Meditation Apps and Downloads
I teach mindfulness techniques as appropriate. These technological aids can be helpful as well.
The NYT’s Well Guide to Meditation
The Mindfulness Solution - Psychologist Ron Siegel’s website with longer downloadable meditations, adapted from his book by the same name.
Archive.Org meditations - some free downloadable meditations, including “Healing Painful Emotions”
Meditation Apps (for iPhone; they should all be available for Android, etc as well)
Insight Timer - with some guided meditations
Headspace - free 10 minute meditations, with upgrade to subscription
Simply Being, Relax and Rest and the suite of apps - Meditation Oasis
Books and other resources
Facebuddha: Transcendence in the Age of Social Networks
by Ravi Chandra, M.D. (2017)
A state-of-the-art exploration of the psychology of social networks and an introduction to Buddhism, bookended by my Asian American immigrant memoir. Winner of the 2017 Nautilus Silver Award for Religion/Spirituality of Eastern Thought.
Guns Are Not Our God! The NRA Is Not Our Church!
by Ravi Chandra, M.D. (2018)
An examination of gun psychology and gun identity, written in the wake of the Parkland shootings.
Asian American Anger - It’s a Thing!
by Ravi Chandra, M.D. (2014)
This is my attempt to get under Asian American male, female and relational anger including domestic violence. Free download. Could be useful, regardless of ethnicity.
Asian American Anger - It's a Thing!.docx for Word, laptop, preserving links
Mobi edition (for Kindle, etc.)
ePub edition (for iBooks, etc)
by Ravi Chandra, M.D.
A long-form essay about self-care and spiritual, psychological and relational perspectives for these troubled times.
Relaxation CDs, from the Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute.
An older version of one of these CDs has proven to be very helpful, and this is a reputable source for this material.
Harvard Business Review’s 10 Must Read Articles on Emotional Intelligence
including these classics: Primal Leadership and What Makes a Leader? by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.
Harvard Business Review’s 10 Must Reads On Managing Yourself
including What to Ask the Person in the Mirror? and How Resilience Works. (For more on resilience, see Charney’s Resilience Prescription.)
by Tara Brach
Most of us struggle with feelings of unworthiness, insecurity and fear. This book helps you get under those feelings with mindfulness and compassion. Also see the three hour essence of the teaching in an audiobook at SoundsTrue.com. You can also get a free audiobook version of the whole book at Hoopladigital. What must we radically accept: our vulnerability. See these great Brené Brown TED talks on vulnerability and shame.
The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace
by Jack Kornfield
Inspirational quotes and meditations that many have found extremely thought-provoking and healing.
The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Great beginner’s guide to the Buddhist view of mind and Buddhist practice combined with modern neuroscience, by a teacher who suffered intense panic attacks as a child until he had a meditative “nervous breakthrough.”
Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace)
by Chade-Meng Tan
Tan is one of the original Googlers, and he started the company’s in-house emotional intelligence and mindfulness program. An easy starting place.
A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives
by Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D.
A wonderful book by one of the architects of Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation Training program describing how compassion can be at the center of self- and society-transformation
by Sharon Salzberg
A wonderful introduction to self-compassion, including this helpful self-compassion scale (Self Compassion Scale.pdf) which you can also take online at Kristin Neff’s website (save and send me your results if you are a patient of mine.) (When ready to practice self compassion, these guides to lovingkindness (metta) practice from A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield and Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach are very helpful.)
More Resources on Self-Compassion
Drs. Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer both have excellent books on self compassion.
Dr. Kristin Neff: TEDx talk, The Space Between Self-Esteem and Self Compassion
Dr. Emma Seppala’s website: The Scientific Benefits of Self-Compassion
My one page article on Mindfulness, Compassion and Relationship
Mind Over Mood, by Greenberger and Padesky
A classic guide to cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders. Includes worksheets which I occasionally use as homework or work through in session with my clients.
Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy
both by David Burns
Very well written consumers’ guides to cognitive behavioral therapy. The Handbook is more comprehensive, and has detailed chapters on more subjects, and includes worksheets.
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The title says it all. This is a wonderful guide to mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and pain, and lead a healthier life.
by Demitri Papolos, M.D. and Janice Papolos
An outstanding guide to depression and bipolar disorder.
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
by Edmund Bourne
Excellent place to start if you suffer from anxiety. Especially great chapter on personality traits common to anxiety (perfectionism, excessive need for approval, tendency to ignore physical and psychological signs of stress, and excessive need for control).
There are many other good books on mindfulness and compassion helpful for the modern reader. Such as The Buddha Walks Into a Bar by Lodro Rinzler, or even, for a fun view of the Bay Area political and spiritual movements from the Beatniks to the early 21st Century, Wes Nisker’s The Big Bang, The Buddha and the Baby Boom: The Spiritual Experiments of my Generation. Enjoy!