Bonus eBook Content Thank you for purchasing the Why Meditate? eBook by Matthieu Ricard. This eBook includes a free audio download! To access this bonus content, please visit www.hayhouse.com/ebookdownloads and enter the Product ID and Download Codes as they appear below. For further assistance, please contact Hay House Customer Care by phone: US (800) 654-5126 or INTL CC+(760) 431-7695 or visit www.hayhouse.com/contact.php. Thank you again for your Hay House eBook purchase. Enjoy! Hay House, Inc. P.O. Box 5100 Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100 (800) 654-5126 Praise for Why Meditate? “In this marvelous book, Matthieu Ricard articulates the Dharma in the very same way he embodies it in his life; that is, with profound clarity, goodwill, and humility. These qualities come through on every page and make the experience of reading and practicing with this elegant and deceptively simple primer on meditation tantamount to entering into and familiarizing oneself in an ever-deepening way with the landscape of one’s own truest self.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn,author of Wherever You Go, There You Are and Coming to Our Senses “This is the book on meditation that I’ve been waiting for. Reading it has helped me hone my personal practice, and finally I have come across the perfect book to recommend to all those interested in meditation—newcomers and experts. Why Meditate? is clear, accessible, deep, and practical.” — Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier “An excellent introduction to a practice that has calmed the mind for thousands of years. Profound concepts and essential instructions are explained with the utmost clarity. I highly recommend it!” — Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., director of Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, clinical associate professor of psychology in psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, past president, Academy of Cognitive Therapy “Why Meditate? is a clear and insightful guide to beginning a meditation practice, and to continuing one skillfully. Matthieu Ricard provides helpful and specific instruction along with an immense depth of understanding about happiness, suffering, and living a better life.” — Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and The Kindness Handbook “Writing as a true spiritual friend, Matthieu Ricard shares the wisdom he has gained from his four decades of spiritual training that clearly and succinctly presents what meditation is and how to practice it, step by step. This book is a treasure to be read with care and shared with those you love.” — B. Alan Wallace, author of Mind in the Balance WHY MEDITATE? ALSO BY MATTHIEU RICARD Books HAPPINESS: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill THE MONK AND THE PHILOSOPHER: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life (with Jean-François Revel) THE QUANTUM AND THE LOTUS: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet (with Trinh Xuan Thuan) Text and Photographs BHUTAN: The Land of Serenity BUDDHIST HIMALAYAS (with Olivier and Danielle Föllmi) JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTENMENT: The Life and World of Khyentse Rinpoche, Spiritual Teacher from Tibet MONK DANCERS OF TIBET MOTIONLESS JOURNEY: From a Hermitage in the Himalayas TIBET: An Inner Journey Translations THE LIFE OF SHABKAR: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin WHY MEDITATE? Matthieu Ricard Translated by Sherab Chödzin Kohn HAY HOUSE, INC. Carlsbad, California • New York City London • Sydney • Johannesburg Vancouver • Hong Kong • New Delhi Copyright © 2010 by Matthieu Ricard Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com • Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au • Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk • Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za • Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com • Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in Design: Tricia Breidenthal • Illustration: Padmakara Archives All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher. The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions. First published in France in 2008 by NiL Éditions, Paris © Matthieu Ricard, 2008 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ricard, Matthieu. [Art de la méditation. English] Why meditate? / Matthieu Ricard ; translated by Sherab Chodzin Kohn. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4019-2663-2 (tradepaper : alk. paper) 1. Meditation-- Buddhism. 2. Buddhism--Doctrines. I. Chödzin, Sherab. II. Title. BQ5614.R5313 2010 294.3’4435--dc22 2010006721 Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-4019-2663-2 14 13 12 11 7 6 5 4 1st edition, September 2010 4th edition, December 2011 Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS Preface Part I: Why Meditate? A Lucid Assessment Part II: What to Meditate On Training the Mind Part III: How to Meditate Preliminary Instructions Turning the Mind Toward Meditation Mindfulness Meditation Inner Calm Meditations on Altruistic Love A Sublime Exchange Soothing Physical Pain Deeper Insight Dedicating the Fruits of Our Efforts Bringing Meditation and Everyday Life Together Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography About the Author About Karuna-Shechen