Still the Mind

I had the pleasure of reviewing Bodhipaksa's new 2-CD set, Still the Mind: Simple Breathing Practices for Inner Peace, published by Sounds True. Bodhipaksa is a Buddhist teacher and runs the online meditation center, Wildmind, a wonderful website. The
CD retails for $19.95 and is available
on the Wildmind website for $15.96.

I totally loved Still the Mind. I felt as
if I was listening to a very kind, gentle teacher who was speaking with me, a teacher who truly wanted to share the peace and joy that meditation brings. Bodhipaksa makes meditation available and easily accessible to everyone who wants to meditate. I loved it because it's so real, so practical, and so down-to-earth.

He starts off with an introduction, then suggests we start where we
are, because it's the only place we can start, then guides us through a short meditation of simply following the sensations of the breath. This, in and of itself, is very beautiful. We accept where we are and simply begin our practice of meditation to begin to still our minds. If our thoughts stray as we begin to meditate, we treat ourselves with kindness, returning our attention and focus to our breath.

The CD continues in a gentle, conversational style, as if you and Bodhipaksa are sitting together, just discussing mindfulness and how
to achieve inner peacefulness. He answers all questions almost before you can ask them and covers any doubts you may have that could hinder your practice. After listening to both CDs, you feel empowered to begin
a life-long meditation practice.

Rather than meditation becoming a goal or something you achieve, he encourages you to allow meditation to become a natural part of your life... as natural as breathing.

If you're looking to begin a practice of mindful meditation, Still
the Mind: Simple Breathing Practices for Inner Peace takes you on a peaceful journey into the Buddha-nature within, into the gentle, quiet place of inner peacefulness, and the experience of a still mind. I highly recommend this CD set.

The back cover blurb reads as follows:

Find the stillness behind every breath with this step-by-step guide to meditation. The average person has 12,000 thoughts per day--most of them a recurring handful of unwelcome distractions. On Still the Mind, master meditation teacher Bodhipaksa offers an essential program for anyone looking to move beyond the chatter of a too-busy mind, while laying the foundation for a daily meditation practice.

Two CDs of instruction and guided sitting sessions will help you discover the breath as an untapped source of mental clarity and inner peace, as you transcend the hectic demands of everyday life and learn to settle into the deepest parts of yourself. Bodhipaksa's gentle teaching style and straightforward delivery take the mystery out of meditation. His step-by-step instruction will help you cultivate your own daily practice right in the middle of your busy life, as you explore:

• The 1-2-3's of sitting practice, from the best times to meditate to what you can expect in your first few days, weeks, and months;
• How to evolve a spontaneous and self-motivating practice that is both joyful and empowering;
  
• Using the breath as a natural gateway to your inherent wisdom and clarity; and
  
• How to channel your new-found mindfulness into your relationships, career, and creative pursuits.

Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned meditator, Still the Mind gives you easy access to greater self-awareness and self-confidence, increased calm in any situation, and harmony within and without.

You can visit Bodhipaksa at Wildmind.