If you’re looking for a great book on meditation and mindfulness, Deepak Chopra’s Total Meditation might catch your eye, and with good reason. Chopra is known for his masterful storytelling as well as his lifetime contributions to new age thought, alternative medicine, and spirituality.
In Total Meditation, he offers readers a holistic approach to meditation, combining ancient wisdom with modern insights to enhance your whole life–not just while you’re sitting on a meditation cushion. Let’s dive into what Total Meditation offers.
What’s Total Meditation About?
Total Meditation aims to shift how we think about and practice meditation. Chopra doesn’t just focus on the act of meditating; he emphasizes making meditation a way of life. He introduces the concept of “total meditation” as a practice that can be integrated into every moment of your day, not just during a designated time for sitting in silence.
The book is structured to guide you through a journey of awareness. It starts with understanding what meditation is and why it matters. Then, it moves into various techniques and practices, along with captivating stories, designed to awaken a deeper sense of consciousness and presence. Chopra also discusses the importance of mindfulness in daily activities, advocating for a meditative approach to everyday life.
The Pros of Total Meditation
1. Comprehensive Approach:
Total Meditation takes a broader approach to meditation, including a range of mindful living techniques, like mantra meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork strategies like vagal breathing. This comprehensive approach can be helpful for both beginners and seasoned practitioners looking to expand their toolkit.
2. Science Meets Spirituality:
Chopra does a good job of bridging the gap between science and spirituality. He often references scientific studies or interesting anecdotes that support the benefits of meditation or explain the nature of consciousness, which can reassure readers who are looking for evidence of efficacy. This blend helps ground some of the more spiritual or abstract concepts in a language that resonates with a broader audience.
3. Practical Exercises and Tips:
The book isn’t just theoretical; it also has some practical exercises and tips that you can try out. He includes breathing techniques, fascinating exercises to help you see miracles in every-day life, and a list of Sanskrit mantras and their meanings as well as how to use them. These exercises are designed to help readers reach the next level of meditation or consciousness and improve their lives. The instructions are clear, making it easier for those new to meditation to follow along.
4. Encouragement to Personalize Practice:
Chopra emphasizes that meditation isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice. He encourages readers to find what works best for them, whether it’s a specific technique or a particular time of day. This flexible approach can make the idea of meditation more accessible, as it allows for personalization based on individual needs and preferences.
The Cons of Total Meditation
I’m not gonna lie to you all: it’s difficult to find many cons about this book. It is one of my favorites and will be on my own book shelf for many years to come. For the sake of completeness though, I’ll offer some of the counterpoints to help you decide if this is the right time for you to pick up this book or maybe you’ll be ready later on down the road in your meditation journey.
1. Heavy on Abstract Concepts:
To me, this is really a pro because I love reading about philosophy and consciousness, but it may not be for everyone. While Chopra’s integration of spirituality and science is one of the book’s strengths, the book is not the practical instruction guide you might expect it to be.
Some sections delve deeply into abstract concepts that might feel too philosophical or esoteric for some readers. If you’re looking for a straightforward, down-to-earth guide, these parts might feel a bit overwhelming or hard to relate to. Rest assured, if you have even a fleeting interest in this type of content, Chopra makes it very accessible and enjoyable.
2. Theoretical Over Practical:
Although there are practical exercises throughout the book, some readers might feel that Total Meditation leans more towards theory than practice. If you prefer books that are heavy on exercises, checklists, and step-by-step guides, you might find this book a bit lacking in those areas.
3. Assumes Some Prior Knowledge:
While Total Meditation is accessible to beginners, it occasionally assumes that readers have a basic understanding of meditation or mindfulness concepts. For those entirely new to meditation, some of the terminology and ideas might require a bit more explanation or background.
Final Thoughts on Total Meditation
Total Meditation by Deepak Chopra offers a fresh and comprehensive perspective on how we can integrate meditation into our daily lives. Its blend of science and spirituality, along with a range of meditation techniques, makes it a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their practice. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an easy-to-read theoretical and practical book about meditation.
If you’re open to exploring meditation as more than just a daily habit and are interested in understanding consciousness on a deeper level, Total Meditation might be worth a read. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more straightforward, practical guide, you might want to consider supplementing this book with additional resources.
Ultimately, whether Total Meditation is right for you depends on what you’re looking for in a meditation resource. If you appreciate a blend of theory and practice with a touch of spirituality, Chopra’s book could be an excellent addition to your library. But if you’re after a purely practical, step-by-step manual, you might find yourself skimming through some of the more abstract sections.
Whatever your approach to meditation, Total Meditation invites you to look at mindfulness as a way of life, not just one moment of stillness. And for many, that’s a valuable shift in perspective worth exploring. It’s informative, insightful, and inspirational.