Anyone interested in learning more about meditation and how to transform themselves will have fun exploring Be The Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World, with forwards by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman.
In the introduction the authors explain what meditation is and why they should do it. By slowing down and focusing on the present, Ed and Deb Shapiro show how people are able to reduce stress, heal the body and let go of their egos to feel more compassion for others.
Methods of Meditation
Since it’s hard for some people to stay still, there are creative tips in Be The Change for meditating while dancing, walking and running. Individuals can try different methods out to see what works for them. Besides moving meditation, sitting and sounding meditation methods are explored in Be The Change.
Meditation Encourages Connections
The ability to see that everyone is connected is enhanced when meditating, which also creates more opportunities for recognizing others in need. When people see themselves as separate, they tend to be more competitive, which leads to division and in extreme cases, war.
Throughout the book, over one hundred people from all walks of life share interesting insights about meditation and how it helped them grow. Some of them include: Jane Fonda, John Gray, Jack Cornfield, Matthew Fox, Thomas Keating, Jean Houston, Noah Levine, Debbie Ford, Marianne Williamson, Ellen Burstyn and Richard Freeman.
Prisoners explain how meditation helped them survive and celebrities explain how it helped ground them. These stories are inspiring, but they also interrupt the flow, which is why this book on meditation is ideal for reading in small chunks.
Meditation, Forgiveness, Kindness and Generosity
There are deep thoughts in Be The Change on how negative emotions like anger and fear can be resolved through meditation. Holding onto anger can either lead to destruction or depression, unless it’s released and used to make positive changes. There’s a detailed section dedicated to forgiveness with an example of a healing forgiveness meditation. Also included is a meditation for developing kindness.
Ed and Deb Shapiro explain an important aspect of generosity. When it’s done without expecting anything in return, it’s effective. If it’s only done for what can be received, it will lead to resentment. This is similar to the law of attraction because when people try to use it purely to receive riches, they come up spiritually empty.
They go further to encourage others to wish people well, even when they are rude and angry. This is similar to turning the other cheek as Jesus taught, but is easier said than done.
- Be The Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World (Sterling Publishing, 2009, ISBN: 978-1-4027-6001-3) is an ambitious but practical book on meditation. Although it’s fascinating to read about, it’s important for readers to take action and practice these meditation methods in order to make a difference.
People may worry about whether they're meditating properly but Ed and Deb say, "All we need to do is keep coming back to the breath or practice, be willing to keep going and give it time. Our intent is more important than what happens."
About Ed and Deb Shapiro
Ed and Deb Shapiro have taught meditation for over twenty-five years. They also authored 15 other books on meditation and personal development and are regularly featured on the Huffington Post and Care2.com. Somehow, the Shapiros also find time to coach and teach meditation workshops. For more information see Ed and Deb Shapiro.
Sandra Williams - Sandra's a book addict and writer from Ontario, Canada. Her interests include cooking, health and personal development, so many of her ...
