Meditation Made Easy

The audiobook is not a fair representation of the author's work. Instead I urge you to check out his website, lorinroche dot com, in which you'll find an abundance of information. (Especially check out the segment titled "Dangers of Meditation.") Then buy his books. I found "Meditation Made Easy" to be the best one, but am ordering his out-of-print book on healing.This person is amazing. His ideas are revolutionary; they have singlehandedly resurrected my meditation practice. The energy of his work is bracing, clear, potent, and powerful.I found him by googling "no-bullsh!t meditation," because I was so tired of the BS, yet I had no way of knowing for sure what was BS and what was not. I had explored Shambhala, Zen, Vipassana, Mindfulness, something called heart-rhythm meditation, and other paths. I had bumped my nose on roadblock after roadblock. From being directed to assume physically impossible postures (and limping back home with a charley horse), to receiving incomplete and misleading information, to being lectured with woo-woo New Age philosophy that was incidental and (I thought) unhealthy, I was ready to despair. Lorin Roche, by calling BS on most of that mutually contradictory misinformation meant for monastics rather than householders, opened a door for me.Some reviewers say he makes meditation "too easy." That may be so, if one is strong, young, healthy and wealthy, rubber-jointed, unshakably determined, and already established in one's practice. I just read a meditation teacher come right out and admit that one of the challenges of their job is to continually dangle a carrot just beyond their students' reach, and finding said carrot can be a challenge. This might be valuable if a student has a long enough reach that they don't despair and quit. Unfortunately one hears many, many reports of people quitting meditation in frustration. To do so is more common than persevering. By calling out the BS, Lorin Roche drains the quicksand pits.Ignore the poorly-abridged audiobook. It makes the author sound like Mr. Rogers. In the book, and on his website, his "voice" sounds more like George Carlin.

Highly recommended. Cuts through a lot of the mumbo jumbo that has accumulated around meditation (the "odious rules" mentioned in the book). I don't know if purists would object to such advice as "if you fall asleep you probably need to sleep" and "keep it short so you look forward to it." But I found it helpful. I wouldn't have bought this book based on the artwork on the cover, and I don't particularly like the edition, but I read a review that persuaded me to buy it and am glad I did.

I will join the chorus of admirers: Roche doesn't just make meditation easy, he makes it alluring and sexy. Others may stress the benefits to spiritual growth and shaping of personality, but one of the best reasons to do something is because you, quite simply, like it. And the book isn't merely great PR for meditation; I found the advice sound and very helpful, and the author's knowledge of human (well, particularly North American, particularly Californian:-) nature - profound. It seems almost churlish to point out some nits, but a better editor would have caught the confusion between "palate" and "palette"; the claim about onomatopoeic nature of Sanskrit seems dubious: "shanti" does not sound more peaceful to my ear than English "peace", or Russian "mir"; and "ma" as the sound for the feminine is not the universal "primordial" - just Indo-European. Finally, some people may look in vain for a cookbook or week-by-week guide - a simple one might have been helpful. But, all in all, we are dealing with a wonderful life-affirming book of the genre.

I found this book at the library and enjoyed it so much that I purchased.I've been interested in meditation for years, but never understood how to get started. It seemed I would need to sequester myself in an ashram for six weeks to develop an understanding of the basics.This book does away with that and provides simple ideas for beginners. It appears to be beneficial to advanced persons as well, and I purchased it with the hopes I'll be using it for many years.

I've read a lot of meditation books and find this one too be really off the realistic mark. If meditation was like "eating ice cream" we'd see a lot more people doing it, and sustaining a practice. The energy of this book, and message is an overly feel good approach, when in truth meditation is often uncomfortable and difficult. We have to face boredom and make friends with that, verses the idea here which is to switch off to something new when you're bored. Or, indulge in drifting off, which is just spacing out. My sense of this book is that it's the "indulgent" approach to meditation for people interested in spiritual bypass. There isn't much about meditation for being present, here and now, regardless of how good it feels. He suggests not resisting falling sleep during meditation, which is often another escape. How about efforting to stay "awake" during practice and nap another time? So many off bases guidance... Wish this book wasn't on the market. Gives meditation the wrong frame...

Dr. Roche absolutely understands meditation and the eastern tradition. His book is very easy to understand and offers an excellent map for the beginner to initiate a practice and many reminders for those already meditating. Buy this book for yourself and for friends and loved ones you care about. It is a treasure.

This is a very practical and down to earth book on meditation. It gets meditation out of the monastery and into daily life that makes it helpful for busy people.

I think that having to write a review of x amount of words is not such a good idea. The product was good but I dont want to spend heaps of time setting out my thoughts on paper so I will cut and past this onto all the purchases i have made to save time. Do you get it.

Some of it rather dated, but overall very good.

it was a brilliant read but the service in getting to me was very poor

Awesome book ! Got me back into my practice with a fresh mind.

A simple 100 or so ways into mindfulness!Should be required reading in high school... I might've actually read the whole thing. 🤣

Best med book of the 4 I have now read.