Break Through Pain: A Step-by-Step Mindfulness Meditation Program for Transforming Chronic and Acute Pain

by Shinzen Young

The newest treatment for pain is one of the oldest, most effective strategies for pain-free living: meditation. With Break Through Pain, meditation expert Shinzen Young teaches you how to retrain your relationship to pain through traditional meditation practices. Drawing from thirty years of results in the field, this respected teacher offers the essential techniques that have proven successful at painmanagement centers around the country. Break Through Pain adapts the core principles of mindfulness training to a practical process that can treat even extreme, chronic pain effectively, possibly reducing the need for drugs or surgery. Step-by-step techniques taught in plain language show how to overcome internal resistance-the key to transforming physical pain into a flow of pure energy. Includes Shinzen's five most effective meditations for pain.

Genres: Meditation, Health, Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, Zen

69 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Alex Linschoten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some profound next-level thoughts and reframing exercises relating to pain. The proof is in the practice, as with all these things, but I for one found this to be a really useful book. (Don't let the gimmicky title and 80s artwork put you off).

[Candace Haskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Shinzen Young's melodious prose and soothing way of talking about how to engage with pain. As a Western Buddhist monk who has endured great physical challenges in his spiritual pursuits, and his own personal physical pain, he has credentials which give him gravitas.
The chapters did seem a little short on how to practice his methods, as did the accompanying CD meditations, but I believe his point is....engage with the meditations AND your pain and don't spend too much time analyzing either!
The best meditation ever is the last one...."Breath Pleasure." This one is priceless and I use it daily. It doesn't help my shingles much but it does make me intermittently happy to be alive.

[Maha Emad · Rating 5 out of 5]

When observed with enough precision and patience, pain fosters spiritual insight and emotional purification.

[M1watch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I prefer Alan Watts even though this is more for pain management. I need to apply it then it might move to 4 or 5 hehe

[Fred Irie · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars if I could. helped me in the most painful time of my life.

[Sirglider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally life changing.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will always want to have more than one copy of this book on hand, so that you can lend it to a friend in need. Shinzen Young writes about his personal experience with chronic pain and provides guidance on how to respond to discomfort and the reactions we experience when we experience discomfort. The book comes with a CD that has several tracks on how to meditate, or how to think, feel, and observe ourselves when we are in pain.

Each track on the CD approaches the issue in a different way. One track looks at our emotional responses, and he gentle talks the listener through ways to observe the many (sometimes overlapping) emotions and accept or work with them. Another track, for those in extreme discomfort, simply guides the listener through ways of breathing. Advanced tracks on the CD guide the listener through additional ways of meditating on how pain travels through the body.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the book I needed to read to shift my experience of the pain from my knee replacement that still persists. Contains a cd that has guided meditation to help practice the shift. The right book at the right time. When I first had this surgery, I would have resented the implication that I was going to be feeling pain for so long, and that I'd have to learn new ways to deal with it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mindful meditation is composed of two elements: an opening to the pain and a careful observation of the pain. The careful observation leads to deep insight. This insight is like a many-sided jewel."

"There is permanent relief that comes through retraining your relationship to pain."

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important and helpful book

[Steve]

This box popped up immediately after I clicked that I wanted to read the book. How could I review a book that I haven't read? :)