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Presence meditation : the practice of life awareness / Jens-Erik Risom ; translation by Marianne Bentzen ; foreword by Peter A. Levine.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Berkeley, Calif. : North Atlantic Books, 2010.Description: xvi, 75 pages : illustrations ; 22 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781556439124(pbk)
Subject(s):
Contents:
Foreword -- The foundation -- The purpose of meditation -- The wandering mind -- The four introductions -- Rootedness -- Attention to breathing -- Fullness of feeling -- Witness awareness -- Presence exercise -- Sitting with open or closed eyes -- Structuring a meditation period -- Sitting positions -- The now -- Process and practice -- The gradual method -- Step 1: calm settling -- Step 2: arriving in the now -- Step 3: alert presence -- Step 4: neutral observation -- Motivation -- The path -- Discovering neutrality -- Sleepiness -- Deepening neutrality -- Step 5: discovering projects -- Step 6: relaxing the mind -- Step 7: opening to trust -- Meditation and life -- Meditation in general -- The world -- The teaching structure of meditation -- A summary -- Choicelessness -- Step 8: sensing spaciousness -- Step 9: the experience of not-knowing -- Step 10: choiceless awareness -- Invocation and dedication -- The gradual path of presence meditation -- The unfolding of presence -- A supportive life practice -- Applied meditation -- Meditative horizons.
Summary: "Anyone who has ever set out to improve themselves knows how hard it can be to maintain their efforts. Created to support beginning and experienced meditators alike, Presence Meditation offers a step-by-step program to increase self-awareness through simple but revelatory exercises"--Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Non-Fiction Davis (Central) Library Non-Fiction 158.12 RIS 1 Available T00511209
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

First developed as a short manual for students in a yearlong meditation course, Presence Meditation offers a step-by-step program for increasing self-awareness through simple but revelatory exercises. The practice of presence meditation involves becoming present to whatever is going on and letting things be just as they are. This awareness is characterized by open attention and neutral observation, which increases the capacity to observe without judging, enables transformation without forcing, and opens the way to a more immediate sense of meaning and joy in life. Author Jens-Erik Risom begins by describing the purpose of meditation and the "four introductions" (rootedness, attention to breathing, fullness of feeling, and witness awareness), and then presents the gradual steps for achieving presence, deepening neutrality, opening to trust, sensing spaciousness, and more.

There are many books about meditation on the market, from Western authors like Eckhart Tolle to Tibetan Buddhist teachers. But many people find it difficult to translate the message of these books into an actual experience of deepening awareness. Whether readers are seeking a spiritual practice, a more serene approach to stressful situations, improved concentration, or greater relaxation for better health, this compact manual offers a simple, undogmatic approach to meditation.

Includes bibliographical references.

Foreword -- The foundation -- The purpose of meditation -- The wandering mind -- The four introductions -- Rootedness -- Attention to breathing -- Fullness of feeling -- Witness awareness -- Presence exercise -- Sitting with open or closed eyes -- Structuring a meditation period -- Sitting positions -- The now -- Process and practice -- The gradual method -- Step 1: calm settling -- Step 2: arriving in the now -- Step 3: alert presence -- Step 4: neutral observation -- Motivation -- The path -- Discovering neutrality -- Sleepiness -- Deepening neutrality -- Step 5: discovering projects -- Step 6: relaxing the mind -- Step 7: opening to trust -- Meditation and life -- Meditation in general -- The world -- The teaching structure of meditation -- A summary -- Choicelessness -- Step 8: sensing spaciousness -- Step 9: the experience of not-knowing -- Step 10: choiceless awareness -- Invocation and dedication -- The gradual path of presence meditation -- The unfolding of presence -- A supportive life practice -- Applied meditation -- Meditative horizons.

"Anyone who has ever set out to improve themselves knows how hard it can be to maintain their efforts. Created to support beginning and experienced meditators alike, Presence Meditation offers a step-by-step program to increase self-awareness through simple but revelatory exercises"--Provided by publisher.

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Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Foreword (p. xi)
  • Preface (p. xv)
  • Part 1 The Foundation (p. 1)
  • The Purpose of Meditation (p. 1)
  • The Wandering Mind (p. 4)
  • The Four Introductions (p. 6)
  • 1 Rootedness (p. 7)
  • 2 Attention to Breathing (p. 8)
  • 3 Fullness of Feeling (p. 9)
  • 4 Witness Awareness (p. 9)
  • Presence Exercise (p. 10)
  • Sitting with Open or Closed Eyes (p. 11)
  • Structuring a Meditation Period (p. 12)
  • Sitting Positions (p. 14)
  • Part 2 The Now (p. 17)
  • Process and Practice (p. 17)
  • The Gradual Method (p. 20)
  • Step 1 Calm Settling (p. 22)
  • Step 2 Arriving in the Now (p. 23)
  • Step 3 Alert Presence (p. 25)
  • Step 4 Neutral Observation (p. 25)
  • Motivation (p. 26)
  • Part 3 The Path (p. 29)
  • Discovering Neutrality (p. 29)
  • Sleepiness (p. 31)
  • Deepening Neutrality (p. 32)
  • Step 5 Reorganizing Your Agendas (p. 32)
  • Step 6 Relaxing the Mind (p. 33)
  • Step 7 Opening to Trust (p. 35)
  • Meditation and Life (p. 37)
  • Meditation in General (p. 38)
  • Part 4 The World (p. 39)
  • The Next Steps (p. 39)
  • Step 8 Sensing Spaciousness (p. 42)
  • Step 9 Experiencing Not-knowing (p. 43)
  • Step 10 Choiceless Awareness (p. 44)
  • Invocation and Dedication (p. 46)
  • The Gradual Path of Presence Meditation: Coda (p. 50)
  • The Unfolding of Presence (p. 52)
  • A Supportive Life Practice (p. 53)
  • Applied Meditation (p. 56)
  • The Teaching Structure of Meditation (p. 58)
  • Meditative Horizons (p. 60)
  • Appendix The Four Basic Exercises (p. 63)
  • Selected Literature (p. 69)
  • Scientific References (p. 71)
  • Presence Meditation Training (p. 73)
  • About the Author (p. 75)

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