Presence Meditation: The Practice of Life Awareness

First developed as a short manual for students in a yearlong\nmeditation course, \“Presence Meditation\” offers a step-by-step\nprogram for increasing self-awareness through simple but revelatory\nexercises. The practice of presence meditation involves becoming\npresent to whatever is going on and letting things be just as they\nare. This awareness is characterized by open attention and neutral\nobservation, which increases the capacity to observe without\njudging, enables transformation without forcing, and opens the way\nto a more immediate sense of meaning and joy in life. Author\nJens-Erik Risom begins by describing the purpose of meditation and\nthe \“four introductions\” (rootedness, attention to breathing,\nfullness of feeling, and witness awareness), and then presents the\ngradual steps for achieving presence, deepening neutrality, opening\nto trust, sensing spaciousness, and more. There are many books\nabout meditation on the market, from Western authors like Eckhart\nTolle to Tibetan Buddhist teachers. But many people find it\ndifficult to translate the message of these books into an actual\nexperience of deepening awareness. Whether readers are seeking a\nspiritual practice, a more serene approach to stressful situations,\nimproved concentration, or greater relaxation for better health,\nthis compact manual offers a simple, undogmatic approach to\nmeditation.

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