During April 1985, and again in October 1986, His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivered a series of discourses on Buddhist view, meditation and action. These discourses and the ensuing discussions were recorded and later edited to produce this informative account of the Buddhist teachings and how they may be applied in daily life.

During April 1985 and then again in October 1986, His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivered a series a discourses on Buddhist view, meditation and action. The discourses and ensuing discussions were recorded at the time, and later prepared into an edited text of the encounter; the result of which is this book. In his discourses His Holiness touched upon all the essential points of the Buddhadharma, and provides a clear and simple method to cultivate a daily practise of meditation. He also goes into depth on how we should proceed in the effort to generate both the heart of compassion and the expansive view of emptiness, the Great Void, in our daily life. In addition, the question and answer sessions that follow each talk makes both inspirational and informative reading, which often leads to issues that arise in the course of a layperson's practise. In a sense His Holiness' discourses are principally a commentary on how one should proceed in order to cultivate a daily tantric meditational practise. The visualization used as the basis of the contemplation is that of Buddha and the four great Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and the female bodhisattva Arya Tara, and explains the symbolic significance of these figures. The picture that emerges from the totality of His Holiness' exposition is that Buddhism, in spite of its being labelled as religion, is mainly a way of life programmed to ensure that we bring some happiness, peace, meaning and purpose into lives, and that we learn to live in harmony with the environment.

Meditation is a form of mental exercise with numerous scientifically verified physical and psychological benefits. As meditation teacher Rick Heller shows, the benefits of the practice extend beyond the personal to enrich relationships with others, with one’s community, and with the world. In Secular Meditation, step-by-step instructions, personal stories, and provocative questions teach empathy for others, stress reduction, and the kind of in-the-moment living that fosters appreciation for life and resilience in the face of adversity. Heller simplifies what is often found mysterious, describing and providing detailed instructions for thirty-two different practices, ensuring that anyone can find the right one.

Improve you mental and physical health with these 52 easy-to-follow lessons in core meditation techniques from a variety of spiritual traditions. Meditation is a diverse practice with hundreds of schools, philosophies, and techniques—but it doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. You can start getting the benefits of meditation in just minutes with Simple Meditation Practice for Beginners. Sample from the vast world of meditation to discover what resonates with you, with introductions to these and more practices: Breath awareness Mindfulness Moving meditations Managing pain with meditation Loving kindness The 52 practices follow a progression—from introductory to intermediate levels—and you can journey through the book over the course of a year by immersing yourself in one practice a week, or you can approach each chapter as an individual unit. In addition to the meditation techniques themselves, find: Mindful Living Tips that will help you integrate the skills you’ve learned into your everyday life Key Concepts sections that will support your practice and deepen your understanding of meditation Spotlight on Science notes with excerpts of scientific research into meditation and its benefits A Q&A section that addresses common questions and concerns With this guide, you’ll soon learn how to easily and effectively incorporate meditation into your everyday life.

From the pages of Tricycle, the country’s most widely read Buddhist magazine, comes Commit to Sit, an introduction to the art of meditation. In recent years, interest in meditation has grown to include not only those on a spiritual search, but also those who are simply working toward a healthy and meaningful life. This book brings together a broad range of Buddhist meditative techniques that have appeared in the magazine over the years. Contributors include some of theforemost voices in contemporary Buddhism: Pema Chödrön starts our journey with an inspirational Foreword. Lama Surya Das explores the definition of meditation, while Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein lay out a 28-day program for establishing a daily practice. Wherever you are on your search, you will find plenty of guidance in this book. Learn about: · Insight meditation: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana and Sylvia Boorstein · Zazen: Barry Magid and Martine Batchelor · Metta (lovingkindness) meditation: Gil Fronsdal · Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist practice for cultivating compassion: Judith Simmer-Brown · The crucial role the body plays in meditation: S. N. Goenka, Reginald Ray, Wes Nisker, and Cyndi Lee · Issues that arise in meditation: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, Matthieu Ricard, Pat Enkyo O’Hara, and others · Bringing mindfulness and compassion to daily life: Thubten Chodron, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and Michael Carroll Though targeted to the reader who would like to begin meditating, this collection also offers support and guidance to the experienced meditator working to sustain a lifelong practice. This is a guide to meditative practice for any seeker wishing to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world.

A curated collection of ancient texts that shed light on the full breadth of Taoist meditation practices The ancient meditation techniques of Taoism encompass a wide range of practices—with an aim toward cultivating a healthy body as well as an enlightened mind. These selections from classic texts of Taoist meditation represent the entire range of techniques—from sitting meditation practices to internal alchemy. Most of the texts appear here in English for the first time. Selections are taken from the following classics: • Anthology on Cultivation of Realization: A document from 1739 (Ming Dynasty) that emphasizes development of the natural, social, and spiritual elements in human life. • Treatise on Sitting Forgetting: A Tang Dynasty text that sets meditation practice in terms familiar to Confucians and Buddhists. • Sayings of Taoist Master Danyang: Wisdom of the Taoist wizard and representative of the Complete Reality School. • Secret Writings on the Mechanism of Nature: An anthology taken from one hundred sixty-three Taoist sources, including ancient classics and works on meditation and spiritual alchemy, along with admonitions and teachings of the great Taoist luminaries. • Zhang Sanfeng's Taiji Alchemy Secrets: A treatise on the inner mediation practices that are the proper foundation of the martial art Taiji. • Secret Records of Understanding the Way: A rare and remarkable collection of talks by an anonymous Taoist master of the later Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Traditional teachings with a sometimes strikingly modern bent.

A principal part of the Taoist canon for many centuries, this Lao-Tzu classic is an essential overview of the Taoist practice of internal alchemy, or qigong Equanimity, good health, peace of mind, and long life are the goals of the ancient Taoist tradition known as “internal alchemy,” of which Cultivating Stillness is a key text. Written between the second and fifth centuries, the book is attributed to T’ai Shang Lao-chun—the legendary figure more widely known as Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao-te Ching. The accompanying commentary, written in the nineteenth century by Shui-ch’ing Tzu, explains the alchemical symbolism of the text and the methods for cultivating internal stillness of body and mind. A key text in the Taoist canon, Cultivating Stillness is still the first book studied by Taoist initiates today.

A daily devotional aims to bring a calming effect to people's lives through 365 different meditations.

“When something is bothering you—a person is bugging you, a situation is irritating you, or physical pain is troubling you—you must work with your mind, and that is done through meditation. Working with our mind is the only means through which we’ll actually begin to feel happy and contented with the world that we live in.” —Pema Chödrön Pema Chödrön is treasured around the world for her unique ability to transmit teachings and practices that bring peace, understanding, and compassion into our lives. With How to Meditate, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun presents her first book exploring in depth what she considers the essentials for a lifelong practice. More and more people are beginning to recognize a profound inner longing for authenticity, connection, and aliveness. Meditation, Pema explains, gives us a golden key to address this yearning. This step-by-step guide shows readers how to honestly meet and openly relate with the mind, embrace the fullness of our experience, and live in a wholehearted way as we discover: - The basics of meditation, from getting settled and the six points of posture to working with your breath and cultivating an attitude of unconditional friendliness - The Seven Delights—how moments of difficulty can become doorways to awakening and love - Shamatha (or calm abiding), the art of stabilizing the mind to remain present with whatever arises - Thoughts and emotions as “sheer delight”—instead of obstacles—in meditation “I think ultimately why we practice is so that we can become completely loving people, and this is what the world needs,” writes Pema Chödrön. How to Meditate is an essential book from this wise teacher to assist each one of us in this virtuous goal.

A funny and engaging guide to finding awareness in daily activities beyond sitting meditation—from a rising leader in the Insight Meditation community Meditation is great, but it's not what Buddhist practice is all about. Deep insight and liberation from suffering can be found in any ordinary activity—from sorting the laundry to data entry—as long as we approach them with the necessary awareness. Such is the teaching of Buddhist monk Sayadaw U Tejaniya, who himself learned to cultivate awareness in the raucous years he spent in the Burmese textile business before taking his final monastic ordination at the age of thirty-six. In this refreshingly modern guide, Sayadaw U Tejaniya teaches us how to bring awareness to all activities. By training ourselves to be aware of the clinging and aversion that arise in any situation, calm and deep insight will naturally follow. “The object of attention is not really important,” he teaches, but “the observing mind that is working in the background. If the observing is done with the right attitude, any object is the right object.” The flame of wisdom can be kindled in the midst of any life, even one that might seem too full of personal and professional commitments to allow for it.