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Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--A Complete Guide to the Groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness Meditation Practice
New York Times bestseller · This groundbreaking book from New York Times bestselling author Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., introduces readers to his pioneering, science-based meditation practice.
Aware provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one's day-to-day life.An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle "Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life. Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
About the author
Daniel J. Siegel
161 books2,738 followersDaniel J. Siegel, M.D., is an internationally acclaimed author, award-winning educator, and child psychiatrist. Dr. Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, and is a founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. In addition, Dr. Siegel is the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute.
Dr. Siegel has the unique ability to convey complicated scientific concepts in a concise and comprehensible way that all readers can enjoy. He has become known for his research in Interpersonal Neurobiology – an interdisciplinary view that creates a framework for the understanding of our subjective and interpersonal lives. In his most recent works, Dr. Siegel explores how mindfulness practices can aid the process of interpersonal and intrapersonal attunement, leading to personal growth and well-being.
Published author of several highly acclaimed works, Dr. Siegel’s books include the New York Times’ bestseller “Brainstorm”, along with "Mindsight," "The Developing Mind," "The Mindful Brain," "The Mindful Therapist," in addition to co-authoring "Parenting From the Inside Out," with Mary Hartzell and "The Whole-Brain Child," with Tina Bryson. He is also the Founding Editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, which includes "Healing Trauma," "The Power of Emotion," and "Trauma and the Body." Dr. Siegel currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
For more information on Dr. Siegel's work, please visit DrDanSiegel.com.
Dr. Siegel has the unique ability to convey complicated scientific concepts in a concise and comprehensible way that all readers can enjoy. He has become known for his research in Interpersonal Neurobiology – an interdisciplinary view that creates a framework for the understanding of our subjective and interpersonal lives. In his most recent works, Dr. Siegel explores how mindfulness practices can aid the process of interpersonal and intrapersonal attunement, leading to personal growth and well-being.
Published author of several highly acclaimed works, Dr. Siegel’s books include the New York Times’ bestseller “Brainstorm”, along with "Mindsight," "The Developing Mind," "The Mindful Brain," "The Mindful Therapist," in addition to co-authoring "Parenting From the Inside Out," with Mary Hartzell and "The Whole-Brain Child," with Tina Bryson. He is also the Founding Editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, which includes "Healing Trauma," "The Power of Emotion," and "Trauma and the Body." Dr. Siegel currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
For more information on Dr. Siegel's work, please visit DrDanSiegel.com.
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September 26, 2019
Daniel Siegel, MD, psychiatrist and author, shares his research into neuroscience and a meditation practice he has developed called the "Wheel of Awareness".
"The Wheel practice is a way to open awareness and cultivate a larger, more expansive container of consciousness. People who participate in the practice seem to be strengthening their minds." pg 9
The practice uses focused attention on the senses, bodily sensations, mental activities and interconnectedness, in order to encourage the mind to become more integrated. When this integration happens, the mind gives off certain brainwaves that Siegel and other researchers have measured coming from experienced meditation practitioners such as monks.
Basically, Siegel is using western science in an effort to measure and replicate meditation practices.
The science portions of Aware are not very accessible to the non-scientists readers and I could see that being off-putting. However, if you are interested in the intersection of neuroscience and meditation practice, this book could be incredibly useful to you.
"Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." pg 19
I found the implications of Siegel's research to be fascinating. He claims, through focused attention, one can change the neural patterns and behavior of the brain. Meditation affects biology in a physically measurable way.
There have been countless studies on the positive benefits of meditation practice, but, I think, fewer on the changes in the function and integration of the mind. The rewards of such can be profound.
"When our minds wander unintentionally, we are not present, we are not receptively aware, we are not mindful, and studies suggest, we inhibit being happy — even if we are daydreaming about exciting things. ... Presence cultivates happiness." pg 49
Besides the Wheel of Awareness portion, the part of Aware I found most helpful was a discussion about the proper cultivation of empathy, the ability to put yourself in another's place to feel and share what they are feeling.
Tania Singer, in a presentation to the Dalai Lama, had this advice: "... we need to place empathy in the larger space of altruistic love and compassion. This space will act like a buffer for empathic distress. Since altruism and compassion are positive mental states, they reinforce our courage and give us the resources to deal with the suffering of others in a constructive way." pg 86
I liked the visual of that and think it will come in handy in the future.
Recommended for non-fiction readers interested in the science behind meditation and the development of presence. Spiritual seekers looking for different meditation methods may want to look for that in another, less technical, book.
"The Wheel practice is a way to open awareness and cultivate a larger, more expansive container of consciousness. People who participate in the practice seem to be strengthening their minds." pg 9
The practice uses focused attention on the senses, bodily sensations, mental activities and interconnectedness, in order to encourage the mind to become more integrated. When this integration happens, the mind gives off certain brainwaves that Siegel and other researchers have measured coming from experienced meditation practitioners such as monks.
Basically, Siegel is using western science in an effort to measure and replicate meditation practices.
The science portions of Aware are not very accessible to the non-scientists readers and I could see that being off-putting. However, if you are interested in the intersection of neuroscience and meditation practice, this book could be incredibly useful to you.
"Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." pg 19
I found the implications of Siegel's research to be fascinating. He claims, through focused attention, one can change the neural patterns and behavior of the brain. Meditation affects biology in a physically measurable way.
There have been countless studies on the positive benefits of meditation practice, but, I think, fewer on the changes in the function and integration of the mind. The rewards of such can be profound.
"When our minds wander unintentionally, we are not present, we are not receptively aware, we are not mindful, and studies suggest, we inhibit being happy — even if we are daydreaming about exciting things. ... Presence cultivates happiness." pg 49
Besides the Wheel of Awareness portion, the part of Aware I found most helpful was a discussion about the proper cultivation of empathy, the ability to put yourself in another's place to feel and share what they are feeling.
Tania Singer, in a presentation to the Dalai Lama, had this advice: "... we need to place empathy in the larger space of altruistic love and compassion. This space will act like a buffer for empathic distress. Since altruism and compassion are positive mental states, they reinforce our courage and give us the resources to deal with the suffering of others in a constructive way." pg 86
I liked the visual of that and think it will come in handy in the future.
Recommended for non-fiction readers interested in the science behind meditation and the development of presence. Spiritual seekers looking for different meditation methods may want to look for that in another, less technical, book.
December 2, 2018
"Aware" is a massively dense book -- and a bit repetitive but mostly in ways that help reinforce the concepts. I will never forget that "neurons that fire together wire together" - or is it the other way around?
There's a TON of scientific sounding discussion of the brain and how it works - but for me, the most interesting parts were the concepts of the "wheel" of awareness and the meditation practices. I also enjoyed the stories of individuals and how even a 6-year-old could grasp these concepts. Some of the science-y stuff in the middle is above my pay grade but sounds interesting.
I listened to this as an audiobook and had to turn it up to 1.5x because the narration was so sloooooow. The science behind mindfulness is interesting but some of what he's written is super clinical. It's hard to skip sections on an audiobook -- but don't feel bad if you do some skipping around in the printed book. The author has provided some more information as resources to the audio book that includes some guided meditations.
There's a TON of scientific sounding discussion of the brain and how it works - but for me, the most interesting parts were the concepts of the "wheel" of awareness and the meditation practices. I also enjoyed the stories of individuals and how even a 6-year-old could grasp these concepts. Some of the science-y stuff in the middle is above my pay grade but sounds interesting.
I listened to this as an audiobook and had to turn it up to 1.5x because the narration was so sloooooow. The science behind mindfulness is interesting but some of what he's written is super clinical. It's hard to skip sections on an audiobook -- but don't feel bad if you do some skipping around in the printed book. The author has provided some more information as resources to the audio book that includes some guided meditations.
June 23, 2019
2.5
Not the best writing in the world and immensely redundant. Gets very dense in the middle- theories on topics in quantum physics and neuroscience. Skimmed most of it until the end.
The wheel of awareness itself is a helpful tool for people new to meditation and is a refreshing reminder on some basic meditation principles. Only good part of the book.
Not the best writing in the world and immensely redundant. Gets very dense in the middle- theories on topics in quantum physics and neuroscience. Skimmed most of it until the end.
The wheel of awareness itself is a helpful tool for people new to meditation and is a refreshing reminder on some basic meditation principles. Only good part of the book.
August 21, 2018
Science based meditation
California author Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, founding co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. He is also coauthor of ‘Parenting from the Inside Out’, ‘The Whole-Brain Child’, and ‘Mindsight’.
Impressive – this book is life altering and should be on the list of every concerned person’s books to absorb. The basic concept that your mind can change the health of your body and slow aging is about the strongest statement of ‘mind over matter’ that has been offered to date.
Though every aspect of this book is enlightening, the very solid scientific core of Daniel’s theory is what impresses most. ‘When we develop focused attention, open awareness and kind intention we Improve immune function to help fight infection, Optimize the level of the enzyme telomerase which repairs and maintains the ends of your chromosomes keeping your cells – and therefore you – youthful, functioning well and healthy, Enhance the ‘epigenetic’ regulation of genes to help prevent life-threatening inflammation, Modify cardiovascular factors, improving cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart function, Increase neural integration in the brain, enabling more coordination and balance in both the functional and structural connectivity within the nervous system that facilitates optimal functioning, including self-regulation, problem solving, and adaptive behavior that is at the heart of well-being.’
As Daniel’s book summary state, ‘ AWARE provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one's day-to-day life. An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle "Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life. Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.’
Read this book, read it again, absorb the teachings and see the change. Revolutionary yet easy to learn, Daniel Siegel’s life changing instruction is a gift to us all.
California author Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, founding co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. He is also coauthor of ‘Parenting from the Inside Out’, ‘The Whole-Brain Child’, and ‘Mindsight’.
Impressive – this book is life altering and should be on the list of every concerned person’s books to absorb. The basic concept that your mind can change the health of your body and slow aging is about the strongest statement of ‘mind over matter’ that has been offered to date.
Though every aspect of this book is enlightening, the very solid scientific core of Daniel’s theory is what impresses most. ‘When we develop focused attention, open awareness and kind intention we Improve immune function to help fight infection, Optimize the level of the enzyme telomerase which repairs and maintains the ends of your chromosomes keeping your cells – and therefore you – youthful, functioning well and healthy, Enhance the ‘epigenetic’ regulation of genes to help prevent life-threatening inflammation, Modify cardiovascular factors, improving cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart function, Increase neural integration in the brain, enabling more coordination and balance in both the functional and structural connectivity within the nervous system that facilitates optimal functioning, including self-regulation, problem solving, and adaptive behavior that is at the heart of well-being.’
As Daniel’s book summary state, ‘ AWARE provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one's day-to-day life. An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle "Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life. Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.’
Read this book, read it again, absorb the teachings and see the change. Revolutionary yet easy to learn, Daniel Siegel’s life changing instruction is a gift to us all.
September 14, 2018
A major disappointment
Perhaps I expected too much or something different from this book but I was entirely disappointed with it. I preordered it and looked forward to reading Siegel’s latest work but what I encountered was a 400 page book with excessive detail about research very little practical information. I am quite interested in neuroscience and it’s personal and clinical application but this book offered an extraordinary amount of unnecessary and boring detail with not nearly enough clinical application.
Perhaps I expected too much or something different from this book but I was entirely disappointed with it. I preordered it and looked forward to reading Siegel’s latest work but what I encountered was a 400 page book with excessive detail about research very little practical information. I am quite interested in neuroscience and it’s personal and clinical application but this book offered an extraordinary amount of unnecessary and boring detail with not nearly enough clinical application.
September 14, 2019
Very dense, packed with worthwhile information. The best book about meditation I have read thus far, far and away better than Sam Harris’ book on meditation. I did dock it one star because the technical section became extraordinarily technical, and bogged me down for quite a while. Another bonus of this book is that the author also includes many excellent titles for further reading, which I have since added to my to-read list!
September 19, 2018
I have an audiobook but it is impossibly boring to listen to. Maybe it is intended for people that have no experience with meditation? No idea. It might be better as a book where you can skim boring parts
October 12, 2018
So disappointed with this book. Every chapter I thought - okay now it will be easier to understand. I have spent much time with meditation, yoga and centering prayer with good results. This was not worth the time to finish reading.
Read
August 17, 2018Aware enables you to successfully search inside yourself to cultivate well-being and a deeper understanding of the mind with an exciting new approach to meditation. The Wheel of Awareness provides a comprehensive, science-based way to develop the focused attention, open awareness, and kind intention that research reveals can help bring health and resilience into your life.
Chade-Meng Tan, New York Times Bestselling Author of Joy on Demand and Search Inside Yourself
Dr. Daniel Siegel is truly one of a kind. His ability to blend no-nonsense neuroscience with accessible techniques for training the mind is masterful. Anyone wanting to be less distracted and more present in their life, will want to read this book.
Andy Puddicombe, Co-Founder of Headspace
Meditation strengthens our attention, opens our awareness, and helps us cultivate compassion and kind intention, which have been shown to improve our health and our relationships. That’s exactly what Dan Siegel offers us with Aware, a practical guide to a life changing journey into the deep nature of our consciousness, what it means to be human and how to truly thrive.
Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global; Founder, The Huffington Post
Studies reveal what years of practice demonstrate: training our mind in specific ways brings health to our bodies, clarity to our minds, and connection in our relationships. Dan Siegel provides an exciting new reflective practice — the Wheel of Awareness — that offers these research proven ways of cultivating love, kindness, and meaning in our lives.
Sharon Salzberg, Author of Real Happiness and Real Love
Dan Siegel who gave us a succinct and clear definition of mind now explores the awareness that knows that mind. Read this book if you want true freedom and spontaneous creativity.
Deepak Chopra, MD
Growing a strong mind in our lives is the scientifically proven pathway for cultivating more wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and social connection. Dan Siegel’s new approach of the Wheel of Awareness offers us a powerful tool to do just that — bring more health, resilience and caring into our lives throughout the lifespan.
Goldie Hawn, Author of A Lotus Grows in the Mud and Ten Mindful Minutes
In Aware, Dan Siegel brings us a precious gift that will transform your mind, life, and relationships in a most wonderful way, using an easy to learn and revolutionary new system for meditation — one that beginners and experts, alike, will cherish!
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology, Harvard University, Co-Author of The Healing Self
Dan is a brilliant integrator and Aware is a visionary blend of neuroscience, physics and cutting edge psychology combined with creative approaches to mindfulness and compassion. The practice of the Wheel brings together many skillful and wise elements of meditation, all rolled into one.
Jack Kornfield, Author of The Wise Heart
Dr. Dan Siegel has an extraordinary gift: to describe patterns and make accessible in a powerful way the insights and practices that are fundamental to well-being and awakening. In his book Aware, we are introduced to the power of presence. Using science and psychology, he opens for us his “wheel of awareness,” a way of perceiving and working with the mind that is both practical and liberating.
Joan Halifax, PHD, ABBOT, Upaya Zen Center
Dan Siegel brings a fresh look and creative imagination to provide a roadmap of the mind and make mindfulness practices more accessible and applicable in everyday life. Aware provides a way to grow our skills in self-awareness, self-monitoring, and self-regulation — enhancing our capacity for joy, flourishing and peace.
Ronald Epstein MD, Professor of Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Oncology and Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
We know so much about what’s outside in the Cosmos, billions of light years away but very little about what’s going on inside our heads right now. We know about dark matter but not so much about grey matter, which I would think, matters most. Daniel Siegel finally gives us insight into who we are, how we work and most important of all how to retrain and change our minds. For me, almost every line is an ‘aha’ moment. At long last, someone nails what it is to have a healthy mind and if you don’t have one, how to get one.
Ruby Wax, Author of Sane New World
In Aware, Dan Siegel offers an illuminating new view of the nature of mind and the practices of awareness that lead us to profound wellbeing. His “Wheel of Awareness” is an elegant and groundbreaking synthesis of these practices, an accessible tool for inner integration and healing, as well as for realizing the loving awareness that links us to all beings. This brilliant book is poised to transform countless lives.
Tara Brach, Author og Radical Acceptance and True Refuge
Dan Siegel, a brilliant and compassionate clinician and master translator of research and complex topics, offers this wise and practical guide on the Wheel of Awareness. Inspired by science and decades of clinical and teaching experience, combined with Dan’s unique insights, Aware opens our minds to a transformative mental practice that can serve as a valuable resource to living fully in the ups and downs of everyday life.
Susan Bauer-Wu, President of The Mind & Life Institute and Author of Leaves Falling Gently
This is a Dan Siegel masterpiece. He integrates decades of science and wisdom about the nature of our mind and optimal well-being into an easy to read personal journey. At the cornerstone is “The Wheel of Awareness,” a simple yet profound visual map of the mind, which enables people, including children, to experience of presence, self knowledge, and compassion. Aware will awaken and enrich your life immeasurably!
Elissa Epel, Professor, UCSF, Member, National Academy of Science, Co-Author of New York Times bestseller The Telomere Effect
Daniel Siegel counts among the most aware people I know — and now he’s shared with us all a brilliant, practical tool for us all to sharpen our awareness.
Daniel Goleman, author of Altered Traits and Emotional Intelligence
Dan has produced a masterpiece containing invaluable knowledge in the fields of psychiatry, therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, meditation, and more. Very few people understand the intricacies of the human mind and how it can be channeled to achieve true well-being as Dan does. The Wheel of Awareness is a simple yet profound way for all to learn and advance in their practice of being aware.
Menas C. Kafatos, Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Computational Physics at Chapman University, co-author with Deepak Chopra of The New York Times bestseller You Are the Universe
Chade-Meng Tan, New York Times Bestselling Author of Joy on Demand and Search Inside Yourself
Dr. Daniel Siegel is truly one of a kind. His ability to blend no-nonsense neuroscience with accessible techniques for training the mind is masterful. Anyone wanting to be less distracted and more present in their life, will want to read this book.
Andy Puddicombe, Co-Founder of Headspace
Meditation strengthens our attention, opens our awareness, and helps us cultivate compassion and kind intention, which have been shown to improve our health and our relationships. That’s exactly what Dan Siegel offers us with Aware, a practical guide to a life changing journey into the deep nature of our consciousness, what it means to be human and how to truly thrive.
Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global; Founder, The Huffington Post
Studies reveal what years of practice demonstrate: training our mind in specific ways brings health to our bodies, clarity to our minds, and connection in our relationships. Dan Siegel provides an exciting new reflective practice — the Wheel of Awareness — that offers these research proven ways of cultivating love, kindness, and meaning in our lives.
Sharon Salzberg, Author of Real Happiness and Real Love
Dan Siegel who gave us a succinct and clear definition of mind now explores the awareness that knows that mind. Read this book if you want true freedom and spontaneous creativity.
Deepak Chopra, MD
Growing a strong mind in our lives is the scientifically proven pathway for cultivating more wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and social connection. Dan Siegel’s new approach of the Wheel of Awareness offers us a powerful tool to do just that — bring more health, resilience and caring into our lives throughout the lifespan.
Goldie Hawn, Author of A Lotus Grows in the Mud and Ten Mindful Minutes
In Aware, Dan Siegel brings us a precious gift that will transform your mind, life, and relationships in a most wonderful way, using an easy to learn and revolutionary new system for meditation — one that beginners and experts, alike, will cherish!
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology, Harvard University, Co-Author of The Healing Self
Dan is a brilliant integrator and Aware is a visionary blend of neuroscience, physics and cutting edge psychology combined with creative approaches to mindfulness and compassion. The practice of the Wheel brings together many skillful and wise elements of meditation, all rolled into one.
Jack Kornfield, Author of The Wise Heart
Dr. Dan Siegel has an extraordinary gift: to describe patterns and make accessible in a powerful way the insights and practices that are fundamental to well-being and awakening. In his book Aware, we are introduced to the power of presence. Using science and psychology, he opens for us his “wheel of awareness,” a way of perceiving and working with the mind that is both practical and liberating.
Joan Halifax, PHD, ABBOT, Upaya Zen Center
Dan Siegel brings a fresh look and creative imagination to provide a roadmap of the mind and make mindfulness practices more accessible and applicable in everyday life. Aware provides a way to grow our skills in self-awareness, self-monitoring, and self-regulation — enhancing our capacity for joy, flourishing and peace.
Ronald Epstein MD, Professor of Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Oncology and Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
We know so much about what’s outside in the Cosmos, billions of light years away but very little about what’s going on inside our heads right now. We know about dark matter but not so much about grey matter, which I would think, matters most. Daniel Siegel finally gives us insight into who we are, how we work and most important of all how to retrain and change our minds. For me, almost every line is an ‘aha’ moment. At long last, someone nails what it is to have a healthy mind and if you don’t have one, how to get one.
Ruby Wax, Author of Sane New World
In Aware, Dan Siegel offers an illuminating new view of the nature of mind and the practices of awareness that lead us to profound wellbeing. His “Wheel of Awareness” is an elegant and groundbreaking synthesis of these practices, an accessible tool for inner integration and healing, as well as for realizing the loving awareness that links us to all beings. This brilliant book is poised to transform countless lives.
Tara Brach, Author og Radical Acceptance and True Refuge
Dan Siegel, a brilliant and compassionate clinician and master translator of research and complex topics, offers this wise and practical guide on the Wheel of Awareness. Inspired by science and decades of clinical and teaching experience, combined with Dan’s unique insights, Aware opens our minds to a transformative mental practice that can serve as a valuable resource to living fully in the ups and downs of everyday life.
Susan Bauer-Wu, President of The Mind & Life Institute and Author of Leaves Falling Gently
This is a Dan Siegel masterpiece. He integrates decades of science and wisdom about the nature of our mind and optimal well-being into an easy to read personal journey. At the cornerstone is “The Wheel of Awareness,” a simple yet profound visual map of the mind, which enables people, including children, to experience of presence, self knowledge, and compassion. Aware will awaken and enrich your life immeasurably!
Elissa Epel, Professor, UCSF, Member, National Academy of Science, Co-Author of New York Times bestseller The Telomere Effect
Daniel Siegel counts among the most aware people I know — and now he’s shared with us all a brilliant, practical tool for us all to sharpen our awareness.
Daniel Goleman, author of Altered Traits and Emotional Intelligence
Dan has produced a masterpiece containing invaluable knowledge in the fields of psychiatry, therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, meditation, and more. Very few people understand the intricacies of the human mind and how it can be channeled to achieve true well-being as Dan does. The Wheel of Awareness is a simple yet profound way for all to learn and advance in their practice of being aware.
Menas C. Kafatos, Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Computational Physics at Chapman University, co-author with Deepak Chopra of The New York Times bestseller You Are the Universe
February 1, 2022
Simt că nu am beneficiat complet de cartea asta. Deși am găsit-o foarte interesantă, nu s-a potrivit cu ce mă așteptam eu să găsesc - o carte tip how-to despre meditație. Dar e clar o carte la care vreau să revin mai târziu, cu alte așteptări.
April 4, 2024
Update of two buddhist suttas with modern, psychological and scientific language.
Mahasatipatthana sutta
Metta sutta.
Lots of Eriksonian language, obvious influence of Cialdini style marks of influence, and conceptual fluff.
The thinking tool is a simple praxis explained in enormous detail.
Might be easier to write a 50 page book explaining to focus on breath then senses then body then thinking then relationships then compassion in that order.
Honestly needs a very sharp editor for a second edition and a marketer to create an exciting title for a 125 page workbook of the same materials.
Mahasatipatthana sutta
Metta sutta.
Lots of Eriksonian language, obvious influence of Cialdini style marks of influence, and conceptual fluff.
The thinking tool is a simple praxis explained in enormous detail.
Might be easier to write a 50 page book explaining to focus on breath then senses then body then thinking then relationships then compassion in that order.
Honestly needs a very sharp editor for a second edition and a marketer to create an exciting title for a 125 page workbook of the same materials.
April 21, 2019
In my battle with meditation an how to create a practice of my own, I have read a dozen books, tried apps, met with yogis and gurus. All provided the “what” and some of the “how” but very little “why”. I’ve done “headspace” everyday for 365 days and was not satisfied with listening to an app and following the pace of the facilitator. I wanted to know what’s good for me and how to adjust my practice for my particular needs each day.
This book allowed me to look at meditation from a different perspective...Awareness. The systematic wheel of awareness allows you to start with a focused attention on breath and then shift awareness to where you need it. Want to spend more time on a body scan or letting your mind wander?.. so be it. You won’t have someone telling you it’s time to move on to something else or the frustration of not being able to keep your mind where a facilitator tells you. This freedom was key to unlocking my meditation practice and allows me to use it outside of a quiet comfortable room. I can use it when I need it most... in the messy real world!
This is a long dense text book of the science and practice of meditation. If the book ended after the first 75 pages, it would be a 5 star. The science starting in the middle of the book is heavy and I fell asleep reading a few nights. Not a book for those beginning a meditation practice. This book is for people who study the subject or those that have experience with meditation and want to be independent in their practice and take the next step toward mastery. Good luck.
This book allowed me to look at meditation from a different perspective...Awareness. The systematic wheel of awareness allows you to start with a focused attention on breath and then shift awareness to where you need it. Want to spend more time on a body scan or letting your mind wander?.. so be it. You won’t have someone telling you it’s time to move on to something else or the frustration of not being able to keep your mind where a facilitator tells you. This freedom was key to unlocking my meditation practice and allows me to use it outside of a quiet comfortable room. I can use it when I need it most... in the messy real world!
This is a long dense text book of the science and practice of meditation. If the book ended after the first 75 pages, it would be a 5 star. The science starting in the middle of the book is heavy and I fell asleep reading a few nights. Not a book for those beginning a meditation practice. This book is for people who study the subject or those that have experience with meditation and want to be independent in their practice and take the next step toward mastery. Good luck.
December 4, 2019
Aware is a must read if you really want to understand mindfulness and meditation. Dr. Daniel Siegel thoroughly explains the concept of 'neuroplasticity' i.e. how our brain can change or rewire, which actually means we can actually change our habits and behavior, cure depression, trauma, reduce impact bipolar disorder etc. Book is backed by studies from Neuroscience, quantum mechanics and testimonies of Dr. Daniel's patients. Dr. Daniel introduces 'Wheel and Hub Method' to visualize mindful meditation, which is easy to follow.
Though, I would not recommend it for beginners in meditation/mindfulness,as book heavier on theory side and chapter on 'quantum theory' and 'probability distribution' is really tough to grasp in one reading. I would recommend to first read 'The Mindful way through depression by Mark Willams, John Teasdale and Zindel Segal' or 'Full catastrophe Living by Jon Kobat-Zinn' (both of which are more practical and less theory) and then eventually upgrade to this book.
Though, I would not recommend it for beginners in meditation/mindfulness,as book heavier on theory side and chapter on 'quantum theory' and 'probability distribution' is really tough to grasp in one reading. I would recommend to first read 'The Mindful way through depression by Mark Willams, John Teasdale and Zindel Segal' or 'Full catastrophe Living by Jon Kobat-Zinn' (both of which are more practical and less theory) and then eventually upgrade to this book.
December 13, 2018
Mostly reads like a promotion. The acronyms hamper first time reading. Chapter on energy is complicated. There is no explicit mention of Buddhism or Yoga although the whole book is based on the concepts therein. The book addresses those who are somewhat familiar with psychological, Eastern philosophical concepts, as well as, interested in physics and statistics.
July 19, 2023
From the blinks, there is a chance the book explains satisfactorily the physical benefits meditation can bring about. It turns out, the benefit is somewhat different. Siegel described what sounds like a very easy to follow regime of meditation practices. He has a website (haven’t checked) with audio guides to use to guide you through the first few times.
October 8, 2018
Couldn’t get into this book. It seemed to be mostly about teaching a specific mindfulness meditation “wheel of awareness” practice I skipped much of the middle pages, but read the first and last few chapters fully.
October 6, 2021
Interessante, mi ha particolarmente colpito e appassionato leggere dei meccanismi cerebrali, i propri filtri della coscienza e come si formano (e come si possono superare), dei picchi di emozioni, ricordi, pensieri, a partire dal piano delle possibilità. Stimolante: ho voglia di provare la pratica della ruota della consapevolezza.
I seguenti estratti dal libro, non sono rappresentativi dei concetti trattati. Le ho trascritte solo per salvarmi e in futuro poter velocemente rileggere alcune meraviglie.
La mente protesa verso un'idea nuova non torna mai alle dimensioni originarie.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Dove l'attenzione va, una serie di neuroni si attiverà e una connessione nervosa si formerà.
Persi nei pensieri, si attenuano le sensazioni. Nel flusso delle sensazioni, si placano i pensieri.
Perdonare non significa affermare che ciò che è avvenuto sia giusto o positivo; perdonare, significa rinunciare a ogni speranza di un passato migliore.
Jack Kornfield
Ora, il fatto che le osservazioni contenute in questo modello teorico si concilino con diverse descrizioni dell'esperienza umana potrebbe essere una pura coincidenza, o persino un esempio del cosiddetto bias di conferma, la legittimazione da parte della mia mente delle mie stesse convinzioni, una tendenza sistematica a far giungere alla consapevolezza soltanto le interpretazioni dei risultati che avvalorano ciò che desidero credere, distorcendo ciò che percepisco al fine di confermare ciò che voglio pensare sia vero. In altri termini, è possibile che questa cornice teorica non sia corretta.
L'aria che, una volta siano presenti il sole e l'acqua, è in attesa di un osservatore o di una macchina fotografica per dare origine a un arcobaleno
Siediti. È festa: la tua vita è in tavola
Derek Walcott
"E dove andrò quando morirò?", mi chiese.
Mio padre era una persona particolarmente volitiva, che si autodichiarava non spirituale, un ingegnere per formazione, fedele a una visione materialistica e scientifica della realtà. Parole sue, non mie. Inoltre, era incline ad avere intense reazioni negative con chiunque in famiglia proponesse un punto di vista diverso dal suo (parole mie), ossia la visione corretta (parole sue).
Potete quindi ben immaginare quanto fossi nervoso mentre pensavo a come rispondere a questa domanda esistenziale in quel momento, in quella che sarebbe potuta essere l'ultima occasione per stare insieme. Così dissi che, certamente, non sapevo che cosa ci accade quando moriamo. A quel punto lui mi domandò che cosa pensavo potesse accadere. Così gli dissi quel che pensavo.
Gli dissi che in un quarto di secolo di attività come psichiatra, nessuno era venuto da me per iniziare una terapia preoccupato di dove fosse stato prima di essere concepito.
Mio padre sembrò incuriosito, così continuai.
Se pensiamo che ci sono trilioni di spermatozoi e miliardi di cellule uovo nel mondo da cui avresti potuto nascere, gli dissi, ma soltanto una cellula uovo e uno spermatozoo di questo vastissimo insieme di possibilità di gameti si è effettivamente unito, allora tu sei la realizzazione di una possibilità che emerge da un mare di potenzialità, da un piano contenente ogni possibilità.
Bene, disse, ascoltando con attenzione.
E abbiamo circa un secolo di vita in questo corpo, questa traduzione in atto di una forma emersa da un mare amorfo, la fonte di ogni cosa possibile. È la nostra vita, l'opportunità che abbiamo di vivere in questo corpo. Quando moriamo, potremmo semplicemente tornare da dove siamo venuti: il piano delle possibilità.
___________________________________
FROM BOOK: Scuola di Psicologia (Luca Mazzucchelli, Laura Pirotta)
___________________________________
WANT TO READ BOOK:
- La scienza che allunga la vita - La rivoluzione dei telomeri (Elizabeth Blackburn, Elissa Epel)
- Lo strano ordine delle cose. La vita, i sentimenti e la creazione della cultura (António R. Damásio)
I seguenti estratti dal libro, non sono rappresentativi dei concetti trattati. Le ho trascritte solo per salvarmi e in futuro poter velocemente rileggere alcune meraviglie.
La mente protesa verso un'idea nuova non torna mai alle dimensioni originarie.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Dove l'attenzione va, una serie di neuroni si attiverà e una connessione nervosa si formerà.
Persi nei pensieri, si attenuano le sensazioni. Nel flusso delle sensazioni, si placano i pensieri.
Perdonare non significa affermare che ciò che è avvenuto sia giusto o positivo; perdonare, significa rinunciare a ogni speranza di un passato migliore.
Jack Kornfield
Ora, il fatto che le osservazioni contenute in questo modello teorico si concilino con diverse descrizioni dell'esperienza umana potrebbe essere una pura coincidenza, o persino un esempio del cosiddetto bias di conferma, la legittimazione da parte della mia mente delle mie stesse convinzioni, una tendenza sistematica a far giungere alla consapevolezza soltanto le interpretazioni dei risultati che avvalorano ciò che desidero credere, distorcendo ciò che percepisco al fine di confermare ciò che voglio pensare sia vero. In altri termini, è possibile che questa cornice teorica non sia corretta.
L'aria che, una volta siano presenti il sole e l'acqua, è in attesa di un osservatore o di una macchina fotografica per dare origine a un arcobaleno
Siediti. È festa: la tua vita è in tavola
Derek Walcott
"E dove andrò quando morirò?", mi chiese.
Mio padre era una persona particolarmente volitiva, che si autodichiarava non spirituale, un ingegnere per formazione, fedele a una visione materialistica e scientifica della realtà. Parole sue, non mie. Inoltre, era incline ad avere intense reazioni negative con chiunque in famiglia proponesse un punto di vista diverso dal suo (parole mie), ossia la visione corretta (parole sue).
Potete quindi ben immaginare quanto fossi nervoso mentre pensavo a come rispondere a questa domanda esistenziale in quel momento, in quella che sarebbe potuta essere l'ultima occasione per stare insieme. Così dissi che, certamente, non sapevo che cosa ci accade quando moriamo. A quel punto lui mi domandò che cosa pensavo potesse accadere. Così gli dissi quel che pensavo.
Gli dissi che in un quarto di secolo di attività come psichiatra, nessuno era venuto da me per iniziare una terapia preoccupato di dove fosse stato prima di essere concepito.
Mio padre sembrò incuriosito, così continuai.
Se pensiamo che ci sono trilioni di spermatozoi e miliardi di cellule uovo nel mondo da cui avresti potuto nascere, gli dissi, ma soltanto una cellula uovo e uno spermatozoo di questo vastissimo insieme di possibilità di gameti si è effettivamente unito, allora tu sei la realizzazione di una possibilità che emerge da un mare di potenzialità, da un piano contenente ogni possibilità.
Bene, disse, ascoltando con attenzione.
E abbiamo circa un secolo di vita in questo corpo, questa traduzione in atto di una forma emersa da un mare amorfo, la fonte di ogni cosa possibile. È la nostra vita, l'opportunità che abbiamo di vivere in questo corpo. Quando moriamo, potremmo semplicemente tornare da dove siamo venuti: il piano delle possibilità.
___________________________________
FROM BOOK: Scuola di Psicologia (Luca Mazzucchelli, Laura Pirotta)
___________________________________
WANT TO READ BOOK:
- La scienza che allunga la vita - La rivoluzione dei telomeri (Elizabeth Blackburn, Elissa Epel)
- Lo strano ordine delle cose. La vita, i sentimenti e la creazione della cultura (António R. Damásio)
March 6, 2023
This was a really good book, explaining presence and awareness. I felt the author at times over complicated some of the aspects, but at its core, this has very solid principles.
I did find it helpful that I had read Mindsight before reading this book, although I don’t think it’s necessary.
As a Christian, I couldn’t help but compare how much of the scientific data that was presented sounds so similar to what Paul said in Romans 12:2 about being transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Also, the “interconnectedness” he spoke of reminded me of how we as Christians are in Christ and Christ is in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 1:27, Romans 8:10.
And the energy that was spoken of as movement from possibility to actualization that connects everything on this earth reminded me of Colossians 1:17 that Christ holds all things together with his power.
And the “plane of possibility” where he spoke of infinite possibilities in our awareness reminded me of how we are created in the image of an infinite God, Genesis 1:26-27, and nothing is impossible with God Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26.
Even the author’s referencing of the extremes of chaos and rigidity (I first read this analogy in Mindsight and it was extremely helpful) was a really good picture of the two sons in Luke 15. (The prodigal son exemplifying chaos, and the older brother rigidity.)
This book was not a spiritual book by any means, it was very scientific, perhaps overly scientific, but it just reminded me that everywhere we look, whether it be at creation, at each other, or at quantum physics, we see traces of the hand of our Creator everywhere.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psalm 139:7-10.
I did find it helpful that I had read Mindsight before reading this book, although I don’t think it’s necessary.
As a Christian, I couldn’t help but compare how much of the scientific data that was presented sounds so similar to what Paul said in Romans 12:2 about being transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Also, the “interconnectedness” he spoke of reminded me of how we as Christians are in Christ and Christ is in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 1:27, Romans 8:10.
And the energy that was spoken of as movement from possibility to actualization that connects everything on this earth reminded me of Colossians 1:17 that Christ holds all things together with his power.
And the “plane of possibility” where he spoke of infinite possibilities in our awareness reminded me of how we are created in the image of an infinite God, Genesis 1:26-27, and nothing is impossible with God Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26.
Even the author’s referencing of the extremes of chaos and rigidity (I first read this analogy in Mindsight and it was extremely helpful) was a really good picture of the two sons in Luke 15. (The prodigal son exemplifying chaos, and the older brother rigidity.)
This book was not a spiritual book by any means, it was very scientific, perhaps overly scientific, but it just reminded me that everywhere we look, whether it be at creation, at each other, or at quantum physics, we see traces of the hand of our Creator everywhere.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psalm 139:7-10.
Read
February 24, 2020When I started reading this book, I'm pretty sure I thought it was written by Daniel Kahneman, who writes a lot of dense but very engaging psychology-based stuff that I really love. Or maybe Daniel Pink, who writes a lot of great stuff about brains and how brains function.
This book, sadly, was written by neither Kahneman or Pink. And it was a SLOG for me. And the audio narrator was pretty terrible. Do not recommend.
This book, sadly, was written by neither Kahneman or Pink. And it was a SLOG for me. And the audio narrator was pretty terrible. Do not recommend.
September 18, 2018
Excellent, inspiring read: a good overview of current neuroscientific thinking and how we can take concrete steps to apply it to our own lives. Good examples, clearly laid out of how people are using this already. Essential for the modern world.
March 20, 2023
This was a blend of introducing readers to the wheel of awareness and intense metaphysical philosophizing with quantum physics and neuroscience blended in. I was struck by how much the wheel of awareness is similar to st ignatius contemplative practices, which have transformed my life. Dan's version has audio on his website, which is a great resource.
interesting info on empathy vs compassion fatigue:
empathic resonance fatigue/empathic distress. this is a crucial distinction to make in order to remind ourselves how integration creates resilience. integration is the process underlying compassion and kindness...empathy is essential in life. it is even essential for compassion
kind intention facilitates the arising of integrative mental processes like empathic concern and compassion and makes them more likely to be enacted within us and in our behavior interacting with the world.
when we harness a state of kind intention we harness particular patterns in the brain that research reveals are integrative-they link widely seperated regions to one another, enabling the coordination and balance of neural firing. when we exercise those neural networks of kindness we strengthen their connections and make those trained states become traits of kind intention in our lives
regular practice supports the movement from a state created during a practice to a trait that becomes a learned skill or way of being. a trait is a baseline propensity/way of behaving that happens without effort or conscious planning in a person's life.
with 3 integrative intentional states, we can respect and even enjoy difference while creating meaningful connections with others. kindness sets the mind for being open and caring. empathy sets the mind for deep feeling, sharing, and understanding. compassion primes the mind for connecting and feeling, thought and action around suffering and its alleviation. kindness, empathy, and compassion are 3 fundamental ingredients of an integrating mind.
how to integrate:
preliminate studies show a diminished release of dopamine in the minds reward circuits following mindfulness training. a sense of a more open mind comes along with an ease of wellbeing as clinging in naturally diminished. you can take it or leave it, the decision is up to you, not your reward circuit
spiritual-basic human drive to lie a life of meaning and connection
understanding mind states and awareness:
energy is the movement of possibility to actuality. energy is the movement from potential to that potential being actualized
the plane represents a wide diversity of possibilities. a plataeu, a more limited set of potential activations from which a more constrainted patterns of peaks can arise. a high and narrow platue, would indicate a narrow state of mind, for example, a mental filter that would only give rise to a limited number of peaks of thoughts, emotions, memory, and images that become actualized. a lower, broader plateau would indicate a more open state of mind-but a particular mind frame that is still a filter permitting a wider but nevertheless constrained set of mental activites as peaks or even states of mind as particular plateaus to arise from it. plateaus function as filters-functioning and learning from the past and to be efficient from the present so we can prepare for the immediate future. there is great survival value in being able to construct filters. they are a helpful function of the mind, if they can be flexible and adaptive.
a low-lying plateau may be a way of visually imagining a frame of mind such as a self-defining mindset that who I am is separate from the world or my identificaiot from one in group or another that embeds a mental stance with a specific range of states of mind seen as particular plateaus and their respective thought patterns arising as peaks.
filters of consciousness:
studies have shown lasting clinical improvement in medically ill indiviuals or those with trauma who are suffering from anxiety and depression after just a few treatment sessions with these primary consciousness inducing substances. this seems to indicate that releasing the brain from it's habitual filters of consciousness may be therapeutic for certain conditions...suggesting shifts in consciousness in the moment and then in how we experience awareness in the long run can have profoundly beneficial effects on a person's life
for someone facing death or someone who has experience severe trauma who are stuck in rigid or chaotic disfuction, with states of helplessness or terror it may be that offering new ways of enabling the brain to perceive a wider reality of life offers profound relief. freeing their mind from theri prior suffering
the question is this: could accessing the hub of the wheel of awareness, gaining access to the plane of possibility offer a way to open consciousness and increase the variety of plataues that might arise. without such access the plataues could potentially be serving as constraining filters of consciousness and limiting which peaks we might have access to experiencing...many people familiar with the wheel practice have described an opening of awareness that may be an opening of the filters of consciousness
thcommon experience of dreams may reveal is there is not in a change of the mechanisms of being aware but a change in the filter of consciousness occuring in that state.
sometimes experience constructs our learned plataues that create impediments to harmony-blockages to integration that lead to peaks of cayos and of rigidity. a rigid peak would be one that stays for long periods of time along our horizontal axis of change-revealing a highly predictable, unchanging peak of actualization.
filters may exist in our life to help with self-organization but in many situations of our human journey they may become too rigid or caotic themselves to facilitate free-flowing integration
why integrative? as we find more differentiated ways of being, ways of accessing new potentials that become actualized as above plane probability values we link to a wider aray of states than a particular plataues that filter and restrict our lives may have allowed....the plan of possibility is both the source of being aware and the source of new options for living.
new ways of responding, instead of automatically reacting. consciousness promotes choice and change because the reflection on choices and the resources of alternative responses each arise from the same probability position the plane of possibility.
adolescents are built for collaboration and connection yet our modern schooling of teens often involves competition and a feeling of scarcity and inadequacy. the sad results is there is often a sense of pressure and isolation which causes unhelpful stress and a sense of despair. our social relationships are one of the most important ingredients to a healthy happy and long lived life. we learn social skils in a big way during our adolescent years. yet with the sleep deprivation and tension many teens in our culture expereince the adolescent time for connection is cut short, to the detriment of many.
connection, courage and imagination:
how we approach adolescence during this period will directly influence not only their indiv. dev. but also the future of our world. adolescence is a period of great opportunity yet we often treat is as a time to just get through as quickly as possible. we are often filled with false statements that give us a misunderstanding of this importatnt life period. (e.g. raging hormones being unavoidable cuases of teenage behavior)...the good news is that the truth about adolescent brain remodeling means we can empower adolescents to actually engage their minds and their lives to optimize how their brains grow and change during this period of rapid transformation.
the wheel of awareness can help develop parenting skills: seeing...before the wheel we are lost on rigidly defined plataeus and their chaotic peaks of reactivity. often leading to anger and not present. now, in accesing the plane, we can rest in a spaciousness of time and choice and inner vastness that has always been available beneath the peaks and filtering of plateaus.
integration is the basis of health. we grow throughout the lifetime, integrating the hub and accessing the plane of possibility is an important step toward freedom
placing pain in context, finding a way to reduce anxiety and fear and replace that with a sense of clarify and calm.
the past:
integration invites us to live the reality that, in fact, we do have a body, that body has a history, and that history shapes the connections in the embodided brain now, even if they came from then. we do have a me and we do have a we. we do have a past, and we do have a future, all of which can live in awareness and be embraced by living with presence. if now is all that exists, then there are neural connections shaping our mind and relationships that are shadows of a prior now...we want to live a freer now by making sense of then, now.
we can survive a childhood of tremendous betrayal, sadness, pain, and fear, but dissociation, though a survival tool, if perpetuated, has its costs. disconnection from pain is not selective. we inevitibly disconnect even from the joy of feeling alive.
we cannot change the past. but reflecting on it gives us a new possibility to make sense of how the past has shaped our development. by becoming aware of these recollections and these experiences we tap into both the sanctuary of wide open awareness and the new possibilites from the plne.
numbing from emotional pain is possible, but what we mean by harnessing the hub is not an escape. its a receptive embrace. you are not avoiding the salt, you are expanding your container of water.
personality is not fixed...our tendency to be open or consenscious can be cultivated with effort. by envisioning shifts in plataues and peaks and mindfully tapping into the plane we can see how new combinations may arise. naturally, such changes will have an impact on the brain as well as our relationships with others. transformation moves us from engrained personality proclivities as we explore our way of possibility.
as we become more open to the input others are giving us, we can resonate with them and cultuate the experience of feeling felt within the connection.
laughing is liberation from the prisions of probability that create our propensities for expectation and proclivities for thought and reveals the freedom arising from the plane of possibility. humor is serious business.
interesting info on empathy vs compassion fatigue:
empathic resonance fatigue/empathic distress. this is a crucial distinction to make in order to remind ourselves how integration creates resilience. integration is the process underlying compassion and kindness...empathy is essential in life. it is even essential for compassion
kind intention facilitates the arising of integrative mental processes like empathic concern and compassion and makes them more likely to be enacted within us and in our behavior interacting with the world.
when we harness a state of kind intention we harness particular patterns in the brain that research reveals are integrative-they link widely seperated regions to one another, enabling the coordination and balance of neural firing. when we exercise those neural networks of kindness we strengthen their connections and make those trained states become traits of kind intention in our lives
regular practice supports the movement from a state created during a practice to a trait that becomes a learned skill or way of being. a trait is a baseline propensity/way of behaving that happens without effort or conscious planning in a person's life.
with 3 integrative intentional states, we can respect and even enjoy difference while creating meaningful connections with others. kindness sets the mind for being open and caring. empathy sets the mind for deep feeling, sharing, and understanding. compassion primes the mind for connecting and feeling, thought and action around suffering and its alleviation. kindness, empathy, and compassion are 3 fundamental ingredients of an integrating mind.
how to integrate:
preliminate studies show a diminished release of dopamine in the minds reward circuits following mindfulness training. a sense of a more open mind comes along with an ease of wellbeing as clinging in naturally diminished. you can take it or leave it, the decision is up to you, not your reward circuit
spiritual-basic human drive to lie a life of meaning and connection
understanding mind states and awareness:
energy is the movement of possibility to actuality. energy is the movement from potential to that potential being actualized
the plane represents a wide diversity of possibilities. a plataeu, a more limited set of potential activations from which a more constrainted patterns of peaks can arise. a high and narrow platue, would indicate a narrow state of mind, for example, a mental filter that would only give rise to a limited number of peaks of thoughts, emotions, memory, and images that become actualized. a lower, broader plateau would indicate a more open state of mind-but a particular mind frame that is still a filter permitting a wider but nevertheless constrained set of mental activites as peaks or even states of mind as particular plateaus to arise from it. plateaus function as filters-functioning and learning from the past and to be efficient from the present so we can prepare for the immediate future. there is great survival value in being able to construct filters. they are a helpful function of the mind, if they can be flexible and adaptive.
a low-lying plateau may be a way of visually imagining a frame of mind such as a self-defining mindset that who I am is separate from the world or my identificaiot from one in group or another that embeds a mental stance with a specific range of states of mind seen as particular plateaus and their respective thought patterns arising as peaks.
filters of consciousness:
studies have shown lasting clinical improvement in medically ill indiviuals or those with trauma who are suffering from anxiety and depression after just a few treatment sessions with these primary consciousness inducing substances. this seems to indicate that releasing the brain from it's habitual filters of consciousness may be therapeutic for certain conditions...suggesting shifts in consciousness in the moment and then in how we experience awareness in the long run can have profoundly beneficial effects on a person's life
for someone facing death or someone who has experience severe trauma who are stuck in rigid or chaotic disfuction, with states of helplessness or terror it may be that offering new ways of enabling the brain to perceive a wider reality of life offers profound relief. freeing their mind from theri prior suffering
the question is this: could accessing the hub of the wheel of awareness, gaining access to the plane of possibility offer a way to open consciousness and increase the variety of plataues that might arise. without such access the plataues could potentially be serving as constraining filters of consciousness and limiting which peaks we might have access to experiencing...many people familiar with the wheel practice have described an opening of awareness that may be an opening of the filters of consciousness
thcommon experience of dreams may reveal is there is not in a change of the mechanisms of being aware but a change in the filter of consciousness occuring in that state.
sometimes experience constructs our learned plataues that create impediments to harmony-blockages to integration that lead to peaks of cayos and of rigidity. a rigid peak would be one that stays for long periods of time along our horizontal axis of change-revealing a highly predictable, unchanging peak of actualization.
filters may exist in our life to help with self-organization but in many situations of our human journey they may become too rigid or caotic themselves to facilitate free-flowing integration
why integrative? as we find more differentiated ways of being, ways of accessing new potentials that become actualized as above plane probability values we link to a wider aray of states than a particular plataues that filter and restrict our lives may have allowed....the plan of possibility is both the source of being aware and the source of new options for living.
new ways of responding, instead of automatically reacting. consciousness promotes choice and change because the reflection on choices and the resources of alternative responses each arise from the same probability position the plane of possibility.
adolescents are built for collaboration and connection yet our modern schooling of teens often involves competition and a feeling of scarcity and inadequacy. the sad results is there is often a sense of pressure and isolation which causes unhelpful stress and a sense of despair. our social relationships are one of the most important ingredients to a healthy happy and long lived life. we learn social skils in a big way during our adolescent years. yet with the sleep deprivation and tension many teens in our culture expereince the adolescent time for connection is cut short, to the detriment of many.
connection, courage and imagination:
how we approach adolescence during this period will directly influence not only their indiv. dev. but also the future of our world. adolescence is a period of great opportunity yet we often treat is as a time to just get through as quickly as possible. we are often filled with false statements that give us a misunderstanding of this importatnt life period. (e.g. raging hormones being unavoidable cuases of teenage behavior)...the good news is that the truth about adolescent brain remodeling means we can empower adolescents to actually engage their minds and their lives to optimize how their brains grow and change during this period of rapid transformation.
the wheel of awareness can help develop parenting skills: seeing...before the wheel we are lost on rigidly defined plataeus and their chaotic peaks of reactivity. often leading to anger and not present. now, in accesing the plane, we can rest in a spaciousness of time and choice and inner vastness that has always been available beneath the peaks and filtering of plateaus.
integration is the basis of health. we grow throughout the lifetime, integrating the hub and accessing the plane of possibility is an important step toward freedom
placing pain in context, finding a way to reduce anxiety and fear and replace that with a sense of clarify and calm.
the past:
integration invites us to live the reality that, in fact, we do have a body, that body has a history, and that history shapes the connections in the embodided brain now, even if they came from then. we do have a me and we do have a we. we do have a past, and we do have a future, all of which can live in awareness and be embraced by living with presence. if now is all that exists, then there are neural connections shaping our mind and relationships that are shadows of a prior now...we want to live a freer now by making sense of then, now.
we can survive a childhood of tremendous betrayal, sadness, pain, and fear, but dissociation, though a survival tool, if perpetuated, has its costs. disconnection from pain is not selective. we inevitibly disconnect even from the joy of feeling alive.
we cannot change the past. but reflecting on it gives us a new possibility to make sense of how the past has shaped our development. by becoming aware of these recollections and these experiences we tap into both the sanctuary of wide open awareness and the new possibilites from the plne.
numbing from emotional pain is possible, but what we mean by harnessing the hub is not an escape. its a receptive embrace. you are not avoiding the salt, you are expanding your container of water.
personality is not fixed...our tendency to be open or consenscious can be cultivated with effort. by envisioning shifts in plataues and peaks and mindfully tapping into the plane we can see how new combinations may arise. naturally, such changes will have an impact on the brain as well as our relationships with others. transformation moves us from engrained personality proclivities as we explore our way of possibility.
as we become more open to the input others are giving us, we can resonate with them and cultuate the experience of feeling felt within the connection.
laughing is liberation from the prisions of probability that create our propensities for expectation and proclivities for thought and reveals the freedom arising from the plane of possibility. humor is serious business.
August 10, 2019
A tale of two books - I really enjoyed the first part, but found the second part worthless.
The first half was practical and discussed the pragmatic benefits of meditation, and a walkthrough of the "wheel of awareness" exercise. It also introduced me to the concept that what many refer to as spirituality or the connectedness of living beings that's referred to by Buddhism and other religions may actually be an emergent phenomena that can't be understood with reductionist thinking. Perhaps our interactions with each other have the holistic effect of uniting us in a system, much as my cells are holisticay united to make me. One can reason about this system and make falsifiable predictions about it, so it's real in some sense, and thus there's a way in which we're differentiated, and yet integrated.
However, in part two, the author ventures beyond his field of expertise into unscientific conjecture. The ideas he suggests are untestable and have nothing to do with the scientific method. They use concepts from quantum physics (probability distributions and wavefunctions), but these are misused and (admittedly) beyond what is knowable. I should also mention that my graduate research background is quantum physics, but I suspect that anyone who took an undergraduate course in quantum mechanics would see this material as specious. If I were to haphazardly toss together some very well engineered steel beams, that doesn't make a structurally sound house. For the same reason, you can't conjecture on the foundation of rigorously tested scientific results, and claim that the results have anything to do with science. As a result, the second half of this book is basically pure conjecture, which is disappointing for a book with science featured prominently in the subtitle.
As the author suggests early on, a better book for understanding the science behind meditation is likely Altered Traits or The Telomere Effect. If you want a pragmatic, yet reasoned, intro to meditation, read the first part of this book and skip the rest.
The first half was practical and discussed the pragmatic benefits of meditation, and a walkthrough of the "wheel of awareness" exercise. It also introduced me to the concept that what many refer to as spirituality or the connectedness of living beings that's referred to by Buddhism and other religions may actually be an emergent phenomena that can't be understood with reductionist thinking. Perhaps our interactions with each other have the holistic effect of uniting us in a system, much as my cells are holisticay united to make me. One can reason about this system and make falsifiable predictions about it, so it's real in some sense, and thus there's a way in which we're differentiated, and yet integrated.
However, in part two, the author ventures beyond his field of expertise into unscientific conjecture. The ideas he suggests are untestable and have nothing to do with the scientific method. They use concepts from quantum physics (probability distributions and wavefunctions), but these are misused and (admittedly) beyond what is knowable. I should also mention that my graduate research background is quantum physics, but I suspect that anyone who took an undergraduate course in quantum mechanics would see this material as specious. If I were to haphazardly toss together some very well engineered steel beams, that doesn't make a structurally sound house. For the same reason, you can't conjecture on the foundation of rigorously tested scientific results, and claim that the results have anything to do with science. As a result, the second half of this book is basically pure conjecture, which is disappointing for a book with science featured prominently in the subtitle.
As the author suggests early on, a better book for understanding the science behind meditation is likely Altered Traits or The Telomere Effect. If you want a pragmatic, yet reasoned, intro to meditation, read the first part of this book and skip the rest.
January 5, 2019
I admit to skimming most of the second 2/3 of the book. The biggest issue with the book was that it could have easily been half as long (or less!). The points are repeated so many times in each chapter, and almost always exactly word-for-word, that one could almost spout off the whole discussion by rote at the end of one. Furthermore, apart from being redundant, the text was overly wordy. At times it seemed like the author was getting paid by the word, and was trying to make things purposefully complicated (maybe he wanted to confuse us so we'd go pay for a seminar with him near us?) The over convoluted sentences, and belabored points really turned me off of sitting down and reading it, leading me to skim. Furthermore, none of the author's research was ever cited. He claims research proves all this stuff, but never once directs the reader where to go to find it. To me, this is a huge red flag, even though I do believe the author's claims about it being backed up by science. The only things that were cited were books he directly quoted from, which is not a good way to write anything relating to popular science (and *especially* if your book has the subheading "The Science and Practice of Presence").
That said, the Wheel Practice does seem interesting, though it doesn't seem that much different from many other meditative practices in the world. I'd be willing to try one of the recorded sessions on the author's website (which he dropped as often as he could -- it does seem like he *really* wants us to take a seminar) and see how it goes, but it doesn't seem like much new was presented in this book besides the author's way of marketing meditation practices. It's a shame, really, as I thought it could be much more interesting.
That said, the Wheel Practice does seem interesting, though it doesn't seem that much different from many other meditative practices in the world. I'd be willing to try one of the recorded sessions on the author's website (which he dropped as often as he could -- it does seem like he *really* wants us to take a seminar) and see how it goes, but it doesn't seem like much new was presented in this book besides the author's way of marketing meditation practices. It's a shame, really, as I thought it could be much more interesting.
June 3, 2019
I picked this book up because it was described as "an in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness." However, the farther I read, the more I realized that the author was not presenting scientific data; rather, vague theories and hypothesis were presented that MAY/COULD/MIGHT/PERHAPS explain what happens during meditation. Instead of presenting hard-core evidence, the author was too obsessed with praise for his own "Wheel" practice in meditation.
I will admit that using physics theories is an interesting approach to possible meditation practices. In addition, there was a small amount of actual scientific data that was presented; such as how connections to others activate the deep regions of the brain; Meditation shrinks the amygdala (believed to the the emotional response center of the brain); the intestinal brain plays a major role in the body; it is important to connect and enjoy the senses of the body.
Overall, I could probably condense this book into less than 100 pages. The author presented more questions than answers to those questions. And he was extremely repetitive. If you're looking for a book on the power of the brain, I would recommend Dr. Caroline Leaf over this book any day.
I will admit that using physics theories is an interesting approach to possible meditation practices. In addition, there was a small amount of actual scientific data that was presented; such as how connections to others activate the deep regions of the brain; Meditation shrinks the amygdala (believed to the the emotional response center of the brain); the intestinal brain plays a major role in the body; it is important to connect and enjoy the senses of the body.
Overall, I could probably condense this book into less than 100 pages. The author presented more questions than answers to those questions. And he was extremely repetitive. If you're looking for a book on the power of the brain, I would recommend Dr. Caroline Leaf over this book any day.
June 25, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this as an ARC giveaway.
This book is great! It came to me at a time when I am already, through serendipity exploring meditation and mindfulness. It has lots of facts based data, with a very readable and accessible format. The language is not too complex, and the way the information is presented is really easy to digest. There are "sample stories" of peoples experience and science cited that support the ideas.
I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in brain health, improved life style, and just living a happier, healthier life.
This book is great! It came to me at a time when I am already, through serendipity exploring meditation and mindfulness. It has lots of facts based data, with a very readable and accessible format. The language is not too complex, and the way the information is presented is really easy to digest. There are "sample stories" of peoples experience and science cited that support the ideas.
I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in brain health, improved life style, and just living a happier, healthier life.
September 14, 2018
2.5: not because it wasn't well written, but because it is basically mediation described in a more academic, explanatory manner. I'd recommend it to anyone new to mediation who doesn't already practice yoga and/or meditate regularly. (full disclosure: I only got about halfway through before deciding not to finish because I felt like it was a repeat of information I already knew.)
December 29, 2018
I learned that I'm too dumb to benefit from the mind altering practice known as meditation. Thanks Dr. Siegal. I read up to page 125, and then my brain exploded. I'm now officially done with neuroscience. I'm too dumb. Maybe the Buddha will have me. Sheesh!
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June 21, 2022In “Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence - A Complete Guide to the Groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness Meditation Practice”, the author, Dr Daniel Siegel, presents the metaphor of the wheel of awareness to guide readers to follow a path of integration or healing to wholeness. Many of Dr Siegel’s clients, who have faced psychologically challenging situations, have shown to benefit from the wheel of awareness practice. Further, a daily routine by anyone interested will likely put him/her on a path to greater well-being. The foundation of the wheel of awareness practice is based on the three pillars of focused attention, open awareness and kind intention. It has been developed based on the scientific evidence available.
In the wheel metaphor, the hub represents awareness while the rim represents various objects we pay attention to. These objects include the five senses we perceive (hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling and touching), our thoughts, emotions and similar mental constructs, bodily sensation received through interoception and our relational connections with others. A spoke going from the hub to the rim represents focused attention, and we can focus on any of the rim objects mentioned above in our practice. In this metaphor, Dr Siegel insightfully highlights that our mind and its awareness go beyond our mental constructs generated in the head to our bodily sensations and relational/interpersonal objects. Integration of energy and information flows from all of the above sources leads to our healing and well-being, or wholeness. The wheel practice aims to achieve this wholeness over time. For example, holding bodily sensations through interoception and mental constructs such as emotions and thoughts in awareness helps us in what is commonly referred to as the body-mind integration.
Interestingly, Dr Siegel differentiates more deterministic, macro and probabilistic, micro models of operations of our mind. He presents the model referred to as the 3-P (plain, plateau, peak) model to describe a probabilistic, micro/quantum model of energy and information flow within our mind. The plane is referred to as the plane of possibility (generator of diversity/see of potential/quantum vacuum), where all possibilities of energy flow are open. The hub of the wheel represents it. Peaks represent actualised possibilities, while plateaus represent semi-actualised possibilities. From a different analogy, we can say that the not-knowing/child-like minds return to the plain of possibility while a premeditated/judgemental mind represents a plateau. Thus, for more open-minded and open-hearted decision-making and more creative and innovative thinking and learning, we have to return to the plain of possibility or the hub of the wheel as much as we can.
Intriguingly, Dr Siegel presents the notions of oscillating waves (connectome harmonics) of the brain that creates global brain states by connecting diverse and remote parts of the brain and sweep ratio. The sweep ratio indicates how much oscillations focus on open awareness (in the hub of the wheel/ on the plain of possibility) compared to how much on focused attention (in the rim of the wheel/ on a peak). It suggests that with mind training such as the wheel of awareness practice, we can develop the skill to manage the sweep ratio as and when needed. It gives us the flexibility of operating with open awareness and focused attention as per the need of the task at hand. For example, in a brainstorming session, we can consciously decide to be more in open awareness or the hub of the wheel than in focused attention or rim of the wheel.
In the wheel metaphor, the hub represents awareness while the rim represents various objects we pay attention to. These objects include the five senses we perceive (hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling and touching), our thoughts, emotions and similar mental constructs, bodily sensation received through interoception and our relational connections with others. A spoke going from the hub to the rim represents focused attention, and we can focus on any of the rim objects mentioned above in our practice. In this metaphor, Dr Siegel insightfully highlights that our mind and its awareness go beyond our mental constructs generated in the head to our bodily sensations and relational/interpersonal objects. Integration of energy and information flows from all of the above sources leads to our healing and well-being, or wholeness. The wheel practice aims to achieve this wholeness over time. For example, holding bodily sensations through interoception and mental constructs such as emotions and thoughts in awareness helps us in what is commonly referred to as the body-mind integration.
Interestingly, Dr Siegel differentiates more deterministic, macro and probabilistic, micro models of operations of our mind. He presents the model referred to as the 3-P (plain, plateau, peak) model to describe a probabilistic, micro/quantum model of energy and information flow within our mind. The plane is referred to as the plane of possibility (generator of diversity/see of potential/quantum vacuum), where all possibilities of energy flow are open. The hub of the wheel represents it. Peaks represent actualised possibilities, while plateaus represent semi-actualised possibilities. From a different analogy, we can say that the not-knowing/child-like minds return to the plain of possibility while a premeditated/judgemental mind represents a plateau. Thus, for more open-minded and open-hearted decision-making and more creative and innovative thinking and learning, we have to return to the plain of possibility or the hub of the wheel as much as we can.
Intriguingly, Dr Siegel presents the notions of oscillating waves (connectome harmonics) of the brain that creates global brain states by connecting diverse and remote parts of the brain and sweep ratio. The sweep ratio indicates how much oscillations focus on open awareness (in the hub of the wheel/ on the plain of possibility) compared to how much on focused attention (in the rim of the wheel/ on a peak). It suggests that with mind training such as the wheel of awareness practice, we can develop the skill to manage the sweep ratio as and when needed. It gives us the flexibility of operating with open awareness and focused attention as per the need of the task at hand. For example, in a brainstorming session, we can consciously decide to be more in open awareness or the hub of the wheel than in focused attention or rim of the wheel.
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April 28, 2024Notes
Energy is the movement from a potential to that potential being realized. That's what they mean by the basic statement that energy is the movement from possibility to actuality. Energy is the actualization of possibility.
Let's pause for a moment and reflect on this broad statement of possibility transforming into actuality. One view from a branch of physics called quantum mechanics, is that the universe has an underlying quantum vacuum or sea of potential, a mathematical space of reality representing the full range of possibilities that may arise into being in other words, there is an aspect of reality called a mathematical space, that is one way of describing where all things potentially able to become realized in the world rest… This space is called the sea of potential.
This self organization is an emergent property reflected in John O' Donohue’s poetic aspiration:
I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
What our filters of consciousness admit to enter awareness maybe an attempt to organize the contents of consciousness to fit our expectations. We know what is going on would be the subjective feeling of this self reinforcing loop of filters of consciousness that construct of world we expect to experience. Neuroscientists commonly call the brain an anticipation machine.
With this three P proposal of a mechanism beyond the metaphor, it becomes clear how the awareness of consciousness is inextricably woven with the spaciousness of possibilities. As we've seen, giving Billy an access to an expanded awareness is not just giving him time to reflect, it gives him new ways of responding instead of automatically reacting. Consciousness permits choice and change because the reflection on choices and the resources of alternative responses be arise from the same probability position, the plain of possibility.
Our foundational ideas are these: integration is the basis of health. We grow throughout the lifespan. Harnessing the hub, accessing plain of possibility, maybe an important step in that journey toward freedom. If ad first experiences such as trauma compromise integration, perhaps they do this in part by blocking access to the source of new potentials that rest in the plain. Finding the resources to cultivate healing likely involves the growth of new integration to liberate and create a healthier way of living.
This adaptation is how we learn a strategy, a coping mechanism, or what some may call a defensive structure that gives us a way to respond as effectively as we can to the sub optimal attachment relationships in a way that helps us survive. When a sub optimal set experiences includes the abuse and neglect of the melt developmental trauma. Then uncertainty can be terrifying. The sense of terror, learned as a response to the unknown, they come to shape how we react to the uncertainty of the plain of possibility. The planes openness of awareness, a state of open potential that might be experienced by some as freedom, is also characterized as not knowing, resting in the lowest degree of certainty and can be reacted to by others as if it's dangerous. Seen the possibility and implicit memory retrieval of deeply held but non-conscious belief that is unknown is bad.
Energy is the movement from a potential to that potential being realized. That's what they mean by the basic statement that energy is the movement from possibility to actuality. Energy is the actualization of possibility.
Let's pause for a moment and reflect on this broad statement of possibility transforming into actuality. One view from a branch of physics called quantum mechanics, is that the universe has an underlying quantum vacuum or sea of potential, a mathematical space of reality representing the full range of possibilities that may arise into being in other words, there is an aspect of reality called a mathematical space, that is one way of describing where all things potentially able to become realized in the world rest… This space is called the sea of potential.
This self organization is an emergent property reflected in John O' Donohue’s poetic aspiration:
I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
What our filters of consciousness admit to enter awareness maybe an attempt to organize the contents of consciousness to fit our expectations. We know what is going on would be the subjective feeling of this self reinforcing loop of filters of consciousness that construct of world we expect to experience. Neuroscientists commonly call the brain an anticipation machine.
With this three P proposal of a mechanism beyond the metaphor, it becomes clear how the awareness of consciousness is inextricably woven with the spaciousness of possibilities. As we've seen, giving Billy an access to an expanded awareness is not just giving him time to reflect, it gives him new ways of responding instead of automatically reacting. Consciousness permits choice and change because the reflection on choices and the resources of alternative responses be arise from the same probability position, the plain of possibility.
Our foundational ideas are these: integration is the basis of health. We grow throughout the lifespan. Harnessing the hub, accessing plain of possibility, maybe an important step in that journey toward freedom. If ad first experiences such as trauma compromise integration, perhaps they do this in part by blocking access to the source of new potentials that rest in the plain. Finding the resources to cultivate healing likely involves the growth of new integration to liberate and create a healthier way of living.
This adaptation is how we learn a strategy, a coping mechanism, or what some may call a defensive structure that gives us a way to respond as effectively as we can to the sub optimal attachment relationships in a way that helps us survive. When a sub optimal set experiences includes the abuse and neglect of the melt developmental trauma. Then uncertainty can be terrifying. The sense of terror, learned as a response to the unknown, they come to shape how we react to the uncertainty of the plain of possibility. The planes openness of awareness, a state of open potential that might be experienced by some as freedom, is also characterized as not knowing, resting in the lowest degree of certainty and can be reacted to by others as if it's dangerous. Seen the possibility and implicit memory retrieval of deeply held but non-conscious belief that is unknown is bad.
November 20, 2022
Θα έβαζα 5 αστεράκια αν δεν ήταν τόσο φλύαρο. Πολύ δυνατό βιβλίο, αλλά και δυσανάγνωστο λόγω όγκου, πλατιάσματος και περιττών επαναλήψεων. Κρίμα, γιατί περιέχει εξαιρετικές ιδέες και τεχνικές, είναι γραμμένο από έναν πολύ έμπειρο και γνώστη συγγραφέα, ψυχίατρο και καθηγητή και με καλύτερη επιμέλεια θα μπορούσε να είναι από τα καλύτερα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει!
Ο Siegel κινείται μεν στο πεδίο των διαλογιστικών πρακτικών, ΟΜΩΣ τονίζει κάτι που δεν έχω δει σε άλλα τέτοια βιβλία και προσεγγίσεις: τη διατήρηση του Εγώ ταυτόχρονα με το Εμείς. Τη σύνδεση με τους άλλους (που εμπεριέχεται και στο βασικό διαλογισμό του) διατηρώντας την ατομική μας υπόσταση.
Ο διαλογισμός του είναι εξαιρετικός, αν και προσωπικά έφτιαξα μία πολύ πιο συντομευμένη έκδοση για τον εαυτό μου και χρησιμοποιώ αυτήν. Οι θεωρίες του περί κορυφών, πλατό και πώς μας βοηθάει η μετακίνηση στη βάση του πεδίου των άπειρων δυνανοτήτων (μέσω του διαλογισμού του) είναι ενδιαφέρουσες. Το σημαντικό είναι το αποτέλεσμα της πρακτικής, που είναι πολύ καλό!
Σχετικά με τη μετάφραση, σίγουρα ήταν πολύ δύσκολο το έργο των μεταφραστών και για αυτό θα προσπεράσω κάποιες λεκτικές αστοχίες, όμως υπάρχουν πολλά σημεία όπου μία καλύτερη μετάφραση-επιμέλεια (και όχι απλή μετάφραση) θα έκανε το κείμενο πιο κατανοητό. Κρίμα.
Παρόλες τις δυσκολίες του όμως, το βιβλίο αξίζει πολύ. Ιδίως για όσους αναζητούν μία δυνατή και αποτελεσματική διαλογιστική πρακτική που δεν διαλύει το Εγώ και λαμβάνει υπόψη τις βασικές διαστάσεις της ανθρώπινης νόησης (σκέψεις, συναισθήματα, αισθήσεις, αντίληψη εαυτού, αίσθηση του ανήκειν).
Για να τονίσω εδώ και κάτι που οι περισσότεροι, πιστεύω, δεν γνωρίζουν, η άσκηση διαλογιστικών πρακτικών ΔΕΝ είναι εντελώς ακίνδυνη! Μπορεί να ενεργοποιήσει διασχιστικές και ψυχωτικές διαταραχές (σε όσους έχουν ήδη τη σχετική βάση)! Όμως η πρακτική του Siegel, αν ακολουθήσει κανείς όλα τα βήματα, φαίνεται να είναι αρκετά ασφαλής ακριβώς λόγω των πολλαπλών διαστάσεων.
Ο Siegel κινείται μεν στο πεδίο των διαλογιστικών πρακτικών, ΟΜΩΣ τονίζει κάτι που δεν έχω δει σε άλλα τέτοια βιβλία και προσεγγίσεις: τη διατήρηση του Εγώ ταυτόχρονα με το Εμείς. Τη σύνδεση με τους άλλους (που εμπεριέχεται και στο βασικό διαλογισμό του) διατηρώντας την ατομική μας υπόσταση.
Ο διαλογισμός του είναι εξαιρετικός, αν και προσωπικά έφτιαξα μία πολύ πιο συντομευμένη έκδοση για τον εαυτό μου και χρησιμοποιώ αυτήν. Οι θεωρίες του περί κορυφών, πλατό και πώς μας βοηθάει η μετακίνηση στη βάση του πεδίου των άπειρων δυνανοτήτων (μέσω του διαλογισμού του) είναι ενδιαφέρουσες. Το σημαντικό είναι το αποτέλεσμα της πρακτικής, που είναι πολύ καλό!
Σχετικά με τη μετάφραση, σίγουρα ήταν πολύ δύσκολο το έργο των μεταφραστών και για αυτό θα προσπεράσω κάποιες λεκτικές αστοχίες, όμως υπάρχουν πολλά σημεία όπου μία καλύτερη μετάφραση-επιμέλεια (και όχι απλή μετάφραση) θα έκανε το κείμενο πιο κατανοητό. Κρίμα.
Παρόλες τις δυσκολίες του όμως, το βιβλίο αξίζει πολύ. Ιδίως για όσους αναζητούν μία δυνατή και αποτελεσματική διαλογιστική πρακτική που δεν διαλύει το Εγώ και λαμβάνει υπόψη τις βασικές διαστάσεις της ανθρώπινης νόησης (σκέψεις, συναισθήματα, αισθήσεις, αντίληψη εαυτού, αίσθηση του ανήκειν).
Για να τονίσω εδώ και κάτι που οι περισσότεροι, πιστεύω, δεν γνωρίζουν, η άσκηση διαλογιστικών πρακτικών ΔΕΝ είναι εντελώς ακίνδυνη! Μπορεί να ενεργοποιήσει διασχιστικές και ψυχωτικές διαταραχές (σε όσους έχουν ήδη τη σχετική βάση)! Όμως η πρακτική του Siegel, αν ακολουθήσει κανείς όλα τα βήματα, φαίνεται να είναι αρκετά ασφαλής ακριβώς λόγω των πολλαπλών διαστάσεων.
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