Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life

By Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

An Invitation to the Practice of Mindfulness
We may long for wholeness, suggests Jon Kabat-Zinn, but the truth is that it is already here and already ours. The practice of mindfulness holds the possibility of not just a fleeting sense of contentment, but a true embracing of a deeper unity that envelops and permeates our lives. With Mindfulness for Beginners you are invited to learn how to transform your relationship to the way you think, feel, love, work, and play—and thereby awaken to and embody more completely who you really are. Here, the teacher, scientist, and clinician who first demonstrated the benefits of mindfulness within mainstream Western medicine offers a book that you can use in three unique ways: as a collection of reflections and practices to be opened and explored at random; as an illuminating and engaging start-to-finish read; or as an unfolding “lesson-a-day” primer on mindfulness practice.
Beginning and advanced meditators alike will discover in these pages a valuable distillation of the key attitudes and essential practices that Jon Kabat-Zinn has found most useful with his students, including:
Why heartfulness is synonymous with true mindfulnessThe value of coming back to our bodies and to our senses over and over againHow our thoughts “self-liberate” when touched by awarenessMoving beyond our “story” into direct experienceStabilizing our attention and presence amidst daily activitiesThe three poisons that cause suffering—and their antidotesHow mindfulness heals, even after the factReclaiming our wholeness, and more.
The prescription for living a more mindful life seems simple enough: return your awareness again and again to whatever is going on. But if you’ve tried it, you know that here is where all the questions and challenges really begin. Mindfulness for Beginners provides welcome answers, insights, and instruction to help us make that shift, moment by moment, into a more spacious, clear, reliable, and loving connection with ourselves and the world.
Includes digital access to five guided mindfulness meditations by Jon Kabat-Zinn, selected from the audio program that inspired this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Jan 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781604077537

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the founder and director of its renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic. His clinic was featured in 1993 in the public television series Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers. Jon Kabat-Zinn is the author of 15 books, in print in over 45 languages. These include Full Catastrophe Living; Wherever You Go, There You Are; Coming to Our Senses; and Mindfulness for Beginners.

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Reviews for Mindfulness for Beginners

[deldevries · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

short chapters with good explanations and examples.

[shaunesay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jon's voice is so calm and relaxing. I think this is a good and kind introduction that lets you know this practice is easy and hard at the same time. He promotes being kind to yourself, and that difficulty in focusing is normal and should be noted, but not admonished, then bring the attention back no matter how many times it takes. a good listen if you're needing some calming and reassurance in general.

[jefware · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A much saner and down-to-earth exposition of the powers of mindfulness than some of the earlier books I've read on the subject.

[themadturtle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a good introduction to the concept of mindfulness, especially with regard to meditation. Kabat-Zinn does a great job of speaking casually and explaining the concepts in a way that's easy to understand. There are also a few meditation exercises in the end of the book.

[rajmango7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent guide to mindfulness . Comes with a CD to get you started. Very easy to understand and makes sense as to why you should incorporate meditation in your life .

[biunicorn_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mindfulness for BeginnersReclaiming the Present Momentand Your Lifeby Jon Kabat-ZinnGentle, relaxing and understandable this 166 page teacher really caught my attention. Not just for the easy concepts, but also the format in general was a treasure to review because I didn't end up feeling stupid even once. It was a pleasure to slow down and learn with supportive energy all around me. I didn't feel hurried or pressured to conform to a particular belief, I was encouraged to just tap the existing strength I already had inside me. Each topic was just what I needed at the time. Everything from beginners mind to an interesting chapter called "Hell Realms".There is also an accompanying 5 track CD that walked me through connecting to mindfulness my favorite was with my breath and made so much sense. I would recommend this much needed well presented gem to anyone wanting a better connection to slowing down and being. Thanks Jon, this was fabulous and oh so helpful.Love & Light,Riki Frahmann