Presence Meditation: The Practice of Life Awareness

by Jens-Erik Risom, Peter A. Levine (Introduction)

First developed as a short manual for students in a yearlong meditation course, Presence Meditation offers a step-by-step program for increasing self-awareness through simple but revelatory exercises. The practice of presence meditation involves becoming present to whatever is going on and letting things be just as they are. This awareness is characterized by open attention and neutral observation, which increases the capacity to observe without judging, enables transformation without forcing, and opens the way to a more immediate sense of meaning and joy in life. Author Jens-Erik Risom begins by describing the purpose of meditation and the “four introductions” (rootedness, attention to breathing, fullness of feeling, and witness awareness), and then presents the gradual steps for achieving presence, deepening neutrality, opening to trust, sensing spaciousness, and more.

There are many books about meditation on the market, from Western authors like Eckhart Tolle to Tibetan Buddhist teachers. But many people find it difficult to translate the message of these books into an actual experience of deepening awareness. Whether readers are seeking a spiritual practice, a more serene approach to stressful situations, improved concentration, or greater relaxation for better health, this compact manual offers a simple, undogmatic approach to meditation.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Wiljar Ojuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and easy read for meditation beginners. I enjoyed the structure of the book and felt the historical information on meditation was quite helpful and helping me grasp the foundations of meditation. In regards to this, I feel it’s helped me better understand and have more sense of meaning to why I meditate and why I should continue. Factual information from Buddhist and Christian historical texts are noted to help the reader better adhere to the meditative mindset. I must say I have mixed feelings on the approach. I’m understanding to the fact that in order for one to begin such a journey a source/content of history is needed but I personally do not gravitate towards Christianity beliefs and that is why I gave it a four instead of a five. I can genuinely give this book a four star because I feel it wasn’t bad at all but isn’t the greatest. I would recommend this book for those who are beginning or those who have reached a medium level of the ways of meditation.