Touching the infinite by rodney smith overdrive rakuten. Rodney smith taught insight meditation for 35 years before retiring in 2017. He is a former buddhist monk and worked in hospice care for seventeen years. He is retired from a career as a hospice administrator. The buddhas liberating teaching of noself, and awakening. Rodney smith has been practicing insight meditation since 1975 including several years as a buddhist monk in asia. I highly recommend rodney smiths book touching the infinite. What could rodney smith have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you.
Rodney smith has recently retired as a guiding teacher for the insight meditation society and from the seattle insight meditation society, which he founded in 1993. He is the author of lessons from the dying, stepping out of selfdeception. Rodney smith challenges us to hold this teaching up against our own experience, and in doing so to discover the inherent interconnection of all four foundations. Despite the book s title, even longtime meditators can glean new wisdom from these techniques, such as the body scan, emotional observance, and. Rodney smith has such a calming voice, there is a peaceful reflective tone contained within it. His first book, lessons from the dying, grew out of his experiences in hospice work. He is the founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society and a guiding teacher at the insight meditation society, barre, massachusetts. Rodney smith is a retired insight meditation society guiding teacher and retired founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society. Rodney smiths answer to that elusive question offers an explanation not only of the radical shift in perception that the word enlightenment connotes, but of the entire topography of the journey from beginning to end, of the multiple ways we undermine the very growth we seek, and of the awakened life that ultimately arises out of the new. Rodney smith rodney smith spent eight years in buddhist monastic settings, both at the insight meditation society ims in massachusetts and several years as a buddhist monk in asia.
Rodney smith presents the results of the shift of view that spiritual practices aim for. Rodney is able to explain concepts that are generally hard to comprehend, and make them readily accessible. Rodney smith books seattle insight meditation society. Rodney smith is the founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society and a guiding teacher of the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. Stepping out of selfdeception by rodney smith recently, ive been reading rodney smiths book stepping out of selfdeception. Since then, she has spent over 400 nights on silent retreat with rodney and other insight teachers including over 60 nights. The author of lessons from the dying and stepping out of selfdeception, he founded and guides the seattle insight meditation society. Jul 21, 2010 rodney smiths new book stepping out of selfdeception is going to be the subject of our upcoming tricycle community book club discussion, starting monday july 26th.
In this extraordinary volume, he opens our hearts, minds, and souls to the great mystery we all must face. The book practical meditation for beginners walks readers through 10 different methods to help kickstart a 10day practice. In your new book you take on the possibly daunting task of describing what enlightenment is and how it happens. Rodney smith was a prominent photographer whose whimsical work invited comparison to that of surrealist painter rene magritte. We are going to read and discuss one chapter per week. He serves as a guiding teacher for ims and is the founding and guiding teacher for the seattle insight meditation society. Rodney smith has been making pictures for nearly half a century. Each chapters foundation for the topic was good but way too long for what little if any advice was provided. In lessons from the dying, rodney smith shares with clarity and compassion 15 years of insights and skillful means learned from working with the dying.
It would be preferable to read the chapters early in the week before the discussion. Schooled in buddhist meditation, rodney brings clarity and a. He found his calling while an undergraduate at the university of virginia, but he did his graduate work at yale in theology and arttraining that he parlayed into a fellowship in jerusalem, where he took the photos that would become his first book, in the land of light houghton mifflin. Oct 31, 2017 rodney smith has recently retired as a guiding teacher for the insight meditation society and from the seattle insight meditation society, which he founded in 1993. He leads classes and retreats regularly throughout the united states. Rediscover the mystery and wonder of life through gentle reflections on death and dying.
Using only film and light, his unretouched, dreamlike images are matched in quality by the craft. He is the founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society. He is the author of lessons from the dying and stepping out of selfdeception. Peace is every stepthe path of mindfulness in everyday life, 1991, bantam books, new york, the heart of the buddhas teachings, by thich nhat hanh, 1998, broadway books all of his books touch the heart with insight, tenderness, kindness and practical transformational ideas. If the book was meant to talk about things that make the reader say, hmm instead of. Rodney smith s answer to that elusive question offers an explanation not only of the radical shift in perception that the word enlightenment connotes, but of the entire topography of the journey from beginning to end, of the multiple ways we undermine the very growth we seek, and of the awakened life that ultimately arises out of the new. He is the author of four books including touching the infinite. Lessons from the dying by rodney smith, paperback barnes. He is also a guiding teacher at the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. Awakening by rodney smith penguin books new zealand. He has been teaching meditation since 1984 and worked in hospice care for 16 years. A new perspective on the buddhas four foundations of mindfulness.
Book study groups led by ron vereen on touching the infinite. Teacherled groups triangle insight meditation community. Inquiring mind in lessons from the dying, rodney smith shares with clarity and compassion 15 years of insights and skillful means learned from working with the dying. He has been teaching meditation since 1984 and worked in hospice care for 17 years.
Starting july 22 we began discussing the stepping out of selfdeception by rodney smith. Rodney smith is this kind of writer and all of his books have had a strong impact on me. Touching the infinite rodney smith 9781611805024 netgalley. Trusting your own deepest experience rodney smith humanizes the buddhist path. One of todays most highly regarded insight meditation teachers describes the. Smith communicates such a deep trust in death that we, too, as readers, start to regard death as a friend. Touching the infinite a new perspective on the buddhas four foundations of mindfulness. Rodney smith is a retired insight meditation society guiding teacher and retired founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation. Mary aubry attended her first insight meditation retreat with rodney smith in 1993. Rodney smith author rodney smith has recently retired as a guiding teacher for the insight meditation society and from the seattle insight meditation society, which he founded in 1993. Rodney smiths new book stepping out of selfdeception is going to be the subject of our upcoming tricycle community book club discussion, starting monday july 26th. Rodney smith, who has lived in a monastic community in the west and as a buddhist monk in asia, has spent the last 15 years as a caregiver and director of hospice programs across the united states. His words are written from the heart, which is where this book resonates.
Rodney smith he is a former buddhist monk, worked in hospice for seventeen years, and is the author of stepping out of selfdeception. Rodney smith is the founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society and a guiding teacher at the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. They are revealed to be a sequential path leading the practitioner from the world of form to the joyous perception of the formless. Rodney smith has to be my all time favourite writer of the buddha. Rodney smith a former buddhist monk and hospice director, he has taught meditation for over 30 years and is the author of lessons from the dying. Every once in a while a book comes along that has a wonderful impact in terms of bringing insight and opening new possibilities. Since then rodney has been a fulltime dharma teacher conducting meditation classes and retreats and offering spiritual consultations. He ordained with the mahasi sayadaw, then practiced for three years with the ajahn buddhadassa in thailand. Insight meditation correspondence course audio, with joseph goldstein insight meditation. Schooled in buddhist meditation, rodney brings clarity and a straightforward approach to these lessons which makes them quite practical for the deepening of the mind as well as the broadening of the heart.
Long acclaimed for his iconic black and white images that combine portraiture and landscape, smith created enchanted worlds full of subtle contradictions and surprises. Sharon salzberg, author of lovingkindness and faith. The book is available from shambhala publications and amazon. He ordained with mahasi sayadaw in burma then practiced for three years with ajahn buddhadassa in thailand. It was sent to me by jennifer campaniolo, the publicist at shambhala publications, the books publishers. Rodney smith on what it means to awaken an interview with rodney smith, author of awakening. In september 2014, ron vereen began offering two integrated study and practice groups using rodney smiths books, stepping out of selfdeception and awakening. Rodney smith worked for over fourteen years in the field of hospice care as a hospice social worker, bereavement coordinator, program director, and executive director.
In 2017 he retired from most work related obligations, allowing him to explore a life. Rodney smith helps make sense of the many road blocks we can encounter while struggling to understand and guide our thoughts in order to gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and the world around us. His explanations are interesting, lucid and practical. Stepping out of selfdeception audiobook by rodney smith. Rodney smith, a guiding teacher for the insight meditation society, has taught insight meditation since 1984. In 2017 he retired from most work related obligations, allowing him to explore a life unconstrained by time. Rodney smith is founder and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society and is a senior teacher at the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. Oct 31, 2017 rodney smith challenges us to hold this teaching up against our own experience, and in doing so to discover the inherent interconnection of all four foundations. Jan 19, 2020 rodney smith rodney smith spent eight years in buddhist monastic settings, both at the insight meditation society ims in massachusetts and several years as a buddhist monk in asia. Ajahn sumedho, author of the sound of silence and the way it is. Please join us for a 25 minute period of meditation followed by an informal discussion until 9. Rodney smith disrobed as a monk in 1983 and for the next 35 years taught insight meditation throughout the u.
He is also the author of lessons from the dying and stepping out of selfdeception. Rodney smith audio books, best sellers, author bio. The book is premised on the often difficult idea of anatta, variously anglicized as noself, notself, or nonself. A new perspective on the buddhas four foundations of mindfulness oct 31, 2017.
Seattle insight meditation society resources rodney smith books. He spent a total of 8 years in monastic life, both at the insight meditation society in massachusetts and several years as a monk in asia. He is also a guiding teacher at the insight meditation. Rodney smith author of stepping out of selfdeception. A prominent insight meditation teacher explores the profound implications of the traditional buddhist teaching on the four areas to which. Touching the infinite by rodney smith penguin books new zealand. If the book was meant to talk about things that make the reader say, hmm instead of ahhha, smith nailed it. Rodney smith is a renowned insight meditation teacher. Mar 11, 2014 these valuable books help one become more at ease, kinder and happier essentially, improving ones self through a meditation practice based upon buddhist principles. Mar 11, 2014 rodney smith is the founding and guiding teacher of the seattle insight meditation society and a guiding teacher of the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. He was ordained a monk in burma, then practiced for 3 more years in thailand. He is also the author of lessons from the dying and stepping out of selfdeception show more. A stepbystep course on how to meditate audio, with joseph goldstein amy schmidt dipa ma. Mar 11, 2014 rodney smith presents the results of the shift of view that spiritual practices aim for.
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