Buddhist Meditation

One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps

by Kevin Griffin

Average Rating:

"While I've never been through a 12-step program, I have been meditating for 8 years. During that time I've read many wonderful books about Buddhism and meditation. But this book is special in two ways.

First, by writing with honesty, courage and humor about his own difficult path in life - Mr. Griffin creates a connection with the reader that goes way beyond the 'conceptual' focus of many books on the subject. Yet at the same time, it never devolves into a confessional. It's still a book that teaches, not rants. It's full of excellent practical advice, insight, and some very useful exercises. But it teaches from an unusually personal and vulnerable place.

It's other great strength is Mr. Griffin's ability to make difficult and exotic concepts accessible. Although I've read a lot, attended retreats, etc., there are some ideas - for example 'no-self' - that always have been too foreign and 'other-worldly' for me to really connect to emotionally. At best I'd get a vague intellectual understanding of what was being discussed. But this book made many of these ideas simple and clear. Quite a few times, while reading it, I found myself going 'oh THAT'S what they've all been talking about.'

Unlike many of our best and most revered Buddhist teachers, Mr. Griffin hasn't spent years living in Asia. He's slogged through life in Western society, and has had to find his peace and insights while simultaneously dealing with the same day-to-day problems of career, love, marriage, parenthood, etc. as the rest of us. To me that relieves his work of a subtle disconnect I sometimes feel with other Buddhist writers and teachers. There's no sense of: 'yes, they can be calm and happy - they spent 5 years in a rainforest. But I'll never get there unless I abandon my life and start over.' Mr. Griffin, and the new generation of Western teachers he belongs to are showing that it is possible to move down the path towards peace, joy and freedom from where we are now. And that is an important gift."

Publisher: Rodale Books | More reviews: amazon.com

Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering

by Phillip Moffitt

Average Rating:

"Most of the Dharma books that I've read fall into two categories: lightweight new-age fluff or heavily-footnoted scholarship. This book avoids both extremes. It's very compactly written, with no apparent filler. (If anything, I think he is too brief in touching on some important points.) I find the title of the book to be a bit unfortunate, but it's actually appropriate to the subject matter.

The book is structured around the Four Noble Truths, and as a long-time Buddhist (with a strong predilection for scholarly detail) I thought that it couldn't teach me anything new. It did, though, and on a number of levels. You might think you know all about the 4NT, but this version from the Samyutta Nikaya really adds a new dimension, and is directly applicable to one's practice.

In short, I give this book a pretty-much unqualified rave. A few stylistic weaknesses and an overuse of italics, but in content it's deeply inspiring and immediately useful."

Publisher: Rodale Books | More reviews: amazon.com

Turning the Mind Into an Ally

by Sakyong Mipham

Average Rating:

"Sakyong Mipham's writing style is simple and to the point. Sometimes you don't even know you're being hit with deep wisdom until the 2nd or 3rd time you read it, which is the way most good books seem to work. His style is very different from his father Chogyam Trungpa's. What's great about this book is that he actually explains in precise detail, using simple but profound metaphors, exactly why somebody would want to do meditation, and exactly what the benefits are for you and the people around you. His instructions are never vague and mushy the way so many new-age teachers seem to be. He makes it all accessible and the barriers to actually starting to practice meditation seem to fall away in a hurry. It's not some ancient tradition of mystic-worshippers; it's something that can inform and aid our lives right here and right now, no matter what kind of lifestyle we lead."

Publisher: Riverhead Trade | More reviews: amazon.com

Radical Self-acceptance

by Tara Brach

Average Rating:

"This is a lovely set of two tapes including guided meditations, which guide the listener into a space of deep relaxation and self-acceptance. The relief of past and even current pain is palpable and the feeling, at least for me, is one of gratitude and peace. I particularly liked side 2 of the first tape. In any case, after listening to all sides, I felt that if one could just practice this simple process of self-acceptance, one would likely not only draw deeply close to one's own core, but one would have a sound basis for open, loving relationships as well. Listen and enjoy. Thank you Tara!"

Publisher: Sounds True | More reviews: amazon.com

Meditation Now or Never

by Steve Hagen

Average Rating:

"Steve Hagen, the author of Buddhism: Plain and Simple,
is the best introduction to Zen and Buddhism you can find.
Written in language we regular folks can understand,
yet carrying the full meaning and experience
of the more ancient/esoteric writings.
Meditation is the bedrock
of fully experiencing the Zen and Buddhist message.
Meditation Now or Never should be a jewel in your personal tools pack.
I can not overly praise this man's works.
And he is a practicing monk as well.

Gene Reynolds
www,personal-recovery-tools.com"

Publisher: HarperOne | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen Meditation Balls (Miniature Editions)

by Alison Trulock

Average Rating:

"I own a pair of these balls in a larger scale, but this kit is perfect for carrying in the purse, the pocket or anywhere you like, thanks to the tiny bag included. They are not heavy at all.
The design of the book and the balls have changed slightly, so maybe the kit you'll buy would be different from the one shown as reference.
When you use the balls, you can actually hear them make a bell-sound like.
Be careful when handling them; if you drop them and they hit the floor, this can cause they lose their round shape or the enamel that covers them."

Publisher: Running Press Miniature Editions | More reviews: amazon.com

Meditation for Beginners

by Jack Kornfield

Average Rating:

" I have been a practicing Yogi for many years and have a library full of books, videos, tapes and CD's on Yoga, meditation, sprituality and the like.

This program by Jack Kornfield (available as a video as well as audio) is the best single place I can think of starting from if you want to begin a meditation practice..

Jack Kornfield is a perfect teacher of meditation, especially for Westerners because he approaches it in a non-sectarian way. He gets to the heart of the practice, uses clear explanations and stories to give the listener/viewer some sense of the depth of the practice. He leads the meditations in a way that gives enough guidance without becoming a distraction. He also has a very soothing voice which enhances the overall experience of the program.

The program starts with the most basic form of meditation on the breath, and leads through ever slightly more subtle forms of Vipassana Meditation.


Very Highly Recommended!


Some other related meditation programs I would highly recommend are: Plum Village Meditations w/ Thich Nhat Hanh and Sister Jina which are guided Meditations. I have been using this tape for about 7 years daily. I use it during the day prior to lunch to renew myself for the rest of the day.

Stephen Cope's "Yoga For Emotional Flow" which has 2 CD's, the 1st CD is about Yoga Philosophy and the 2nd has guided practices which I find very helpful in my life. Also check out his book "Yoga and The Quest for the True Self" which is contains the ideas of the 1st CD in an in depth manner, one of the best books I've ever read (and I'm re-reading it for the 3rd time).

Jack Kornfield has many other wonderful books and audio programs in the "Sounds True" catalogue which are wonderful, one is a more in depth series (6 tapes) on meditation called "The Inner Art Of Meditation".

Jon Kabot-Zinn is a wonderful teacher as well. See his "Meditation for Optimum Health w/ Andrew Weil, as well as Andrew Weils audio, "Breathing, the Master Key To Healing" which is very much related to meditation, these are guided breathing (pranayama) exercises plus an in depth explanation as to the benefits of breath work.

Namaste"

Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated | More reviews: amazon.com

Buddhist Meditation for Beginners

by Jack Kornfield

Average Rating:

Known for bringing "insight" meditation to the West and for his many best-selling books, including A Path with Heart (over 100,000 copies in print), Jack Kornfield now offers a collection of his most popular teachings with Buddhist Meditation for Beginners. Specially designed gift set includes four complete audio learning courses: • The Beginner’s Guide to Buddhism—Jack Kornfield illuminates Buddhism’s most essential teachings, and how they make it possible to overcome challenging mental states such as fear, confusion, and anger. • Meditation for Beginners—Comprehensive introduction to the vipassana ("insight") practice of meditation to cultivate a profound inner calm and awaken to the truth. Exercises include four complete meditations. • Meditations of the Heart—Step-by-step meditations cast light on Buddhism’s cornerstone, the Four Noble Truths. These meditations take less than ten minutes each to practice; yet will take you to the heart of essential Buddhist teachings on opening to the truth, forgiveness, fearlessness, and more. • The Beginner’s Guide to Forgiveness—Drawing from his background in meditation and psychology, Jack Kornfield reveals the path to forgiveness and the way out of our pain. Jack Kornfield’s best-selling meditation programs present him at his best: engaging, intelligent, helpful—and easy to follow.

Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen Brushwork: Focusing the Mind with Calligraphy and Painting

by Tanchu Terayama

Average Rating:

"Ably translated into English by Thomas F. Judge and John Stevens, Zen Brushwork: Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting by Tanchu Terayama (Nishogakusha University) uses black-and-white photography to illustrate simple exercises and practices that one can follow to expand one's mind and meditation skills through the arts of calligraphy and painting -- especially as they have been practiced in Asian nations for thousands of years. Showcasing works of art as well as advice and practical instructions, Zen Brushwork is a thoughtfully written and an easy-to-follow guide that especially recommended to students of meditation, Zen Buddhism, and the contemplative aspects of the martial arts."

Publisher: Kodansha International | More reviews: amazon.com

Do You Do It or Does It Do You?: How to Let the Universe Meditate You

by Alan Watts

Average Rating:

"I love Alan Watts! He is an intelligent,innovative and entertaining speaker who presents Eastern philosophy in a manner that is both enlightening and amusing. "

Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated | More reviews: amazon.com