Meditation Made Easy: Coming to Know Your Mind

by Matteo Pistono

Overview

An introductory step-by-step guide to meditation, suitable for beginners as well as those wishing to refresh their knowledge and practice.

Meditation Made Easy is a clear, how-to book on meditation aimed at complete beginners and practicing readers looking for easy, approachable meditation techniques.

In this book, readers will learn:

- How to develop a consistent meditation practice at home and while traveling
- Basic instructions and techniques of meditation
- Instructions for seated, walking, and supine meditation postures
- How to use the breath as an object of meditation
- How to deal with distraction and lethargy in meditation

This book is for readers who do not know how to start a practice, or for those people who do not have access to teachers. It is especially useful for the multitudes of yoga practitioners who want to meditate but have never received solid instruction in the yoga studio. Using traditional Eastern practices, but aimed at a Western audience, the methods in this book can be utilized on the meditation cushion as well as in daily life when stress and challenges arise.

Previously published in the Hay House Basics series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401968441
Publisher:	Hay House Inc.
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	940,806
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Matteo Pistono is the author of Fearless in Tibet and In the Shadow of the Buddha. He holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and a Masters of Arts degree in Indian Philosophy. Pistono lived and travelled throughout the Himalayas for a decade, bringing to the West graphic accounts and photos of China's human rights abuses in Tibet. He is the founder of Nekorpa, a foundation working to protect sacred pilgrimage sites around the world.

Table of Contents

List of Practices and Guided Meditations xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 An Auspicious Beginning 1

Why meditate? 3

Cultivating the mind 4

A meditator's toolbox 6

Where to begin? 9

"Good in the beginning" 12

Chapter 2 Cultivating Stillness and Comfort 17

Connecting body and mind through body scanning 18

Alertness in our meditation posture 23

The breath, our companion on the path of meditation 34

What to do with all of these thoughts? 39

Being kind to ourselves 43

Eight tips for establishing a daily meditation practice 45

Chapter 3 Discerning Reality 51

Focusing on the present moment 52

Stillness, silence, and awareness 56

Attention, vigilance, and spaciousness 58

Mindfulness is only part of the story 60

Chapter 4 Opening Completely to Our World 67

The objects of our five senses 68

What is awareness? 74

Transforming distraction into meditation 78

How to deal with strong emotions and 'experiences' during meditation 85

"What if I feel bodily pain when I meditate?" 89

Caution! How not to become an escape artist from your life 92

Chapter 5 Integrating Meditation into Everyday Life 95

Develop an interest in meditation 95

The spontaneous and informal session 97

Walking meditation 99

Falling asleep 103

Drinking and eating like the Buddha 106

Chapter 6 Working within Our Mind 113

A map of distraction: the Eight Consciousnesses 120

The Dalai Lama's sandals 128

Advice on gaining flexibility, stability, and ease in your meditation posture 131

Chapter 7 Meditation, Contemplation, and Thinking 135

Complementary practices 136

Expanding into the ever-changing present 139

Go outside! 144

Finding space in life 148

Chapter 8 Focus, Friends, and Teachers 155

Focus 155

Spiritual friends 156

Teachers 157

Make a Plan for Your Meditation Practice 161

Consistency is the key 163

The ripple effect 165

Further Reading 167

Index 169

About the Author 177

Editorial Reviews

"Meditation: Coming to Know Your Mind offers a wonderful guide for anyone aiming to practice mindfulness leading to wisdom and a more meaningful, happier life. Matteo's direct approach makes the book easy to read, while his thoroughness gives the reader a clear understanding of the various techniques and methods available. It's an excellent resource for anyone wishing to learn the practice of meditation or for a more experienced practitioner seeking renewed inspiration and understanding."
Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness and Real Love

"Meditation: Coming to Know Your Mind is a wonderfully refreshing, well-informed, and practical guide to a rich array of meditative practices drawn from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The practices explained here, interspersed with illuminating personal narratives, are central to Buddhism and are at the same time relevant to everyone seeking a more mindful, empathetic, meaningful way of life. I recommend it to beginners and seasoned meditators alike."
B. Alan Wallace, President, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies

"A clear, accessible, reliable, and inspiring guide to meditation that will prove very helpful for those who aspire to train their mind and become a better person."
Matthieu Ricard, author of Why Meditate? and Altruism

"I have long been searching for a clear, compassionate guide to meditation that I can recommend to people from all walks of life. Matteo Pistono's Meditation: Coming to Know Your Mind is the clearest and most insightful guide anybody could wish for, whether beginner or seasoned practitioner. While grounded in the Buddhist tradition, Meditation is a real treasure for anybody who seeks to explore this ancient wisdom practice in a modern setting. A brilliant beacon of light on the path to mindfulness!"
Michaela Haas, Phd, author of Dakini Power and Bouncing Forward

From the Publisher