A meditation practice is a really good way to improve Wellness, especially spiritual wellness. There are many different types or methods of meditation. Or as some call it, mindfulness practice. Some are related to religion. Others are more secular. If you are like me when I started, this could seem confusing or even troubling. I looked at many different methods before I finally found a practice that suited me personally. There is literally something for everybody. Each person’s journey is their own. Here are a few books that may be of some help to beginners.
How to Meditate by Pema Chodron
The author Pema Chodron is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun. So while this book describes meditation with a Buddhist slant, it is written in plain language that beginners can understand. Not too many eastern spiritual terms and ancient language. Her writing style is contemporary and it’s easy to understand the concepts she is describing. This book serves as a good introduction to meditation practice from a Buddhist perspective. For non religious people or people of other religions, it is not pushing Buddhism at you. All in all a very good introductory book. This book is available at Amazon in both print and ebook formats.
Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield is an American author and teacher and practicioner of Buddhism. He is also one of the key teachers introducing mindfulness practice to the West. This is a great introduction book to mindfulness. Although it is a relatively short book, it still manages to cover everything that the beginner needs to know, without overwhelm. His style is calm and easy to follow and comes to you not from an overly religious place. All in all another good resource for beginners. This book is available at Amazon in print, ebook and audio formats. Be aware that the meditation CD comes with the print book but not with the Kindle edition.
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
As well as being an author, Jon Kabat-Zinn is an American professor emeritus of medicine. He is also the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. This is another great introductory book for people interested in mindfulness practice. The chapters are short and easy to read.You can pick it up and put it down if you are busy without losing your place. This book is available at Amazon in print, ebook and audio formats.
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist. This is also another great book but I am biased as the author is one of my favorites and I personally love his writing style. His humility and teachings come through the pages to me. Again this book is available at Amazon in print, ebook and audio formats.
Conclusion
In closing, I just want to say that each person is different. How an author may connect with me is not necessarily true for you. These 4 books are the best for beginners in my opinion. There are literally hundreds of resources out there. The 4 authors are all top experts in the field and have written numerous books on the subject. You will not know what resonates with you unless you try. They all offer a good introduction so make a choice. And get started on the road to improving your spiritual wellness.
Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below if you have them.