Reddit reviews Wake Up To Your Life: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention

Last week I found out that my ulcerative colitis (diagnosed ten years ago) is now Crohn's disease. Prior to the colonoscopy that confirmed it I was buffeted by intense fear of death, and sat in the office watching some really intense sensations and feelings arise. I had just been reading death meditations in Ken McLeod's book Wake Up To Your Life days prior, which might have contributed to the strength and clarity to what arose. Compared to the last time I had the procedure, I was acutely aware of the fragility of the body – much of the staple somatic techniques were incredibly painful to conduct, but I chose to keep observing as preparatory training for when death finally strikes (or the inevitable health complications that arise as I continue to age). I can't deny that this week has been incredibly hard in light of this news and yet more challenges – there's a real desire for deliverance at times. That said my results are relatively positive, and I'm glad that I have the means to take care of this before it worsens – being grateful for the gifts of life goes a long way, and I'm thankful that I get to enjoy another birthday tomorrow. As such, this specific period was quite productive for practice and I'm better off for it.

Finally made it out to Dharma Ocean yesterday – many of the members have been practicing for several years, and it was great to be able to discuss the technical aspects of Reggie Ray's techniques in great depth. We sat for approximately 1.5 hours and had an in-depth discussion followed by tea and snacks. I'll continue attending and look forward to what grows from that.

Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up: A Practical Approach for Modern Life by B. Alan Wallace is really good.


Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism


Wake Up to Your Life by Ken Mcleod. This one is more of a practical book grounded in a Western take on Tibetan Buddhism.

Yeah, that definitely makes it way tougher. Can you absorb stuff by watching a video? If so, maybe you could try finding some videos of really peaceful/compassionate/enlightened monks and try to absorb their attitudes and approaches to meditation. Culadasa has some videos, as does Shinzen Young.

For working directly with defense mechanisms, you might get a lot of benefit from working through Wake Up to Your Life by Ken McLeod. It discusses a lot of how defense mechanisms function and how to take them apart just like vipassanna takes apart sensations. It's definitely slower to pick them apart, but it's still doable. Some of the material from the book is covered in this retreat summary and the rest of his website.

Good luck and hope your practice goes well.

It sounds like your heart is really in it, may I recommend a book?? http://www.amazon.com/Wake-Your-Life-Discovering-Attention/dp/0062516817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318910807&sr=8-1

It's not so much a self help book as it is some great proverbs, short stories, and then reflections to help you see the path of enlightenment and caring for others. It's all about compassion and knowing what you deserve, or rather, don't. It really opened my eyes about "expectations" which in my opinion is everyones biggest enemy when it comes to being let down in life.