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Close Your Eyes and Open Your Mind - A Practical Guide to Spiritual Meditation
Close Your Eyes & Open Your Mind strips away the mysteries and myths that surround the practice of meditation and reveals how simple, straightforward, and effective meditation can be. Whether you are a complete beginner or an accomplished practitioner, this book is guaranteed to make you want to sit down and enjoy the tranquility of your inner self.
- GenresSpirituality
168 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2006
17 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Dada Nabhaniilananda
9 books14 followersYoga Monk, Meditation Teacher, Author, Speaker & Musician
Perspective: For thirty years Dada has been a monk, a musician, an author and a meditation teacher with the spiritual movement Ananda Marga “The Path of Bliss”.
Philosophy: Dada teaches a holistic lifestyle centered around meditation, yoga and social service. He believes that service to the community and engagement in progressive social and environmental action are an integral part of a full spiritual life.
Personal Journey: Like many others of his generation, Dada Nabhaniilananda set off on a journey of self discovery at an early age, a journey that took him away from his home in New Zealand to Australia, Nepal and inevitably to India, the ancient land of the yogis. But unlike many of that generation who experimented with spiritual practice, but ultimately returned to a more regular life, Dada's journey did not end there. He continued his spiritual quest to become a meditation adept. The pursuit of spiritual realisation, and eventually transmitting what he had learned to others, became the absorbing passion of his life.
In 1979 Dada was ordained as an Acharya (spiritual teacher) of Ananda Marga (The Path of Bliss) and in 1983 he was initiated into the ancient order of Avadhutas (high renunciates) by the great master of Tantra Yoga, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (1922 - 1990), the founder of Ananda Marga - a worldwide spiritual and social service organization.
Dada has been guiding and teaching students all over the world for more than 35 years. He currently lives in Silicon Valley, California where he teaches Mindfulness and creativity for corporations.
Perspective: For thirty years Dada has been a monk, a musician, an author and a meditation teacher with the spiritual movement Ananda Marga “The Path of Bliss”.
Philosophy: Dada teaches a holistic lifestyle centered around meditation, yoga and social service. He believes that service to the community and engagement in progressive social and environmental action are an integral part of a full spiritual life.
Personal Journey: Like many others of his generation, Dada Nabhaniilananda set off on a journey of self discovery at an early age, a journey that took him away from his home in New Zealand to Australia, Nepal and inevitably to India, the ancient land of the yogis. But unlike many of that generation who experimented with spiritual practice, but ultimately returned to a more regular life, Dada's journey did not end there. He continued his spiritual quest to become a meditation adept. The pursuit of spiritual realisation, and eventually transmitting what he had learned to others, became the absorbing passion of his life.
In 1979 Dada was ordained as an Acharya (spiritual teacher) of Ananda Marga (The Path of Bliss) and in 1983 he was initiated into the ancient order of Avadhutas (high renunciates) by the great master of Tantra Yoga, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (1922 - 1990), the founder of Ananda Marga - a worldwide spiritual and social service organization.
Dada has been guiding and teaching students all over the world for more than 35 years. He currently lives in Silicon Valley, California where he teaches Mindfulness and creativity for corporations.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2020
Close your Eyes and Open your Mind - a fantastic book to remove your doubts and get you started with mediation or your spiritual journey. After listing to a TED talk by the author Dada N (your pronunciation of his name) I read this book, and oh boy I was not disappointed. I didn’t want to put down the book the moment I began reading it. This book presents facts in such a funny way that it first makes you laugh then ponder. The ideas presented are scientific and appeals to my rational self.
Mediation is so confusing with so many schools of thoughts but the Monk Dude, as the author likes to call himself has done a terrific job of simplifying this labyrinth. He has explained about mediation in a simple and funny way. It dispels some of the myriad myths surrounding mediation. I would say it is a great starting practical guide for anyone who is trying to explore the mystic world of mediation. You can get a ton of apps and resources that teach you how to mediate, but after reading it I do want to try his way of mediation and be more sincere in it. I had the feeling that the mantra used at the end of the chapter gave me a sense of deep inner bliss and sense of love
Even though I may have explored about ways for stress management the book helped me realize that meditation has a purpose higher than self and it gave a sense of belonging and purpose in the Universe.
The author makes it clear that mediation is mostly practice side so dnt hope that you will learn mediation form it. But what the book can help you in answering questions that every individual has at some point in their life about life, universe and meaning of life. I can jumpstart your journey for spiritual awakening. Highly recommend for beginners.
The authors 40 years of teaching mediation reflects in the book chapters. He quotes and uses examples from all mediation techniques so one gets some idea of different techniques and schools of thought. The book is divided into 8 chapters.
1. Questions- it helped remove some of my doubts about mediation and how and why
2. Donkey maintenance - reveled secrets of the importance of talking care about oneself
3. Close your eyes: 1st step of mediation ready to immerse oneself into the meditation blackhole
4. Developing Concentration- talked about the power of focus and living in the present moment
5. Mantra: Song of inner world. Leant something about auditory and acoustic science.
6. Ego and intuition- Opened my mind how any overinflated ego is the root cause of so many problems
7. Karma: Be yourself. How actions effect state of mind. There is consequence to our actions
8. Open your eyes: apply the insights I received to apply to the world and to myself.
After this, I am tempted to read about other books written by dada.
It may be too soon to pass judgement, but this may be the Dale Carnegie for mediation. Highly recommend if you are also exploring mediation.
Mediation is so confusing with so many schools of thoughts but the Monk Dude, as the author likes to call himself has done a terrific job of simplifying this labyrinth. He has explained about mediation in a simple and funny way. It dispels some of the myriad myths surrounding mediation. I would say it is a great starting practical guide for anyone who is trying to explore the mystic world of mediation. You can get a ton of apps and resources that teach you how to mediate, but after reading it I do want to try his way of mediation and be more sincere in it. I had the feeling that the mantra used at the end of the chapter gave me a sense of deep inner bliss and sense of love
Even though I may have explored about ways for stress management the book helped me realize that meditation has a purpose higher than self and it gave a sense of belonging and purpose in the Universe.
The author makes it clear that mediation is mostly practice side so dnt hope that you will learn mediation form it. But what the book can help you in answering questions that every individual has at some point in their life about life, universe and meaning of life. I can jumpstart your journey for spiritual awakening. Highly recommend for beginners.
The authors 40 years of teaching mediation reflects in the book chapters. He quotes and uses examples from all mediation techniques so one gets some idea of different techniques and schools of thought. The book is divided into 8 chapters.
1. Questions- it helped remove some of my doubts about mediation and how and why
2. Donkey maintenance - reveled secrets of the importance of talking care about oneself
3. Close your eyes: 1st step of mediation ready to immerse oneself into the meditation blackhole
4. Developing Concentration- talked about the power of focus and living in the present moment
5. Mantra: Song of inner world. Leant something about auditory and acoustic science.
6. Ego and intuition- Opened my mind how any overinflated ego is the root cause of so many problems
7. Karma: Be yourself. How actions effect state of mind. There is consequence to our actions
8. Open your eyes: apply the insights I received to apply to the world and to myself.
After this, I am tempted to read about other books written by dada.
It may be too soon to pass judgement, but this may be the Dale Carnegie for mediation. Highly recommend if you are also exploring mediation.
February 21, 2021
Eye opening về thiền và phương pháp thiền, cách tiếp cận vấn đề khá hay và thực tế.
March 28, 2023
Livro inspirador que fala de exemplos práticos sobre como a meditação tem um impacto direto na vida das pessoas.
Fiquei ligueiramente desiludido uma vez que pensei que desse mais conselhos sobre como meditar e os mantras que utiliza em diferentes situações.
Fiquei ligueiramente desiludido uma vez que pensei que desse mais conselhos sobre como meditar e os mantras que utiliza em diferentes situações.
February 1, 2023
An easy explanation of meditation and directing your mind. I shared it with 14 yo kids who had problems with focusing and they say it was useful.
November 10, 2024
An exceptional book about mediation and life. Powerful, compelling and prescient given the events earlier this week.
April 9, 2013
Simply fascinating
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews