Robert Butera - Meditation for Your Life: Creating a Plan That Suits Your Style

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Meditation for your Life: Creating a Plan That Suits Your Style 2012 by Robert Butera, PhD.

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First e-book edition 2012

E-book ISBN: 9780738734651

Book design by Bob Gaul
Editing by Laura Graves
Cover art: Stones iStockphoto.com/Angelo Gilardelli
Sky BrandXPictures
Cover design by Ellen Lawson
Interior art: Chakra illustration Llewellyn Art Deparment
Stones: iStockphoto.com/Angelo Gilardelli

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Contents

Part I: Beginning Your Meditation Journey

: Expectations, Assumptions, and Misconceptions about Meditation

: How Your Past Informs Your Meditation Style

: Your Daily Life and Meditation

Part II: A New Lifestyle

: Identifying Stressful Behaviors

: Beyond Positive Thinking or Pure Thinking

: Deep Breathing

: Relaxation

: Nutrition

: Sensory Mastery

Part III: Six Types of Meditation

: Type 1: Breath

: Type 2: Affirmations and Visualization

: Type 3: Mantra

: Type 4: Devotion, Prayer, or Intentionality

: Type 5: Mindfulness Meditation

: Type 6: Contemplative Inquiry

Part IV: Sustaining a Meditation Practice

: Doing No Harm

: Living in Truth

: What Non-Stealing Entails

: Freedom in Self-Restraint

: Freedom from Greed

: Balance and Perspective

: Contentment

: The Value of Discipline

: Self-Study

: The Meaning of Surrender

Part V: Resources Along the Way

: Tips for Finding and Joining a Meditation Group

Acknowledgments

This book is a tribute to all who have cared for me and shared their knowledge with me throughout the years. It is with the humblest gratitude that I thank and honor all of their unique gifts and contributions.

First, my wife, Kristen, who is more loving and supportive than words can possibly express. My parents, who had faith in me, didnt force me into a rational profession, and supported my decision to travel and study in Asia and India as a young adult. For my grandfather, who meditated every night with his rosary and taught me the values of perseverance and honoring the cycles of nature.

For all my teachers in Japan and Taiwan where I first learned to meditate, in particular the Friends World College, the Ittoen Community, the Naikan Psychotherapy Community, Yamagishi Kai, and Mr. Sakai Sensai.

To my Gurus at the Yoga Institute, Mumbai, India; in particular Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji Yogendra who gave me a highly sophisticated and individualized training in yoga, yoga therapy, and meditation.

For all of the members of the Society of Friends, especially those at the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana, where I did my masters in divinity.

To the dedicated members of the California Institute of Integral Studies who illuminated my PhD studies, especially Dr. Yi Wu, Dr. Jim Ryan, Dr. Paul Schwartz, Dr. Rick Tarnas, and Dr. Rina Sircar.

To all of the Meditation for Your Type program participants and teachers for their feedback, dedication, and tireless efforts on behalf of Yoga & Meditation, especially Erin Byron, Julie Rost, Brian Serven, and Tina Devine.

For my aunt, Marge McDonald, whose experience as an author helped me release my first published book, The Pure Heart of Yoga. To the editors Vesela Simic and Joshua Rusbuldt for their patience and insightful comments, and for the folks at Llewellyn Worldwide, including Angela Wix and her team, for making this book reality.

Introduction

One time in India, a mentor made a comment to the effect that it was such a long journey to make halfway around the world to learn such simple principles. Those words did not make sense to the twenty-five-year-old me who loved the adventure of foreign travels and the exotic exploration of ancient cultures. Today, his point makes sense: you do not have to travel around the world to learn how to quiet your mind. You may work, care for the family, and attend to responsibilities all the while focused on self-inquiry and inner peace.

This book systematizes steps a beginner travels in developing a meditation practice. It includes a lifestyle program based on the individual meditators needs. I have evaluated my journey and those of hundreds of my students to develop this manual in meditation, which will help you establish a personalized meditation practice and lifestyle. This book will guide you to discover what you need to work on by asking you to consider key questions. I do not prescribe one way for everyone; rather, you fill in the blanks to create your own program.

My goal here with you is to be as transparent an author as I can be, sharing my experiences to further illustrate the inclusive and individualized approach of meditation for your typeincluding the likelihood that over time you may change the way you practice.

This book highlights key teachings for anyone who desires more focus and peace of mind. The goal is to pass on two fundamental lessons: (1) it is possible to find a type of meditation practice that suits your personality for one to two quiet sittings a day, and (2) sitting silently in a meditation posture is only a small part of what I term the meditation lifestyle, which is necessary for a successful and enduring practice. In other words, in order for just sitting there to make a difference in your life, the rest of your life must support that focus and peace. The good news is that any step you take in the direction of peace of mind is a step in the right direction!