There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons

You can learn to meditate doing almost anything- and Yumi Sakugawa proves that in a series of quirky illustrations that make up the short book, There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons. While a short read, the drawings are stunning, and the words- even more beautiful. The book urges readers to expand their sense of inner balance- and in the process re-evaluate their mindset.

“Take a moment a breathe.”

While many may view meditation as a rigid practice, Sakugawa drives home the point that it’s a practice of setting yourself free. Making illustrations about mindfulness in and of itself is a form of meditation (I see what you did there, Yumi!) and as is self evident from the title- this book will not give you the “right way” to find inner peace. The content that the book explores has to do with finding the peace in yourself- by acknowledging yourself- and just believing you can be mindful and meditative. During the opening of There is No Right Way to Meditate Yumi Sakugawa shares that

When I was 23 years old and depressed… I had the life-changing epiphany that I am not my thoughts – but rather the space in between my thoughts. What a profound relief it was to discover for the first time ever in my life that all my anxious, neurotic, self-loathing thoughts about myself could simply drift past me, formless and inconsequential as clouds moving across the sky.

I have thumbed through this thin book multiple times, proving that length is not indicative of the content. The cute pictures may be deceiving, but the book beckons readers to make meditation and self care whatever they want it to be. At the end of the book (and the day) it’s that meditation can be whatever you want it to be- even drawing comics.

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