Meditation is not what you think.

[BronteFan]

The above book by Jon Kabat Zinn is on offer at the works. I'm contemplating buying it. The title itself makes me want to read it because it leaves me with the questions, "What does he think we think meditation is?" & "How does he know what we think meditation is if he can't communicate using E.S.P.?" as well as "If meditation isn't what we think, what is it?" & I'm a very inquisitive person. Has anyone read it? If so, is it any good?

[JonW]

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the key architect of modern-day mindfulness. He's a brilliant teacher and writer.
All of his books, including this one, are highly recommended.
Enjoy!
Jon

[BronteFan]

Thank you very much. I'll definitely buy that book then & look forward to reading it & hopefully answering the questions that the title itself left me with or at least some of them. I'm prepared to have my ideas about meditation challenged if the book lives up to its name.

I'll try my best & I'll let you know what I think when I've read it maybe in book review fashion. Thank you very much.

Ann.

[Eric A.]

Title has double meaning. "not what you think" e.g. it's not doing or thinking, it's just being

[BronteFan]

Thank you very much for your response, Eric.

I missed that when I was coming up with the initial questions the title left me with. That's very true. I guess I couldn't see the wood for the trees. Lol.

I bought the book the other day. I'm on page 84 now & I'm enjoying it so far. I think it's very well-written, thought-provoking, deep, informative & interesting so far.

I'll share the rest of my thoughts on the book which I'll write in a more interesting way when I've finished it.

[Eric A.]

Kabat-Zinn method has become my core practice. I've been studying Buddhism for the last 12 years, but this "secular" practice keeps coming back powerfully. It seems it works better for me because it clears away the excess baggage and contentious issues found in religion and allows me to "set mindfulness before" me. The only complaint I hear is lack of a community to practice with and other social supports. But people can do those, the cost of becoming a teacher is modest compared to going to Asia and joining a monastery. LOL

[BronteFan]

That's great. Lol.

[JonW]

'...the cost of becoming a teacher is modest compared to going to Asia and joining a monastery.'

Hmm. Not sure about that.
My teacher training set me back a whopping £5000. Worth every penny, mind.
Cheers,
Jon

[Eric A.]

Actually I don't know, couldn't know, what it cost to go to Asia and join a monastery, as the loss of income from working varies person to person, or how long one can expect to serve in a monastery before being considered a teacher.

[JonW]

There are some excellent teaching courses in the UK but none of them are cheap. The ones I usually recommend are Sussex Partnership (the one I chose), Bangor and Breathworks. Mostly run by Buddhists though the actual teacher training is purely secular.
Jon