As someone who's had a long-held interest in meditation, I've always intended to take a course in it, but never quite managed to find the time. When I spotted Jack Kornfield's downloadable video in the library catalogue, I jumped at the opportunity and decided to check it out. Not only is the video aimed at beginners, but it also offers the added convenience of being able to take the class any time I want.
The instructor, Jack Kornfield, holds a PhD in clinical psychology, and has vast experience with meditation from having lived in Asia for five years as a Buddhist monk, trained in the meditative practice. Through his teachings, he has been instrumental in introducing meditation to the Western world.
Mr. Kornfield slowly takes the student through the steps, beginning with finding a comfortable posture, paying attention to breathing, and focusing on mindfulness. His calm voice is very quieting, and allows the student to relax and ease into the process.
He teaches the student how to keep the mind from wandering, repeatedly bringing it back to the present, and how to allow distractions like external noises or physical sensations to be acknowledged and pass through the mind without disrupting the meditative process.
I definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in beginning meditation, and found Jack Kornfield to be a highly skilled and capable instructor. (CD)
