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Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind
A unique fitness program from a highly respected spiritual leader that blends physical and spiritual practice for everyone - regardless of age, spiritual background, or ability - to great benefits for both body and soul.
As a Tibetan lama and leader of Shambhala (an international community of 165 meditation centers), Sakyong Mipham has found physical activity to be essent...more
As a Tibetan lama and leader of Shambhala (an international community of 165 meditation centers), Sakyong Mipham has found physical activity to be essent...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
April 10th 2012
by Harmony
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Feb 18, 2013
Maria
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
General Public, runners
Recommended to Maria by:
I just saw it at politics & prose
Shelves:
new-age-spiritual,
running
Second Reading: February 18, 2013
I plan on starting a running program. The last time I read this book it inspired me to start a running program, but I never took a step.
This time, I'm ready to take the step, I just needed a running-buddy of sorts, a teacher really. I already knew what was within the pages, so I considered this a refresher on the joys found within running.
What I realized this time is that if I live in the moment, and my goal of running is to live in the moment, then I don't have...more
I plan on starting a running program. The last time I read this book it inspired me to start a running program, but I never took a step.
This time, I'm ready to take the step, I just needed a running-buddy of sorts, a teacher really. I already knew what was within the pages, so I considered this a refresher on the joys found within running.
What I realized this time is that if I live in the moment, and my goal of running is to live in the moment, then I don't have...more
I would have been happy to have come across Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind twenty years ago, before my lower back and my hips and knees started telling me that enough was enough. Authored by Sakyong Mipham, the leader of Shambala and himself an experienced marathon runner, the book is part inspiration, part invaluable instruction manual in the parallel arts of running and meditation. Running, I have always maintained, is a mug’s game: do it often enough,...more
Interesting read. I feel as if a lot of it sailed over my head though, so maybe this is the sort of book you should re-read at intervals. I've always been interested in meditation, and have been trying to build my running base and prepare for a marathon, so this was right up my alley. I had never really thought about the many parallels before, nor about combining the activities.
Still not sure about some of the higher level stuff, about running for the the benefit of others. Perhaps it's meant th...more
Still not sure about some of the higher level stuff, about running for the the benefit of others. Perhaps it's meant th...more
I’ve been a runner for over ten years, and practiced yoga for over five years. I noticed an increase in my recovery time and overall health after regularly incorporating yoga sequences and stretches into everyday. Running and yoga both bring a peace of mind. I’ve never practiced meditation but I’ve always been intrigued by it.
Sakyong Mipham is a leader of meditation retreats and a 9-time marathoner. His book, Running with the Mind of Meditation, combined mindful meditation into running in order...more
Sakyong Mipham is a leader of meditation retreats and a 9-time marathoner. His book, Running with the Mind of Meditation, combined mindful meditation into running in order...more
I do not have an Eastern mindset.
I remember going to a one-off book club meeting with a bunch of women, all acquaintances of my boss, about two months after my twins were born five years ago. Other than some "dates" with my husband, I hadn't been out much. I wasn't back at work yet, and my overachieving breasts made so much milk that being far away from the babies and the breast pump for any length of time was a recipe for misery. But I longed for adult conversation, so when I was invited to thi...more
I remember going to a one-off book club meeting with a bunch of women, all acquaintances of my boss, about two months after my twins were born five years ago. Other than some "dates" with my husband, I hadn't been out much. I wasn't back at work yet, and my overachieving breasts made so much milk that being far away from the babies and the breast pump for any length of time was a recipe for misery. But I longed for adult conversation, so when I was invited to thi...more
This book may have changed my life. I'll have to get back to you on that one. Running has certainly changed my life. I began to become less fat and now can't imagine life without it. As I began to increase my distances I realized I would occasionally lose chunks of miles and time and really liked the peace of mind it brought me. This all reminded me of my teenage (beat-gen inspired) interest in Buddhism and half-ass forays into meditation (never got to do the yabyum thing, though). So now I'm de...more
Who can resist a Buddhist monk who runs marathons? I read this book little by little at night, and I loved it. I have never been successful with meditation, but I love what he had to say about pain. In this book, there is short story about monks who would carry knives to kill themselves should they not reach their goals of enlightenment. This prompted me to create my own statement of motivation that I need "to carry the knife" in races. Of course, I'd never go all Seppuku over a race, but I love...more
A simple yet brillant book filled with pearls of wisdom about the integration of mind and body. While the book may appeal particularly to runners, the psychology of mind-body connection is relevant to all aspects of life. The book teaches how to enrich our exercises through practising mindfulness and awareness, drawing parallels between meditation and running.
"Movement is good for the body, and stillness is good for the mind. To lead a balanced life, we need to engage and be active, and to deep...more
"Movement is good for the body, and stillness is good for the mind. To lead a balanced life, we need to engage and be active, and to deep...more
I could not have found this book at a more perfect time. I had recently watched an episode of Oprah's Next Chapter about the benefits of meditation and I was very interested in learning, however, meditation retreats are way out of my budget. At the same time I was thinking of rebuilding my running base, so this title totally stood out to me, and I loved it. I really like that he takes you through the basic instructions of meditation for beginners, including what you should be seeking as you prog...more
This book opened my eyes!! My Western head is full of checklists, plans and goals. This book taught me these traits are not beneficial to running. While I'd like to be able to make running a part of my life, this book highlighted that my current goal-driven approach needs to be altered to become a more successful runner. I learned I should continue to strive to connect 100% in the moment with my body while running. I should be aware of my surroundings and the nuances of my body; really focusing...more
I'm not a runner at all, but this book was a great way to learn about mindfulness during physical exertion. I'm trying to incorporate more of the idea of gentleness into my life-I don't have to beat myself up to realize my potential, and that's a scary and exciting thought!
I also found Mipham's approach to pain/illness very interesting:
"There is clearly a relationship between a healthy mind and a healthy body, and a relationship between imbalance and illness. We embody our worries. We have to le...more
I also found Mipham's approach to pain/illness very interesting:
"There is clearly a relationship between a healthy mind and a healthy body, and a relationship between imbalance and illness. We embody our worries. We have to le...more
This was a quick easy read. I've always loved running and when I've always felt the running is a form of meditation for me. I saw an ad for this book on a website that caught my attention. I'm glad I read this book. I've never considered meditating in the traditional sense of the word. This book introduced some basic ideas of mediating and compared them with running. Reading this book made me want to go for a 20-30 mile run so that I could be alone and clear my mind. Anyway, good book overall.
I am giving this 2 stars as it is bad karma to criticize Buddhists and I must admit I skipped quite a bit of the latter parts of this lightweight volume. It reminded me of a British sausage, not much meat and a lot of filling, and I think that may be because the subjects are simple; meditation is not thinking and running is putting one foot in front of the other, everything else is elaboration. I do not doubt the sincerity of the compilers, maybe my western mind is too rigid for the truths writt...more
I found a lot to highlight in this book and passages I want to read to my yoga class about the significance of breath. I especially appreciate the exercises at the end of each section, but wish there were more recommendation for meditative practices while running. I also would have liked more about the authors experience running. Those were the parts that kept me going between long repetitive sections about meditation... But it is about meditation after all, so I guess that can be forgiven.
Sakyong takes the reader on a journey through some of his own experiences along with lessons in the art of meditation, and running technique. He makes some very good insights into the restless, technological world we live in, and how the parallels of running and mediation can help us with mental well-being and happiness. By no means a practical guide to meditation, there are however some really helpful and useful tips for the mindful runner.
The Sakyong's style is down to earth and makes for a very enjoyable read. Deep principles of meditation are explained and shown how to be integrated with running.
The author is also a proud member of the running community and has guided meditations available on his website.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading his other works.
The author is also a proud member of the running community and has guided meditations available on his website.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading his other works.
Apr 30, 2013
Kristen
marked it as to-read
This book reminds me of what someone told me once. There are times when we run, when we have reached a distance and state of mind where we are finally able to "see the cheetah." I'm not a fast runner, but I often think about seeing the cheetah when I run, when a state of equanimity and bliss occur through mindful and healthy exercise.
Interesting crossover of running and meditation practice. Definitely something to reread as your running and meditation practices evolve since he covers multiple levels and stages. Very fascinating thoughts on both practices and how they can benefit each other and also our lives in general.
I read this during home confinement brought on by a nasty stomach bug. The simple profundity that the Sakyong discusses is mentally and emotionally energizing and inspiring. I will recommend this book to everyone I know, whether they meditate, run, both or neither!
If you like to read books that inspire you, if you are into running and/or meditation, or even if you aren't into any of these things, I would still recommend this book. There is a lot of wisdom here that everybody would benefit from. I know I did.
I read this even though I am not a runner. I figured the principles would apply to swimming, which they do. This is a very good, well-written book. The material is very accessible. I recommend it.
It's dragging in the middle. Like a commercial for meditation alone without running which appeals on some level. But I can't bring myself to meditate and don't want to be reminded of this.
A life-changer. Got me much deeper into meditation and helped my running quite a bit, too. Both activities seem dead-simple, but there are such depths to be plumbed for someone who digs deep. They are doorways into enormous worlds that can't be described, only experienced. Without the experience, the descriptions are completely misleading. Try it.
A book for everyone! You could easily swap out running with cooking or dog walking. The lessons and insights are valuable and applicable to so many areas in life.
Great book for runners interested in meditation or meditators interested in running. Good, simple approach to the similarities and cross-sections of both disciplines.
I throughly enjoyed his comparison of running to meditation and it's various stages. I'm currently in the tiger stage of quiet enjoyment of calming the mind and listening to my breath, especially as an avid runner who is redoing their stride to make it less of an impact on my joints,a tiger mentality has been very helpful to remember to embody the tiger and it's natural physical ,imechanics along my path to a better run.I can't wait for the lion phase of my running.
It's probably a good book, but I was looking for something that this wasn't.
My 100 page rule won out. If I'm not invested by page 100, time to put it on the DNF shelf and move on.
Again, I am not knocking the book, just wasn't the right thing, right now.
My 100 page rule won out. If I'm not invested by page 100, time to put it on the DNF shelf and move on.
Again, I am not knocking the book, just wasn't the right thing, right now.
VERY quick read, and had a lot of insight. I could see reading this every few years and taking new things from it each time.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's useful as an athlete and as a thinker/meditator. Any athlete should read it. And folks like me who yearn for but. Struggle with mindfulness will find it useful.
Imperative that you read this book if you are working on building your running with a mediative approach.
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Sakyong Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, Jampal Trinley Dradul (born Osel Rangdrol Mukpo in 1962), most commonly known as Sakyong Mipham, is the head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage and Shambhala International, a worldwide network of urban Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, monasteries, a university, and other enterprises, founded by his father, the Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (X...more
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