Ana
I was introduced to mindfulness meditation in my 20s, and my life was transformed. After about a year of daily practice, I began experiencing intense bodily sensations as I sat in meditation and they scared me. Unless I stopped meditating, I had no control. Then my life became chaotic, and I stopped my daily practice, feeling afraid of what I would see and experience and needing some control. Thirty years later, I am once again practicing daily meditation, thanks to this beautiful book. And this time I am applying my practice throughout the day, not just while sitting. The principles are profound and simple: Breathe in. Breathe out. Smile. Be here now. Show up wherever I am in every moment, completely. Be kind to myself, my body, my feelings, my suffering. Be fully present for everyone and everything. Treat myself (all aspects of myself) with love and compassion. Do the same for everyone else, especially those who are suffering. I am deeply grateful for this book. It came into my life at a time when a loved one is experiencing tremendous suffering, and it's helping me learn how to be there fully, with love and compassion. I love Lloyd James' narration. He is a master of expression. I can feel the empathy in Thich Nhat Hahn's words and through his voice, and it brings me peace.