Real Happiness

The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program

By: Sharon Salzberg

Narrated by: Sharon Salzberg

Thousands of years prove it, and Western science backs it: Meditation sharpens focus. Meditation lowers blood pressure, relieves chronic pain, reduces stress. Meditation helps us experience greater calm. Meditation connects us to our inner-most feelings and challenges our habits of self-judgment. Meditation helps protect the brain against aging and improves our capacity for learning new things. Meditation opens the door to real and accessible happiness.

There is no better person to show a beginner how to harness the power of meditation than Sharon Salzberg, one of the world’s foremost meditation teachers and spiritual authors. Cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, author of Loving kindness, Faith, and other books, Ms. Salzberg distills 30 years of teaching meditation into a 28-day program that will change lives. It is not about Buddhism, it’s not esoteric - it is closer to an exercise, like running or riding a bike. From the basics of posture, breathing, and the daily schedule to the finer points of calming the mind, distraction, dealing with specific problem areas (pain in the legs? falling asleep?) to the larger issues of compassion and awareness, Real Happiness is a complete guide. It explains how meditation works; why a daily meditation practice results in more resiliency, creativity, peace, clarity, and balance; and gives twelve meditation practices, including mindfulness meditation and walking meditation. An extensive selection of FAQs cover the most frequent concerns of beginners who meditate - “Is meditation selfish?” “How do I know if I’m doing it right?” “Can I use meditation to manage weight?”

©2011 Sharon Salzberg. Recorded by arrangement with Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2011 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

“Salzberg speaks from experience . . . an extraordinary teacher.” ( O, The Oprah Magazine)

“Sharon Salzberg has offered a gift of peace to the world.” (Alice Walker)

“To those who have taken her courses (like me), [Real Happiness] contains all of the jewels of Sharon’s teachings plus more.” (Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now)

Great introduction to meditation and mindfulness

What did you love best about Real Happiness?

I was looking for an introduction to meditation and mindfulness and 100% found what I was looking for in this book. The how-to on doing meditation was incredibly helpful, as well as the discussion of the benefits that meditation can bring. I definitely feel this book has helped to bring more calm and balance into my life. I read through a few other books on meditation and mindfulness and would recommend this one first and foremost over those others.

Lots is resonating lessons and themes

Really enjoyed this one. A lot of good on both how to and why we should meditate and how the things you learn about yourself through meditation can affect your everyday life and person

worthy

An excellent starter for someone wanting to explore meditation. It's probably the next best thing to attending a class, but because it is an "online class" so to speak, one wants to go through it all in one sitting, which isn't feasible. But I will reuse this again and again to help me get started and try to maintain a commitment to meditation. Her voice is gentle and calm, her pauses, at first surprising, are well timed. I enjoyed my time with Sharon.

Meditation made easy!

Would you consider the audio edition of Real Happiness to be better than the print version?

I am a hands on person so some times its easier to incorporate audio into my day than print. I sometime need to slow down and don't spend as much time with "print" so I was able to take away more meaning and understanding with the audio version at this time.

What did you like best about this story?

The practical application. I was able to slow myself down when I wake up at night and my mind is racing. I used some of the practices to go back to sleep.

Which character – as performed by Sharon Salzberg – was your favorite?

Don't really thave a favorate.

What did you learn from Real Happiness that you would use in your daily life?

To except, acknowledge, and move on. She gave several practical ways to do this.

Any additional comments?

I have already listen once and am now going back to listen to again to see what I may have missed the first time!

Real happiness

What did you love best about Real Happiness?

Very infomative

What other book might you compare Real Happiness to and why?

Living the full Catastrophe, Authentic Happiness

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Sharon Salzberg?

Anyone, she wasn't a good narrator. Her voice was monotone and boring.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

Good info, but hard to listen to. The author is seldom the best person to read the text. Did anyone listen to this before it was distributed?

Very helpful book

I love Sharon and have done live workshops with her. She is the authority on meditation I never feel judged by her advice.
many helpful tips and tools in this book
And I love that she narrates it

Great motivator to sustain your practice

Sharon's voice is so pleasant and is why I prefer her books on audio vs reading them. She gives easy to understand descriptions of meditation practices and great tips to keep your practice consistent. Sharon is the best!

Amazing for understand and start meditation

If you could sum up Real Happiness in three words, what would they be?

Compassionate, simple and practical.

What other book might you compare Real Happiness to and why?

I can't think of anyone as this one.

What about Sharon Salzberg’s performance did you like?

Yes. Her voice is very calm. It's nice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Meditate and start being happy

Any additional comments?

I really recommend it. I have hear and read a lot of different approachs to meditation, but no one has been as simple, compassionate and practica as this one. It is amazing for someone that wants to start meditating or even to improve your actual meditation practice. The only thing I would suggest to audible.com is that they make the authors add a index with the chapters and sub-chapters and the minutes and seconds in which you can find it. It would make it easier to get back to a especific theme.

Excellent intro to meditation.

Love this book. Very easy read with a variety of alternatives that make it easy to start your meditation practice...
Author details her journey into meditation and details her struggles and breakthroughs along the way..many of which are things every practicioner experiences; like going to sleep, not being able to focus, being fidgety and so on. She stresses it will happen and it's all OK.. Even expected.
At first I wasn't crazy about author reading the book, but her voice grew on me because she reads in a very calming intimate fashion...
I use her mediations several times a week.

A Wonderful Overview of Meditation and Mindfulness

Thoughtful and accessible, Salzburg reminds us that each day, each moment, is an invitation to begin again!:)