The Meditator's Atlas: A Roadmap of the Inner World

by Matthew Flickstein, Henepola Gunaratana (Foreword)

Meditation can seem a mystery. Where do you begin? Where will you end up? What might you find along the way?

You'll find the answers in The Meditator's Atlas, a comprehensive and trustworthy "roadmap of the inner world" for anyone who meditates. Respected teacher Matthew Flickstein is your friendly guide, explaining what meditation is, how to do it, and how to make the skills and benefits that it engenders your own, including:

finding work that supports your priorities
overcoming doubt
cultivating helpful attitudes
incorporating mindfulness into every aspect of your life
and how all of this adds up to a happier life.

What makes this book unique is the way Flickstein uses two classic Buddhist texts--the Path of Purification, and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness--to help readers make clear sense out of the new, fascinating, and sometimes even frightening states that one may encounter on the long journey to enlightenment. Readers will come away from this book with their own insights clarified and with a helpful sense of what lies ahead.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2007

Reviews

[Ella Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me very aware of how parts of the body are so finely tuned to function. It's delicately written. I loved how the author was analytical because I often find comfort in a 'this is how it is and there is no arguing' approach! Sat outside on the patio, soaking up the sun and reading this book - all's well! Namaste:)

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

At least to the non-academic who is cultivating an interest in meditation, the title of this book-- and moreover the blurbs about the cover-- are misleading. While it may be an interesting 3000 ft. "helicopter shot" of the buddhist path, offering observations and experiences of those fully-enlightened, it is NOT a guide to meditation technique or practice. The book deals directly with meditation only briefly, while offering meditation elsewhere as the (appropriate) backdrop to progress along the path.

In its defense, this book may offer the clearest understanding of non-self, a concept I have wrestled with, as any book I have read on the subject.

The book is well-written, the author no doubt an expert in the area. It simply is not a book that offers much guidance in terms of meditation.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many meditation books, this one covers the basics. However, I wouldn't recommend it for beginners. It's more useful for fine tuning an intermediate or advanced practice. Flickstein uses a different framework than most--The Purification of Insight. This is not an approach covered by most Theravadan lay teachers (Kornfield, Brach, etc.). The author has very precise descriptions of the concepts and areas for mental development. But they are quite dry and terse. I appreciated the discussion of the stages of insight and clear comprehension, among others, for their technical detail, but the book has an odd coldness for one that purports to be about enlightenment. It's more reference book than inspiration on the path

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might have appreciated this book a bit more if I had been actively meditating while reading it, but I did not. There were a lot of interesting points relating to Buddhism and death, which I was surprised by. The author focuses heavily on the Buddha's teachings of the impermanent, always changing selves and experiences, which is interesting to think of from an existential perspective. Part of me wonders if in a way Buddhism serves as a way for modern man to get over his or her death anxiety by embracing the non-being aspect of themselves. I know other existential philosophers discuss similar themes, it was really interesting to have it from a Buddhist perspective.

[Pedro Macedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very surprising book for me.
It presents a kind of map of the mind insights when someone tries mindfullness for serious.
It gives descriptions of mind sensations, visualisations and other feelings when are 'walking' through this mindfulness path.
It's based on some sutras.
It gave me more confidence on this path. My mind is very rational and I need at least some data I can trust.