold all of our experience in the light of pure awareness

"The term 'mindfulness' may seem to indicate something quite ordinary and prosaic," explains Goldstein, "but the quality of mind it refers to has tremendous transformative power in our lives." With Mindfulness, now you have a set of time-tested tools for opening to the ultimate goal of practice: liberation.

©2013 Joseph Goldstein (P)2013 Joseph Goldstein

Clear exposition on the basics of meditation!

I found this book really helpful because the author does not waste time with fluff. He goes directly to the heart of the matter, to the heart of the practice and after very simple and direct explanations takes you directly into a guided meditation. There is no music in the background which at first I found a bit disconcerting, but it reminded me of several meditation retreats I've been on and the instruction is absolutely excellent.

Simple, Direct, Meaningful

I’ve been meditating for about 6 years, and I found Joseph Goldstein in roughly my first year of meditation through his (3) book audio series “Abiding in Mindfulness”. That series is excellent, and a wonderful foundational explanation of the Buddha Dharma. This is a great compliment to that series, and this is much more applicable in terms of guided meditations on the (4) foundations of mindfulness taught by the Buddha in the Satipitana Sutta (pardon my spelling). I believe this guided meditation series can benefit both beginners and experienced meditators interested in better understanding Vipassana (Insight) meditation practice.

Guided meditation

Loved it. Sections of silence are built in so you can contemplate what's been said between concepts.

Setup for daily vipassana practice

These guided meditations lead me into a session everyday.

It would be better if the beginning of each session was a little quieter.

one of the best teachers we have

A Mini retreat on audible. In your pocket at your fingertips. An opportunity to learn from one of the best teachers.

Book as Meditation

This entire book was meditation for me - I want to listen to it again while sitting in quiet because it is so rich in wisdom.

Have this in lieu of a meditation app

After using meditation apps, this audiobook and Abiding in Mindfulness, also by Joseph Goldstein, the latter two are sufficient to start a meditation practice.

Wonderful meditations and insights

Wonderful meditations and insights by Goldstein. Full of wisdom and inspiration. I will keep listening and practicing.

The best guided meditation I know of

These 6 simple and short meditations for me sum up, and create an experience of the whole of the Suta on mindfulness. Used with the book, or audio of the book, the meditation recordings create a rich experience and understanding I return to over and over.

Life changing

Life changing : I could not describe it any other way . I am aware it sounds cliched. But the gradual and gentle introduction to the four foundations of mindfulness , has such a profound effect on your mind to be almost addictive . I cycle through these guided practice sessions, almost every day.
The voice of Goldstein and the serenity of the delivery and above all the simple but profound content make this truly a treasure.