Evolving Dharma, Jay Michaelson
Evolving Dharma, Jay Michaelson
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Evolving Dharma
Meditation, Buddhism, and the Next Generation of Enlightenment

Author: Jay Michaelson

Narrator: Jay Michaelson

Unabridged: 5 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/21/2018

Synopsis

A no-nonsense guide to the evolution of meditation, mindfulness, and enlightenment in modern-day society—from their religious origins in the East to their more secular incarnations in the West

Evolving Dharma is the definitive guide to the meditation revolution. Fearless, unorthodox, and irreverent scholar and activist Jay Michaelson shows how meditation and mindfulness have moved from ashrams and self-help groups to classrooms and hospitals, and offers unusually straight talk about the “Big E”— enlightenment. Michaelson introduces us to maverick brain hackers, postmodern Buddhist monks, and cutting-edge neuroscientists and shares his own stories of months-long silent retreats, powerful mystical experiences, and many pitfalls along the way. Evolving Dharma is a must-read for the next-generation meditator, the spiritually cynical, and the curious adventurer in all of us.

About The Author

JAY MICHAELSON is a writer, activist, Buddhist meditation teacher, and scholar ofJewish mysticism (Kabbalah) whose work has been featured on CNN, NPR, and in the New York Times. He is vice president of the Arcus Foundation, which supports social justice and conservation worldwide, and writes regularly for the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post, Tricycle, and the Forward. He holds a JD from Yale, a PhD from Hebrew University, and has held teaching positions at Yale University and Boston University Law School. Michaelson’s previous book, God vs. Gay?, was an Amazon.com bestseller and Lambda Literary Award finalist. For more information about his articles and appearances, visit his website.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Carol on December 30, 2013

I found this to be an exceptionally interesting, enjoyable, and informative book. "Evolving Dharma" is different from other books on contemporary Buddhism, mindfulness, etc. that I've read in that the author doesn't try to craft a smooth set of "teachings." Rather, he tries to explain why he's becom......more

Goodreads review by Frank Jude on May 25, 2016

Michaelson has offered an important service in writing this book at this time. I found myself largely in agreement with much that he has to say, while at times moving between feeling he's too accommodating to some the what I feel are the excesses of the mainstreaming of mindfulness and feeling he of......more

Goodreads review by Ellen on February 03, 2014

One of the very best books on Buddhism I have read. Couldn't put it down. Practical intelligent guide to meditation practice and a fascinating overview of western Buddhism.......more

Goodreads review by Cody on April 20, 2014

Toward the end of Evolving Dharma, Jay Michaelson proudly dubs himself a champion for ambivalence, claiming that it is a crucial component in remaining open to the complex and ever-changing nature of things. Contemporary Buddhism is nothing if not varied and rapidly shifting, and this dogged ambival......more

Goodreads review by Chanelle on April 23, 2018

I was able to finish (and deeply understand) in one sitting... the first book I've done that with in a while! What a wonderfully written, honest, and thoughtful book. Michaelson gives a thorough (but not too deep, as he notes there are plenty of other books that get deeper into the subjects) overvie......more

Quotes

“Jay Michaelson gets it. His voice is contemporary yet serious, informed yet engaging—and much needed today.”
—Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

“Taking the reader from the banks of the Ganges to the offices of Google, Evolving Dharma shows how meditation is transforming our world. A must-read!”
—Deepak Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and Spiritual Solutions

"Michaelson tackles difficult questions about Buddhism’s evolution in Western culture, as mindfulness practice grows slowly but steadily as a popular secular activity. He examines the history of postmodern Buddhism, describes the path of practice and enlightenment through his own personal accounts of bliss and darkness, and considers future directions. Working from the foundational idea that meditation has become a set of tools for the refinement and improvement of the human mind, the author addresses the pitfalls and benefits of the more traditional spiritual/religious approach and its counterpart, the rational and scientific Western worldview...Serious practitioners—secular or religious—and curious individuals alike would benefit greatly from reading Michaelson’s intelligent and compassionate examination of mindfulness practice."
—Publishers Weekly

"I highly recommend this book. Its scholarship on the past is solid, its review of the present is revealing, and its sense of possibility grounded in both kindness and vision.”
—Daniel Ingram, author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha

“All of us need to Occupy the Dharma, to take meditation and mindfulness back from the spiritual 1% and enliven our lives. This book demonstrates and instructs us how to do exactly that. Evolving Dharma is essential reading if you’re an aspiring brainhacker, a BuJu, a seeker, or anyone who wants to see the light, lighten up and brighten up on the path from head to heart that is the delightful journey of awakening.”
—Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within

“Evolving Dharma tells a story that is changing the world: the mainstreaming of meditation and the democratization of wisdom. This is not only the best book on contemporary mindfulness; it is the first of its kind.”
—Josh Baran, former Zen monk and author of The Tao of Now
 
“What a fantastic book! Smart, tender, incisive, and visionary. If you only read one dharma book this year, read Evolving Dharma.”
—Kenneth Folk, teacher, Kenneth Folk Dharma and Buddhist Geeks

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