Book Review: "Be The Change"

Though ancient, the practice of mediation is enjoying significant contemporary popularity. But can meditation help with midlife and/or marital woes (the subject of this site)? Authors Ed and Deb Shapiro of "Be The Change" believe it can be applied to these and just about every other aspect of life. The Shairo's cover the topic via observations of over 100 meditation practitioners. Sources include celebrities such as Ed Begley, Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Jane Fonda, Kitaro, Lindsay Wagner, and many others.

The result is 300 pages of lessons, observations, and anecdotes addressing the practice from all possible points of view. Beginners might yearn for a more "how to" approach to the subject. But the approach that the authors have taken provides far more insight into what one can accomplish with meditation and the impact it can have on society as a whole--noting that change may start with the individual but it doesn't necessarily stop there.

From an article supplied to us by the authors:

Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." In other words, change has to start within ourselves; we cannot expect the world to change if we do not. If we want to have more love in our lives, we must become more loving; if we genuinely want to end terrorism and to bring real and peaceful change to the world, then we must start by ending the war within ourselves.

This brings us to the importance of contemplation and meditation. Without such a practice of self-reflection, we are subject to our ego's every whim, and we have no way of putting a brake on its demands. Meditation, on the other hand, gives us the space to see ourselves clearly and objectively, a place from which we can witness our own behavior and reduce the ego's influence. We get to know the madness of our monkey mind and until it loses its hold. Only then do we have a genuine opportunity to change.

Amazon Link: Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World