Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation

By: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Meditation - the technique of mental focusing for enhanced awareness and self-mastery - offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being.

This practice is closely related to "mindfulness," which Professor Muesse defines as "a deliberate way of paying attention to what is occurring within oneself as it is happening. It is the process of attentively observing your experience as it unfolds, without judgment or evaluation."

"Meditation," he adds, "refers to certain exercises that can be used to enlarge and refine mindfulness." Meditation cultivates mindfulness by training you to develop deep attention to the present moment, allowing the mind to become settled and centered. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states, in deepening sensory awareness of the body, and in becoming deeply attentive to the operation of your mind.

You'll come away with a solid basis for your own meditation practice and for bringing meditation's remarkable and empowering benefits to every aspect of your life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2011 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2011 The Great Courses

Life changing

One of the best books (courses} I've ever listen. Humanity will really evolve when a critical mass knowledge and practice on this subject is achieve

Eye opening

I make this caveat up front, I haven't gotten all the way through this course yet. I don't normally do this, but I have a purpose in writing the review before I have completed the whole series. That purpose is in the first 2 lectures. This course is worth it if all you do is listen (carefully) to the first 2 lectures. The whole course is about using meditation as a tool, but the goal is mindfulness. If you can stand to look at yourself critically, listen to the first 2 lectures and then objectively consider where you fall on being mindful. Just the mere understanding of this concept, which is expertly explained and demonstrated, is eye opening. If you want to get more out of your life, your day-to-day existence, take 1 hour and listen to the first 2 lectures.

Educational

I certainly learned a lot about meditation but I did not find the lecture to be engaging.

Very helpfully

Listening chapters change mindset improves daily. Reminds anxiety forget about leaving go away anxiety your doing best can

Lots of great insights

This is a great series for those just starting out on the mindfulness path. The speaker has a lot of great insights. I’m sure that even if you have been practicing mindfulness for awhile that you will be able to glean some good ideas from this series. Highly recommended.

Best book on meditation I've read

this is an incredible book about meditation in general and a new way of seeing the world as it is not as a construction of your self. I recommend this listen to everyone who is like me always anxious for no reason, like the world is about to end at any instant.
I'm planning to listen to it many times, probably two or three times a year.

Nice Listen

This was an enjoyable listen that helped me clear my mind at times when I was looking for something to settle my racing mind.

Life-altering

What did you love best about Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation?

The professor knows his subject and tells his stories in a beautiful, soothing voice. I listen every night. Some of what I hear is in real-time and some is subliminal because he puts me into a satisfying, deep sleep every time. Glad I don't have to go to class because I would have my head on the desk. But during sleep is how I learn best.

What about Professor Mark W. Muesse’s performance did you like?

I already said it above. He is an amazing speaker.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh,, cry, sleep - you name it!

Any additional comments?

Are than any more from him? I would be all over any course he teaches.

Mindful of the clap-tracks

No depth in the lecturers delivery. The clapping soundtrack at the beginning & end of each lesson, solidified for me that even 1.5x speed was not even fast enough to keep my attention. Preaching to an empty room. Some good tidbits of info with way to much filler.

time and sleeping

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, for a nap and a good sleep

What other book might you compare Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation to and why?

sleeping, slepting, napping

What about Professor Mark W. Muesse’s performance did you like?

sleepy, zone into oblivion of sleepiness

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

slept. so my sleep was fabulous

Any additional comments?

a good sleeper, on the sleeper shelf