Through Shinzen Young’s innovative teachings and tools, thousands of retreat attendees and audio listeners across spiritual traditions have radically re-envisioned and accelerated how they meditate. With his first major book, he shares his key insights into meditation and mindfulness practice with an unprecedented clarity and depth that will engage and delight even lifelong meditators who think they’ve “heard it all.”
Enlightenment—is it a myth or is it real? Across time and culture, inner explorers have discovered that the liberated state is a natural experience, as real as the sensations you are having right now.
Few teachers achieve clarity with the application of scientific inquiry to these states of consciousness like Shinzen Young. Now in paperback, The Science of Enlightenment makes Young’s essential insights available to readers everywhere. The Science of Enlightenment merges scientific precision, Young’s grasp of the source-language teachings of many spiritual traditions, and his rare gift for sparking insight upon insight through original analogies and illustrations. The result: an uncommonly lucid “Aha, now I get it!” guide to mindfulness meditation—how it works and how to use it to enhance our cognitive capacities, compassion, and experience of happiness independent of conditions.
For meditators of all levels and lineages, this multifaceted wisdom gem will be sure to surprise, provoke, illuminate, and inspire.
| Paperback Book | eBook | |
|---|---|---|
| Contents | Paperback Book (264 pages) | eBook (264 pages) |
| Dimensions | 6 x 9 inches | |
| Product Code | BK05545 | BK01039W |
| ISBN Number | 978-1-68364-212-1 | 978-1-62203-748-3 |
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Shinzen Young became fascinated with Asian culture while a teenager in Los Angeles. Later he enrolled in a PhD program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. Eventually, he went to Asia and did extensive training in each of the three major Buddhist traditions: Vajrayana, Zen and Vipassana. Upon returning to the United States, his academic interests shifted to the burgeoning dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science. Shinzen is known for his innovative “interactive, algorithmic approach” to mindfulness, a system specifically designed for use in pain management, recovery support, and as an adjunct to psychotherapy. He leads meditation retreats throughout North America and has helped establish numerous mindfulness centers and programs. He also consults widely on meditation-related research, in both the clinical and the basic science domains. He often says: “My life’s passion lies in exploring what may arise from the cross-fertilization of the best of the East with the best of the West.”
Shinzen Young gives meditation a deep analysis with a Western scientific mindset. This made several core concepts more understandable for me. It freed me from any nagging doubts or skepticism about the value of meditation.
My personal practice took a huge leap as a result.
This book is a precious jewel from Shinzen's creative mind: brilliant, clear, multi-faceted. He explains the often-mystifying material of spirituality from many angles, utilizing an impressive knowledge of history, language, science, mathematics, even poetry. As a side note, if you are not a science person, don’t worry! In terms of the “science of enlightenment,” Shinzen describes “science” as, “an experiment that is reproducible by anyone.” Shinzen is an expert for any reader, his words are chosen with precision and care, elegance and beauty.
For me, the taste to savor most from these pages, is the 50 years of meditation practice and teaching experience from which the author writes. It is apparent that he has deep insight. Please note: This book touches on dharma teaching as well as neuroscience. It does NOT cover Shinzen's comprehensive meditation techniques or instructions. It should not be mistaken for a practice manual. In addition, this book is not an exhaustive survey of scientific research. You are certain to learn something, if not be utterly changed, by reading this book. Profound.
What was really interesting to me is that this book was not another book about explaining meditation with science. The author used the investigative spirit of science to give a systemic way to understand all meditation systems.
I also really appreciated that this comes from 50 years of meditation, and that he is speaking seriously, and scientifically, about awakening. While a lot of people make a lot of comparisons between science and meditation, this guy's work is being used by actual brain scientists (no small feat).
I recommend it!
I’ve read many books on “Meditation & Science” but this one is the weakest. I find the scientific explanations incoherent and sometimes doubtful, and the meditation-teaching aspect is at best uninspiring. With all due respect to the author, I do not buy into his claim of presenting the best or most efficent meditation system ever.
This is the ten-year work by a unique teacher, Shinzen, whose teaching will allow the reader to end their suffering and enjoy happiness independent of conditions. The best book possible for practicing mindfulness.
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