Any recommandation for a good book on meditation?

[puppha]

Dear All,

I did a quick search on the forum, but I have not been able to find an answer...

Could anyone recommend a decent book on meditation? Ideally, that would include the different types of meditation, and possibly how to cultivate mindfulness outside the context of meditation (i.e. in your everyday life).

Many thanks!

With Metta

[santa100]

Bhante Gunaratana's "Mindfulness in Plain English" is a great one..

[SeekingDharma]

Without a doubt the best that I have read is Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana. You may find others that you prefer after diving in, but I've never heard a meditator regret the read.

[Beneath the Wheel]

I'm going to chime in and suggest the same book.

You can find free copies online on various Buddhist sites.

Good luck!

[bodom]

See this thread:

Recommended reading
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=341

[puppha]

That's quite an overwhelming vote for "Mindfulness in plain English"! I'll go for this one then!
Thank you Bodom for the link, I'll bookmark it, there's plenty of references in there!

Thanks a lot for your help, guys!

With Metta

[mettafuture]

Mindfulness in Plain English (online) is a great place to start.

For intermediate study, I recommend Practicing the Jhanas by Stephen Snyder and Tina Rasmussen.

And for advanced study, Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization by Ven. Analayo.

[SamBodhi]

Bhante Gunaratana's "Mindfulness in Plain English" is a great one..

I got this book online because of its recommendation here. And put it on my Nook (like a Kindle). I have been reading it and I can say that I would also recommend it. Thank you very much for suggesting it, all.

S

[Brizzy]

Beyond Mindfulness In Plain English: An Introductory Guide To Deeper States Of Meditation - Bhante Gunaratana.

Also a book that has helped me at times is................ 'How to practice Shamatha Meditation - The cultivation of meditative quiescence.' By Gen Lamrimpa.
it must be a good book on meditation because it is filled with a lot things in it which make my hair stand up e.g. tantra, bodhisattva, hinayana, yet I still feel it has a lot of great suggestions.

Metta

[Stephen K]

"Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond" by Ajahn Brahm.

[puppha]

Many thanks for all these suggestions!
I just started "Mindfulness in plain English", but I will most probably move on to some of the other suggested titles after that.

Thank you all

[Jaidyn]

For an alternative to "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond" I suggests "The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation" by
Richard Shankman. Some opinions about "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond" where declared here viewtopic.php?f=16&t=10974, at the middle/end of the thread, by the way.

The good part about the book by Ajahn Brahm is the easy language, the many stories he use to illustrate his points and the humor.

[Spiny O'Norman]

See this thread:

Recommended reading
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=341

Very good list - I hadn't realised there were so many books on this subject.

Spiny

[hermitwin]

Yes, books by Godwin Samararatne and Ayya khema.

[puppha]

Dear hermitwin,

Yes, books by Godwin Samararatne and Ayya khema.

Thank you very much for these names. I didn't know them. I searched a bit about them on the internet, and that looks very promising! I will do some further research.

With Metta

[mirco]

Could anyone recommend a decent book on meditation? Ideally, that would include the different types of meditation, and possibly how to cultivate mindfulness outside the context of meditation (i.e. in your everyday life).

These books include exactly what you are looking for: buddhist meditation on and off the cushion, loving kindness, breath, vipassana & samatha.
Some of that stuff is in print also.

http://dhammasukha.org/Study/books.htm


Regards, :-)