Buddhist discussion

As the book is split into four weeks, it seems to make the most sense that we follow the program in the book starting 3rd April through to the 30th April.

I like this schedule. It will make it easy to discuss what we all experience in each weekly challenge.

Is this Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation?

It certainly is.

Eventually a wonderful book to read would be "Into The Heart Of Yoga: One Woman's Journey: A Memoir", by Danna Faulds

Just wanted to be sure that everyone knew that this schedule was for 2011...last year. If we want to re-read this we absolutely should...great book

Bummer! I purchased the book on Wednesday. I was looking forward to reading and discussing this with others.

Where can we find the current reading schedule?

There was no reading schedule set out as such. The book is designed in such a way to be read over the course of four weeks, if I remember correctly.

Yep, it's all about meditation and has weekly "assignments" as well as things to think about. So we read one chunk per week.

Who's wanting to read this?? We could read it for the Month of May...

I'm in.

I regularly use the meditation CD with this book & it's my absolute favourite. Sharon Salzburg has a lovely way of phrasing things. I haven't read the book in a while but would like to join in with a group read of it in May.

If this is a group read for May I'm up for it. Do you usually post books for each month to read? If so, where do we look for this?

We have gotten away from it because no one was reading along. but we did have a monthly read at one time.

I bought the book last year and then didn't finish it. I'd be happy to have a chance to finish it and discuss it.

Kristi wrote: "Yep, it's all about meditation and has weekly "assignments" as well as things to think about. So we read one chunk per week.

Who's wanting to read this?? We could read it for the Month of May..."

I'm in! I started this years ago...but got off course and never finished. I'm game to return to it this spring.

Awesome!

Here's a link to the author's website and the 28-day meditation challenge: http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/realhap...

Evelyn wrote: "Here's a link to the author's website and the 28-day meditation challenge: http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/realhap..."

Thanks...checked it out. Wow!

Okay group! Here we go. I trust all who have decided to read this book and partake in the efforts to enhance their meditation process have begun in their efforts.
I've set aside my "space" and am reading through the intro and suggestions for week one. I agree with the concept that we are often our own worse enemies...filling our lives with clutter, technology, and an endless array of activities 24/7.
Most importantly I find that of late I have indeed become "uncentered" in part since I have spread myself too thin...too many tasks...reaching a point where some are done well and other suffer.

I’ve started reading the book. I love the simplicity of this book. It’s also nice to have a refresher of the basics of what meditation is and why we should do it. The Core Meditation is pretty much the way I usually meditate. I’m also planning to do the mini meditations throughout the day. This afternoon while I was working I set a timer to take three deep breaths every 15 minutes. I like the idea of using meditation to feel less fragmented and compartmentalized.

From "Real Happiness" by Sharon Salzberg:

"Relearning how to concentrate, says the writer Alain de Botton, is one of the great challenges of our time. "The past decade has seen an unparalleled assault on our capacity to fix our minds steadily on anything," he wrote in the 2010 essay "On Distraction." "To sit still and think, without succumbing to an anxious reach for a machine, has become almost impossible."

Linda Stone, a former executive at both Apple and MIcrosoft, has coined the term Continuous Partial Attention to describe a pervasive and exhausting condition you're likely to find familiar. Simple multitasking -- it seems almost quaint -- was, she says, motivated by the desire to be more productive and to create free time for friends, family, and fun. "But Continuous Partial Attention is motivated by a desire not to miss anything," she writes. "We're talking on the phone and driving; carrying on a conversation at dinner and texting under the table....Continuous Partial Attention involves an artificial sense of constant crisis, of living in a 24/7, always-on world. It contributes to feeling stressed, overwhelmed, overstimulated, and unfulfilled; it compromises our ability to reflect, to make decisions, and to think creatively."

As I began reading the first chapter of Sharon's book, which is entitled Concentration, the paragraph above resonated with me. I've gone months without my usual daily meditation practice and I am feeling the stress and fragmentation of my busy and ungrounded life. I'm starting this book as a map back to calmness and serenity.

Coming into to this late in the process. I've requested a copy of this book from my local library today. Will start posting comments as soon as I'm able to get a copy and start reading.

I received my copy of this book in the post today and will get started though I'll be a little behind.

"Progress is not about levels; it's about frequency."

I'm so glad to be ending Week Two on this thought. I found this week's meditations challenging. The first time I tried the Body Scan meditation I fell asleep. I promptly reminded myself to try again. Using meditation in my daily activities did offer the opportunity to recognize "add-ons."

I had to take a break from reading for some business travel and the flu but I'm back on track now. How is everybody else doing?

Starting Week Four today. I found meditating with emotions a bit challenging. I need to work on the mindset that having angry, sad, etc thoughts doesn't make me an angry or sad person. I recognize that I have a tendency to identify with my emotions.

I like what she says: "Until you can acknowledge a thought or emotion as part of your human repertoire--observe it to see that it isn't permanent, isn't all you are--you can't create a healthy relationship to it."