Frits Koster

This book provides a straightforward, accessible guide to going on a silent meditation retreat. Written by experienced retreat facilitators, this book presents a mix of Buddhist wisdom, insights from modern psychology and mindfulness research and personal accounts from meditators who have attended retreats with them in the last 30 years. The chapters provide advice on preparing for the retreat, such as booking and what to pack, and offer practical day-to-day guidance about how to sit whilst being kind to knee, back or other physical issues. There is detailed information about how to work compassionately with the difficult thoughts or emotions and other challenges participants typically encounter on this kind of more intensive meditation programme, as well as how to cultivate joy, gratitude, compassion and balance. The focus is on in-person retreats, but this book also offers some guidance for teaching and participating in online home retreats, a new development which has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone considering going on a silent meditation retreat to step out of the often frantic and overwhelming round of day-to-day activity and find space for reflection. It will also be of use to mindfulness teachers or trainees who are required to go on retreat for qualification purposes and to current or trainee retreat facilitators.

This book provides a straightforward, accessible guide to going on a silent meditation retreat. Written by experienced retreat facilitators, this book presents a mix of Buddhist wisdom, insights from modern psychology and mindfulness research and personal accounts from meditators who have attended retreats with them in the last 30 years. The chapters provide advice on preparing for the retreat, such as booking and what to pack, and offer practical day-to-day guidance about how to sit whilst being kind to knee, back or other physical issues. There is detailed information about how to work compassionately with the difficult thoughts or emotions and other challenges participants typically encounter on this kind of more intensive meditation programme, as well as how to cultivate joy, gratitude, compassion and balance. The focus is on in-person retreats, but this book also offers some guidance for teaching and participating in online home retreats, a new development which has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone considering going on a silent meditation retreat to step out of the often frantic and overwhelming round of day-to-day activity and find space for reflection. It will also be of use to mindfulness teachers or trainees who are required to go on retreat for qualification purposes and to current or trainee retreat facilitators.

Neueste Forschungen belegen, dass Mitgefühl – vor allem mit uns selbst – einer der Schlüsselfaktoren für geistige Gesundheit und emotionales Wohlbefinden ist. Mitgefühl üben – das große Praxisbuch Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) ist eine ausgezeichnete Landkarte, die Sie auf Ihrer Entdeckungsreise zu mehr Achtsamkeit und (Selbst-)Mitgefühl begleiten kann. Das Buch bietet klar strukturiert und übersichtlich alle Inhalte, Erklärungen, Übungen und Praxis-Materialien eines MBCL 8-Wochenkurses (inklusive zahlreicher angeleiteter Meditationen und Arbeitsblättern als Download-Material). Es kann kursbegleitend oder auch losgelöst von einem MBCL-Gruppenkurs für das eigenständige Üben zu Hause genutzt werden. Sowohl Lernende als auch MBCL-Lehrende können mit diesem Buch praktisch arbeiten. Die beiden Niederländer Erik van den Brink und Frits Koster haben vor etwa zehn Jahren das Trainingsprogramm „Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living“ (MBCL) zur systematischen Kultivierung von Achtsamkeit und (Selbst-)Mitgefühl entwickelt. MBCL ist als vertiefendes Training für Menschen gedacht, die bereits ein Achtsamkeitstraining (MBSR, MBCT oder ein ähnliches Programm) absolviert oder eine andere systematische Achtsamkeitspraxis erlernt haben. Der InhaltVertiefen Sie durch Mitgefühl Ihre Praxis der Achtsamkeit. Begegnen Sie den wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund von MBCL in einer Weise, die leicht zugänglich und vielschichtig ist. Erlernen Sie klügere und mitfühlendere Wege, um mit dem unvermeidlichen Stress im Leben umzugehen. Entwickeln Sie eine gesündere Balance zwischen Selbstfürsorge und Fürsorge für andere.„Ich habe das Gefühl, jedes Mal, wenn ich in das Buch eintauche, eine Schatzkiste zu öffnen.“ (aus dem Vorwort von Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt, Leiterin Institut für Achtsamkeit, Deutschland).„Dieses Buch führt uns durch die Landschaft unseres alltäglichen Lebens und eröffnet neue Perspektiven. Es lädt uns ein zu lesen, dann zu reflektieren und dann zu üben.“ (aus dem Vorwort von Mark Williams, Emeritierter Professor der klinischen Psychologie der Universität von Oxford, UK).

A Practical Guide to Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living: Living with Heart is a step-by-step guide for those who wish to deepen their mindfulness skills with compassion for a healthier, happier life and more fulfilling relationships. It offers a clear structure as well as ample freedom to adjust to individual needs, starting with learning to be kind to yourself and then expanding this to learn how to be kind to others. This guide consists of eight chapters that follow the eight sessions of the mindfulness-based compassionate living training programme. To enhance the learning experience, this book features accessible transcripts and downloadable audio exercises, as well as worksheets to explore experiences during exercises. It also includes suggestions for deepening practice at the end of each session. A Practical Guide to Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living explores the science of compassion in an easy-to-understand and comprehensive manner, one which will appeal to both trained professionals and clients, or anyone wishing to deepen their mindfulness practice with ‘heartfulness’.

A Practical Guide to Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living: Living with Heart is a step-by-step guide for those who wish to deepen their mindfulness skills with compassion for a healthier, happier life and more fulfilling relationships. It offers a clear structure as well as ample freedom to adjust to individual needs, starting with learning to be kind to yourself and then expanding this to learn how to be kind to others. This guide consists of eight chapters that follow the eight sessions of the mindfulness-based compassionate living training programme. To enhance the learning experience, this book features accessible transcripts and downloadable audio exercises, as well as worksheets to explore experiences during exercises. It also includes suggestions for deepening practice at the end of each session. A Practical Guide to Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living explores the science of compassion in an easy-to-understand and comprehensive manner, one which will appeal to both trained professionals and clients, or anyone wishing to deepen their mindfulness practice with ‘heartfulness’.

Long before the advent of modern psychology, Buddhism offered ways to understand body and mind through introspection and meditation. These efforts yielded a thorough and detailed classification and analysis of mental and physical phenomena, known as the Abhidhamma. The Web of Buddhist Wisdom is a clear and accessible explanation of important themes of the Abhidhamma, such as consciousness, mental concomitants, physicality, and the experience of Enlightenment. In addition, he addresses the law of kamma, the process of dying and rebirth, the four Noble Truths and the value of the Abhidhamma. This is a rich and accessible guide for anyone who is interested in the workings of the human mind. It offers a clear and simple acquaintance with the world of the Abhidhamma, an old yet very accurate mirror of our existence.

Mindfulness involves learning to be more aware of life as it unfolds moment by moment, even if these moments bring us difficulty, pain or suffering. This is a challenge we will all face at some time in our lives, and which health professionals face every day in their work. The Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living programme presents a new way of learning how to face the pressures of modern living by providing an antidote which teaches us how to cultivate kindness and compassion – starting with being kind to ourselves. Compassion involves both sensitivity to our own and others’ suffering and the courage to deal with it. Integrating the work of experts in the field such as Paul Gilbert, Kristin Neff, Christopher Germer and Tara Brach, Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster have established an eight stage step-by-step compassion training programme, supported by practical exercises and free audio downloads, which builds on basic mindfulness skills. Grounded in ancient wisdom and modern science, they demonstrate how being compassionate shapes our minds and brains, and benefits our health and relationships. The programme will be helpful to many, including people with various types of chronic or recurring mental health problems, and can be an effective means of coping better with low self-esteem, self-reproach or shame, enabling participants to experience more warmth, safeness, acceptance and connection with themselves and others. Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living will be an invaluable manual for mindfulness teachers, therapists and counsellors wishing to bring the ‘care’ back into healthcare, both for their clients and themselves. It can also be used as a self-help guide for personal practice.

Mindfulness involves learning to be more aware of life as it unfolds moment by moment, even if these moments bring us difficulty, pain or suffering. This is a challenge we will all face at some time in our lives, and which health professionals face every day in their work. The Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living programme presents a new way of learning how to face the pressures of modern living by providing an antidote which teaches us how to cultivate kindness and compassion – starting with being kind to ourselves. Compassion involves both sensitivity to our own and others’ suffering and the courage to deal with it. Integrating the work of experts in the field such as Paul Gilbert, Kristin Neff, Christopher Germer and Tara Brach, Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster have established an eight stage step-by-step compassion training programme, supported by practical exercises and free audio downloads, which builds on basic mindfulness skills. Grounded in ancient wisdom and modern science, they demonstrate how being compassionate shapes our minds and brains, and benefits our health and relationships. The programme will be helpful to many, including people with various types of chronic or recurring mental health problems, and can be an effective means of coping better with low self-esteem, self-reproach or shame, enabling participants to experience more warmth, safeness, acceptance and connection with themselves and others. Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living will be an invaluable manual for mindfulness teachers, therapists and counsellors wishing to bring the ‘care’ back into healthcare, both for their clients and themselves. It can also be used as a self-help guide for personal practice.

This book gives insight into the many aspects of stress, and shows how we can develop skillful ways to deal with stress and prevent burnout and other stress-related complaints. The author examines the various forms of stress we experience at work and in our private lives, giving particular attention to the causes of stress. He also explains the important role that awareness plays in managing and preventing stress, then looks at insight meditation as a practical method of mindfulness training and as a path to inner freedom. After describing the benefits of insight meditation, he reveals how it can improve our energy management and help us recover from or prevent burnout.

This book introduces the reader to the psychology of Theravada Buddhism, the cradle of all later Buddhist schools and traditions. In simple and clear language Frits Koster describes the fundamental teachings of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths, karma and rebirth. He also introduces various forms of meditation, in particular vipassana or insight meditation. After a practical explanation of the method and practice of insight meditation, he elaborates on the fruits of this practice, namely wisdom and purification of the mind. In the final section of the book, Koster applies the principles and benefits of insight meditation to Western society in the areas of health, therapy, relationships, communication and stress. The book offers a rich and authentic introduction to Buddhist psychology and insight meditation.