Presence Meditation: The Practice of Life Awareness
✍️ Jens-Erik Risom, Peter A LevineCurrently unavailable
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Jens-Erik Risom’s "Presence Meditation" offers a clear, actionable guide to cultivating deeper self-awareness. Born from a year-long meditation course, this manual introduces a unique practice: engaging with life just as it unfolds, without judgment. Through foundational elements like breath and sensory attention, readers learn to observe neutrally, fostering inner transformation and opening pathways to genuine meaning and joy. It's a step-by-step journey towards an open, accepting state of mind, designed for tangible results.
Praise for this book
“While there are many books on meditation as well as on meditation/therapy, I believe Presence Meditation covers several areas not adequately addressed (or not addressed at all) by the current books in print. It also covers various theories and practice that one rarely finds under one cover. The book is rich in clear, simple explications of important meditative perspectives and techniques from presence and mindfulness to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism.”
📝 Description: Presence Meditation: The Practice of Life Awareness
📑 What's inside
- Foreword / Peter A. Levine
- Preface
- Part 1. The Foundation
- The Purpose of Meditation
- The Wandering Mind
- The Four Introductions
- 1. Rootedness
- 2. Attention to Breathing
- 3. Fullness of Feeling
- 4. Witness Awareness
- Presence Exercise
- Sitting with Open or Closed Eyes
- Structuring a Meditation Period
- Sitting Positions
- Part 2. 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
- Part 3. The Path
- Discovering Neutrality
- Sleepiness
- Deepening Neutrality
- Step 5. Reorganizing Your Agendas
- Step 6. Relaxing the Mind
- Step 7. Opening to Trust
- Meditation and Life
- Meditation in General
- Part 4. The World
- The Next Steps
- Step 8. Sensing Spaciousness
- Step 9. Experiencing Not-knowing
- Step 10. Choiceless Awareness
- Invocation and Dedication
- The Gradual Path of Presence Meditation: Coda
- The Unfolding of Presence
- A Supportive Life Practice
- Applied Meditation
- The Teaching Structure of Meditation
- Meditative Horizons
- Appendix The Four Basic Exercises
- Selected Literature
- Scientific References
- Presence Meditation Training
- About the Author
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book is ideal for seekers who feel overwhelmed by abstract spiritual theories and crave tangible, immediate results. If you desire a practical manual that translates the profound concept of presence into simple, actionable steps, this guide offers exactly that. It suits those ready to engage with life as it unfolds, using breath and sensory attention to foster neutral observation. Readers will find value in its clear journey toward an accepting state of mind, promising genuine meaning and joy through the cultivation of deep self-awareness. It is particularly beneficial for anyone seeking to move beyond intellectual understanding into lived, embodied experience.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Risom provides a clear, actionable manual that demystifies meditation by focusing on simple engagement with the present moment. The step-by-step approach makes it accessible, offering tangible results for those willing to practice neutral observation. However, this book does not suit readers seeking complex philosophical debates or mystical ecstasy; it is strictly grounded in practical awareness. Those looking for elaborate rituals or dogmatic religious structures will find its simplicity lacking. It is best for individuals ready to commit to a straightforward, judgment-free exploration of their own consciousness through basic sensory attention and breath.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you seek a clear, practical path to heightened self-awareness and inner serenity, and find other meditation texts too abstract, this guide is for you. It offers concrete tools to integrate mindfulness into daily life.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Open Attention
This practice cultivates a state of keen awareness where one simply observes current experiences without attachment or aversion. It’s about meeting each moment as it is, fostering a neutral yet engaged perspective that allows for deeper understanding of internal and external realities without the imposition of judgment.
Structured Approach
The book provides a clear, progressive framework, beginning with fundamental 'introductions' to rootedness and breath, then guiding practitioners through stages of deepening neutrality and trust. This step-by-step methodology ensures accessibility and builds a solid foundation for sustained meditation practice, making abstract concepts tangible.
Joyful Transformation
By embracing non-judgmental observation, this meditation path gently facilitates profound internal shifts. It empowers individuals to move beyond reactive patterns, unlocking an innate capacity for authentic growth and discovering a more immediate, profound sense of meaning and joy in their everyday existence.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Presence Meditation
- Neutral Observation
- Four Introductions
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on a recent moment where you felt an urge to control or change a situation. How might 'letting things be just as they are' have altered your experience?
- Consider the concept of neutral observation. What judgments or narratives typically arise when you encounter challenging emotions, and how could you approach them differently?
- Where in your daily life do you currently find moments of meaning or joy? How might a practice of heightened presence amplify these experiences?
📖 Read on the blog
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