It's easy to focus on the forest and not see the trees of meditation. In this case, following the Buddhist concept of skandhas, there are five of them: the trees of thought, feelings, images, sensations, and states. Together, they constitute the entirety of your identity and experience.

This little book is not your typical how-to guide to meditation. It does not provide practical instruction about how to sit or where to look when you meditate, and it does not require that you believe in anything or follow any particular spiritual practice. Transcending Your Monkey Mind offers a deeper understanding of what happens in your mind when you meditate. You can learn to transcend both mind and self without needing to subscribe to any particular type of meditation. By using the tools offered in this book, you can be more successful in meditation no matter what approach you use.