Why Meditate: Working With Thoughts and Emotions

115 Pages·2010·0.87 MB·English

by  Matthieu Ricard

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Praise for Why Meditate?
“In this marvelous book, Matthieu Ricard articulates the
Dharma in the very same way he embodies it in his life;
that is, with profound clarity, goodwill, and humility.
These qualities come through on every page and make the
experience of reading and practicing with this elegant and
deceptively simple primer on meditation tantamount to
entering into and familiarizing oneself in an ever-deepening
way with the landscape of one’s own truest self.”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn,author of Wherever You Go,
There You Are and Coming to Our Senses
“This is the book on meditation that I’ve been
waiting for. Reading it has helped me hone my
personal practice, and finally I have come across the
perfect book to recommend to all those interested in
meditation—newcomers and experts. Why Meditate?
is clear, accessible, deep, and practical.”
— Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier
“An excellent introduction to a practice that has
calmed the mind for thousands of years. Profound
concepts and essential instructions are explained with
the utmost clarity. I highly recommend it!”
— Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., director of Beck Institute
for Cognitive Therapy and Research, clinical
associate professor of psychology in psychiatry,
University of Pennsylvania, past president,
Academy of Cognitive Therapy “Why Meditate? is a clear and insightful guide
to
beginning a meditation practice, and to continuing one
skillfully. Matthieu Ricard provides helpful and specific
instruction along with an immense depth of understanding
about happiness, suffering, and living a better life.”
— Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness
and The Kindness Handbook
“Writing as a true spiritual friend, Matthieu Ricard
shares the wisdom he has gained from his four
decades of spiritual training that clearly and succinctly
presents what meditation is and how to practice it,
step by step. This book is a treasure to be read
with care and shared with those you love.”
— B. Alan Wallace, author of Mind in the Balance
WHY MEDITATE?
ALSO BY MATTHIEU RICARD

Books
HAPPINESS: A Guide to Developing
Life’s Most Important Skill
THE MONK AND THE PHILOSOPHER: A Father and Son
Discuss the Meaning of Life (with Jean-François Revel) THE QUANTUM AND
THE LOTUS: A Journey to the
Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet
(with Trinh Xuan Thuan)
Text and Photographs
BHUTAN: The Land of Serenity
BUDDHIST HIMALAYAS
(with Olivier and Danielle Föllmi) JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTENMENT: The Life
and World
of Khyentse Rinpoche, Spiritual Teacher from Tibet
MONK DANCERS OF TIBET
MOTIONLESS JOURNEY:
From a Hermitage in the Himalayas
TIBET: An Inner Journey
Translations
THE LIFE OF SHABKAR:
The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin
WHY MEDITATE?

Matthieu Ricard

Translated by Sherab Chödzin Kohn

HAY HOUSE, INC.
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Copyright © 2010 by Matthieu Ricard Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.:
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in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in
Design: Tricia Breidenthal • Illustration: Padmakara Archives All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic
recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or
private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior
written permission of the publisher.
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form
of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly
or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your
quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for
yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your
actions.
First published in France in 2008 by NiL Éditions, Paris © Matthieu Ricard, 2008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ricard, Matthieu.
[Art de la méditation. English]
Why meditate? / Matthieu Ricard ; translated by Sherab Chodzin Kohn.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-4019-2663-2 (tradepaper : alk. paper) 1. Meditation--
Buddhism. 2. Buddhism--Doctrines. I. Chödzin, Sherab. II. Title.
BQ5614.R5313 2010
294.3’4435--dc22
2010006721

Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-4019-2663-2
14 13 12 11 7 6 5 4
1st edition, September 2010
4th edition, December 2011
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS

Preface
Part I: Why Meditate?
A Lucid Assessment
Part II: What to Meditate On
Training the Mind
Part III: How to Meditate
Preliminary Instructions
Turning the Mind Toward Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation
Inner Calm
Meditations on Altruistic Love
A Sublime Exchange
Soothing Physical Pain
Deeper Insight
Dedicating the Fruits of Our Efforts
Bringing Meditation and Everyday Life Together
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
About the Author
About Karuna-Shechen