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I have read the author's book on Mindfulness. The material on the CD is way over the head of the average person - not for beginners, in my opinion. It was great. I was hoping the CD was something I could use with my therapy clients and family members who need an intro to Mindfulness. He uses a lot of unfamiliar words, phrases and concepts that the 'beginner' would not know. Maybe this would be useful for someone who had already been exposed to mindfulness and needed some encouragement to practice it.I returned the CD and got a refund.
As you do the sound exercises, you begin to witness your thoughts, how you judge the sounds, how you interpret the sounds and so forth.The last exercise is mindfulness as pure awareness. It explains how the mind is always busy thinking about one thing after another, incessantly. If you are an experienced meditator, you may find this CD unnecessary. I recommend getting the Mindfulness for Beginners first and if you find it useful, then read these other books and get the meditation CD.
In the first CD, the author starts by explaining what mindfulness is: "paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, as if you life depended on it, non-judgmentally". If you have tried to meditate only to discover that it's extremely difficult, this CD can get you going on the right path. You no longer focus on anything but experience life by witnessing everything: sounds, thoughts, emotions, and anything else that comes in and out of your awareness. Kabat Zinn was recommended to me by an organizational consultant that saw me stressed out worrying about my job and my life in general. I have listened to this CD more than once, and every time I get something more out of it.In the second CD the author gives you several guided mindfulness exercises that allow you to quiet the mind in a progressive way.
This step has the odd effect of giving you extreme peace of mind.I have bought other products by the same author: a book called "Wherever you go, there you are", "Coming to your senses" and a "Mindfulness Meditation" CD. Up until then, I had tried meditation multiple times by focusing on my breathing, but I failed miserably at it. The package includes two CDs. I have also bought several copies of this CD as a gift to friends and family, not everyone has taken to it, but those that have spent the time going through the exercises have told me that the exercises have helped them become more relaxed and "at ease in their own skin".On my end, mindfulness has completely turned around my life. This is perhaps the most valuable aspect of this CD, that it guides you, through baby steps, down the path of meditation.The author leads you first to focus on a simple task: eating a raisin.
As you discover that you can focus on that, the CD then takes you to focus on other things like sounds, and sounds only. I went from worrying about the future, worrying about what people thought of me, to enjoying life as it unfolds. When I started listening to this CD, I began to break through a wall of thoughts, thoughts, and more thoughts, circling in my head.If you have been curious about meditating but struggled to do it, this CD can get you unstuck and on a journey of self discovery that will completely transform your life.
Personally, I find Jon's voice to be soothing and comforting, but every person is different. I attend a group meditation and my psycologist recommended this in conjuction with our group session work. Just about everyone in my group session has purchased Jon's CDs and have been throughly satisfied. Since the group only meets once a week, this CD is very helpful in guiding a beginner, like myself, through mindful meditation. I use this on the days when we don't meet. All you can do is give it a try and see if it works for you. That's life: trial and error.Mindfulness for Beginners
Excellent introduction for new comers and a quick review for people who are already familiar with Jon Kabat-Zinn's work. If you want a whole package of on "how to live" the eastern or yoga way, get Sunil Sheoran's Mylife Framework: A Model For A Successful Life Based On The Yoga Principles. The book doesn't talk only "mind" or "thinking" pieces but will really get your ready to get started on a meaningful life - in a VERY simple and disciplined way.
It is easiy understood and excepted by those not familiar with mindfullness and the benefits of meditation. I was delighted and inspired by this work. I have shared a few meditations with friends and family. I particularly enjoyed Jon's delivery. It has the right blend of casual and playful messages with technical strategies to launch into a effective practice.
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