Feel free to e-mail us at comments@mindfulnesscds.com with any comments you might have. We will post as many of them as we can. Unfortunately, Jon will not be able to respond on anything like a regular basis to the questions or comments you may have, given the scope of his commitments.

I have read Full Catastrophe Living... And even practiced with your meditation CDs and it has changed my mind. Thank you for stripping it from all the "spirituality" religious technical words. Your references with Buddhism are great, and I agree that Siddhartha was an extraordinary scientist of the mind (heart whatever is the name in Pali) and probably great psychologist of his time.

Anyway, you made meditation accessible for me, and I am grateful for your books, they have changed my point of view of life and life itself. I did the stress reduction meditation weeks and after that, meditation started to fit into my life. I meditate as much as I can, with the help of the CDs or without. At least three times a week I do a slightly longer sitting mediation, (25 to 30 mins.) but every morning once I take my seat in the bus, I listen to one of your guided meditations for about 15 minutes in my way to work. Also I found a timer that reminds me at work to get back to the present moment every 15 minutes. And as you say, bring the mind back, even if I like where my mind is, bring it back, with no judgment, and with loving kindness to myself, I respond more than react, and this has made a huge difference. Only my husband knows I meditate (I tried to tell someone that I knew about it; however, bought your book and gave it to her, and went back to my cushion and meditated some more ;). Just keep quiet. I would love to people know about this, but again, when the student is ready, eh?

What can I say, thank you for writing those books, thank you for having taken that meditation class in MIT!

Anonymous

I have found it very helpful to check in with myself before I begin a formal practice period to ask myself "what is the intention for this practice?". In the gaps of daydreaming, the intention serves as another focus and reminder of what I'm doing. I think it is important to be aware of one's intention and effort because without this combination, practice could become another mindless showing-up that has little or no context to our daily living. In this way the sense of urgency, and possibly a subtle heavy-handedness of getting the practice "done", etc., softens to a quiet acceptance that this moment is enough.

All the best from blustery, blizzardy Nova Scotia!

Elizabeth A. Berlasso, MEd, CCC
Nova Scotia Registered Counselor Therapist

Huge Transformation Made So Easily

Your CDs have changed my life. 6 months ago, during a difficult time, I simply ordered all of the 3 series. I practiced the Body Scan for 8 weeks. as you recommend, without evaluating it at all. At about week 10, I suddenly noticed a striking shift in my emotional reactiveness. I seemed to have a long, quiet pause before I felt the sensations of any negative emotion. Greatly relieved, over the months I have gone through your entire series, including the CDs from The Mindful Way Through Depression. Now, I so look forward to my practice. I can choose the particular practice needed for what I am experiencing from the wealth of practices you present so clearly. I often hear your voice when I am in the shower, "Next time you are in the shower, check to see if you really ARE in the shower - or are you at the next meeting of the day." I am a psychologist in private practice for over 30 years. I somehow mistakenly understood "meditation" and "mindfulness" as "a great way to relax." I am sorry I never knew this before, but am so grateful to have this wealth of practices available to me now. And it was all really so quick and so easy - your CDs got me into immediate experience rather than having to STUDY the huge topic of "mindfulness". But soon after listening to more of the varied practices on the cds, I realized that you were ACTUALLY TEACHING ALL ABOUT MINDFULNESS THROUGH THE IMMEDIATE PRACTICE! I have learned so much, so fast! And your Lovingkindness Meditation is unique and helpful in ways other Lovingkindness Meditations are not for me. Yes, of course, I am referring clients to your website, CDs, and books. And mindfulness is now a central part of the way I "do" ("be with"?) psychotherapy. THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER KNOW. YOU HAVE MADE IT ALL SO EASY!

Name withheld by request

Dear Jon -- I just wanted to say thank you for the change you have made in my life. With the past year being difficult, with many problems and depression, I went to see a counselor who believes in you and teaches your mindfulness. I did the 8-week program with support from her over the phone and have read your books. My life and my family's life have changed dramatically because of you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

North Brunswick, New Jersey   February 2009

Dear Jon -- Your meditation CDs have become essential support of my mindfulness practice -- and are often followed by a segment of Eckart Tolle's Stillness Speaks on CD.

As a homeopath, I can't thank you enough for your book, Coming to our Senses. It has provided the link between my meditation practice and my profession as far as support. It is THE book that I recommend, along with your meditation CDs, to my patients for support in the practice of mindfulness as part of their healing process.

Thank you for your contribution to my practice and my profession.

Regards,

Jennifer Gordon (name used with permission)

Dublin, Ireland   February 2009

Dear Jon -- words are not enough to convey my gratitude to you for your decades of work on bringing mindfulness meditation to our society, and for your recording of the guided meditations in particular. For years I wished to re-establish a regular meditation practice and never followed through. Now, with my life busier than every, professionally and with two small children, I suddenly began to succeed in meditating regularly once or twice daily. Your CDs made the difference. Especially the "choiceless awareness" practice [Series 3, Disk 3] taught me that quietness and minimal disruption during meditation, while nice, are not always necessary. In fact, noticing my small children's play every now and then, and the emotions and thoughts this may stir up, adds a new dimension to my experience of being. Thank you.

Parent and physician, Cambridge Massachusetts