Book Review - Calming your Anxious Mind (using MBSR)

Picture "Buddha's Eagle" kindly provided by h.koppdelaney under CC

Looking through the public library in Georgetown, the book "Calming your Anxious Mind" by Jeffrey Brantley, MD caught my eye, I had an intention of reading a good book on mindfulness, and I finally found one.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques (MBTR)
The book focuses on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques used for treating anxiety related afflictions.  One does not need to have any deep seated anxiety to benefit from the book, although, I could argue, this is a natural state of affair in today's "highly strung" world. It is difficult to find content that distills mindfulness techniques in such a concentrated form and combines it with scientific application. This is a great book for Beginners, "Zen Masters", and anyone in the middle.

Seeing that mindfulness cannot really be taught in theory, only experienced, a number of mindful exercises are presented, as well as distilled concepts that explain how to apply it with a non-religious context.  I tend to avoid discussions on religion, because it tends to creates so much division, and intolerance, one of the reasons why mindfulness, meditation, spirituality, and yoga appeals to me so much, because it unites without dividing. Religion is not always spirituality, spirituality is not always religion.

Seven Essential Mindfulness Attitudes 

I really liked the seven essential attitudes to mindfulness from the book . These are attitudes of non-judging, patience, beginner's mind, trust, non striving, acceptance and letting go. On each of this a real case study example of normal everyday people applying the techniques is presented.  I like this, because it shows that we all have these innate abilities, we just need to "Switch Channels".  Also in the book there is a very interesting mindful eating exercise using raisins!

Non-judging
I notice I tend to judge people to quickly, solutions to problems too soon, make purchasing decisions too soon, this also closes me off too soon from seeing things from a wider and deeper point of view.  I need to practice "reserving judgement" until I am ready to act from a deeper awareness.

I saw this once in some reality cooking show where a bunch of chefs were competing the make a wedding cake for the couple, one chef took a photo, and got out within a few minutes out of the limousine to get the ball rolling.  Not surprisingly the couple that spent the most time in the limousine won!  They reserved judgement, and stayed present to understand.

Patience
I see this all the time in road rage all the time, people all in the hurry of getting somewhere (or no-where) in a hurry. Once a sense of time kicks in about something, all sense of compassion seems to fly out the window!

Focus on the present moment now, forget about everything else, plan out your day so you can do this.  Cut short the activity or stay in the activity fully, don't be half-half.

Beginner's mind
Anyone seen someone with a  "who knows it all" attitude. If you know it all, then your cup is full, why bother telling you anything!  This quality is about approaching everything for the first time, allowing natural curiosity to flow through.  It involves humility as you consider other peoples points of view.  It opens you up for a valuable window of learning from anyone, even your kids.  I have asked my kids in primary school questions on English concepts!


Trust
Trust in the intelligence in yourself, there is no need to go running after people who are better actors than you are.


Non striving
Don't try to hard, its usually the sign of ego and competition.  Just do your best and let it be.

Your energy is better conserved for the quality of your work and the depth of your relationships rather than showmanship.

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Acceptance
Why waste energy on things that are difficult to change, just focus your attention on those things in your control instead, even that once you do your best let it go and accept the results

Letting go
Once you have expended the effort, don't dwell on it, good or bad, let it go, let it go, let it go.  Dwelling on things good or bad traps your energies.

Closing - Mindfulness works wonders

Mindfulness works wonders in day to day life:
Colors of the flowers are brighter,
The chill of the rain is refreshing,
The songs of the bird are engaging,
The warmth of the sun is soothing,
The breeze of the wind almost makes you sway from side to side,
The tiny drops on your face from the rain totally absorbs you
The smile from loved ones are so re-assuring

Focusing your mind on your emotions and letting it be, tames the emotions and engages clear thinking, anger subsides, sadness gives way to reflection, love is amplified...

Just for one moment, you forget about yourself, time and space lose their meaning, you are freed from yourself.

Why give this all up for cheap imitations of technology and the negative afflictions of the mind... .. .

Peace,

Kirpal

Follows is a sample from the book for your convience: