Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat with Sylvia Boorstein

by Sylvia Boorstein

Book Overview

Get away from doing and into being with this lively, down-to-earth guide to your own meditation retreat by beloved mindfulness meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein. Presenting what Jon Kabat-Zinn has called "endearingly personal mindfulness wisdom," she offers a three-day retreat plan accompanied by timeless lessons -- always grounded in real life -- on how anyone can achieve calm, clarity and joy through meditation practices.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060612525
• ISBN13: 9780060612528
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

good one

Came in excellent condition and at an excellnt price. The item was used but looked brand new. I was very satisfied.

Worth reading -- and practicing

I've been practicing "Mindfulness" meditation for about 7 months now. It's been very helpful, and suits me well. A couple of months ago, I attended my first retreat, of 4 days, at Spirit Rock. It was easily the most profound thing I've done in my life. And one of the hardest. And I'd do it again in a second. Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I'm not able to attend another retreat for several months. So, when I heard about people taking "personal" weekend retreats alone, I decided to try one myself. This book is a -wonderful- "manual" for doing such a retreat. I locked myself in my house for 3 days, and used this book as my teacher. Sylvia writes so warmly... I really needed her compassionate words when my meditations got rough. I found myself laughing aloud many times during the retreat. It was a hard retreat (I find meditation -very- hard to practice daily, but I do it anyway because that's the only way really), but I emerged with a similar feeling as my first retreat -- more aware, and more loving toward myself.I would not recommend this book if you have never attended a formal retreat (in a group setting, with experienced teachers). But, if you've done that, then this is a great way to supplement and boost awareness "in-between" formal retreats.I took one star away only because I found the timetables hard to keep up with. My 2nd night, I didn't get to bed until 11pm. Maybe I should have given it five. Oh, just let me have this one grudge, please? :)Thank goodness for people like Sylvia. She knows exactly how to make the self-critic in my meditation ("I'm not DOING it right!") run for cover.

Worth reading -- and practicing

I've been practicing "Mindfulness" meditation for about 7 months now. It's been very helpful, and suits me well. A couple of months ago, I attended my first retreat, of 4 days, at Spirit Rock. It was easily the most profound thing I've done in my life. And one of the hardest. And I'd do it again in a second. Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I'm not able to attend another retreat for several months. So, when I heard about people taking "personal" weekend retreats alone, I decided to try one myself. This book is a -wonderful- "manual" for doing such a retreat. I locked myself in my house for 3 days, and used this book as my teacher. Sylvia writes so warmly... I really needed her compassionate words when my sittings got rough. I found myself laughing aloud at her words a handful of times during the retreat. It was a hard retreat (I find meditation -very- hard to practice daily, but I do it anyway because that's the only way really), but I emerged with a similar feeling as my first retreat -- more aware, and more loving toward myself. She also offers a handful of techniques that were new to me, and helped me greatly.I would not recommend this book if you have never attended a formal retreat (in a group setting, with experienced teachers). But, if you've done that, then this is a great way to supplement and boost awareness "in-between" formal retreats.I took one "star" away only because I found the timetables hard to keep up with. My 2nd night, I didn't get to bed until 11pm. ...On second thought that was my own fault for taking a long afternoon nap... Maybe I should have given it five... Oh, just let me keep this one grudge, please? :)Thank goodness for people like Sylvia. She knows exactly how to make the self-critic in my meditation ("I'm not DOING it right!") run for cover.

Almost "instant meditation"

Sylvia Boorstein simply and clearly outlines the first steps into meditation. They worked for me. Clear three days off your calendar and try it.