Meditation Bookstore
Books for Beginners/Meditation Basics for Everybody
Christian Meditation and Contemplative Prayer
Healing Meditation
Jewish Meditation
Shambhala Meditation
Sufi (Islamic) Meditation
Creativity Meditations
Yoga Meditation
Buddhist Meditation
MagazinesBooks for Beginners/Meditation Basics for Everybody
How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life, by the Dalai Lama ($20) A practical explanation of Buddhist meditation techniques that includes instructions suitable for beginners.
Meditation for Dummies, by Stephen Bodian ($14) Bodian is a therapist and meditator who was also the editor of Yoga Journal magazine for ten years. His book covers all the basics and provides detailed instructions for several meditation techniques.
Meditation: The Complete Guide, by Patricia Monaghan and Eleanor Viereck ($12) This book covers more than 35 different meditation practices, from journaling and Shamanism to Zen. It’s the most thorough survey you can find.
Meditation for Beginners: Six Meditations for Insight, Greater Clarity and Cultivating a Compassionate Heart, by Jack Kornfield ($20) hardback book with CD or CD without the book. Kornfield uses clear language and step-by-step demonstrations to show how simple it is to start - and stick with - a daily meditation practice. In this complete beginner's course, Jack introduces the "Insight" tradition of Buddhist meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation, by Jon Kabat-Zinn on CD ($14) or on cassette ($14) explains being fully present in the moment and guides the listener through a number of mindfulness meditations.
Come and Sit: A Week Inside Meditation Centers, by Marcia Nelson ($12) Nelson profiles seven different religious meditation practices, from contemplative prayer to Hindu meditation. She interviews practitioners and describes meditation sessions so that you can get a complete flavor.
New Seeds of Contemplation, by Thomas Merton ($11) a reflection on meditation. No book in modern times so defines the modern meditative tradition.
Contemplative Prayer, by Thomas Merton ($10) Written by a monk for monks, this book gives the history and purpose of contemplative prayer, without being a 'how-to' manual.
Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Tradition of the Gospel, by Thomas Keating ($11), remains one of the best introductions to Christian meditation.
Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God, by James Finley ($14), A former monk and student of Thomas Merton, Finley helps readers to discover that moments of awakened consciousness can bring a deeper connection with Christ. The Contemplative Heart, by James Finley ($11) carrying contempation into daily life, making it a lifestyle.
Guided Meditations, Explorations and Healings, by Stephen Levine ($11). This book offers dozens of different techniques for developing compassion, confronting illness or grief, recovering from addictions or eating disorders, and working with pain.
The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra ($17), a NY Times bestseller for many weeks, this meditation book is also available in audio formats: Cassette ($17) and CD ($20). Chopra offers practical meditation advice, backed with a theory of the mind that supports and inspires meditation.
The Soul of Healing Meditations, by Deepak Chopra, CD ($14) is a perfect introduction for beginners. Dr. Chopra offers four guided meditations set to music.
Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction, by Thomas Bien and Beverly Bien, ($11). This thoughtful book offers specific meditations you can learn on your own.
One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps, by Kevin Griffin, ($11). Written by a Buddhist who has worked with the steps, this book helps connect the two systems.
The Zen of Recovery, by Mel Ash ($11) Ash is a meditation teacher and AA sponsor who aptly connects the spiritual practices with the Twelve Step program.
Overcoming Addictions: The Spiritual Solution by Deepak Chopra ($10) also on audio cassette ($10)
Letting God: Christian Meditations for Recovery, by A. Philip Parham, ($12)
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, by Jon Kabat-Zinn ($19) a terrific introduction for anyone who has considered meditating but was afraid it would be too difficult or would include religious practices they found foreign.
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn ($11) This book blends stories, anecdotes, poems, images, and scientific observations with easily followed instructions.
A Time to Grieve: Meditations for Healing After the Death of a Loved One, by Carol Staudacher ($10). Staudacher is a grief consultant and lecturer who wrote several popular grief books.
Courage to Grieve, by Judy Tatelbaum ($10) an excellent, practical guide for the unique issues that arise during periods of grief.
Good Medicine: How to Turn Pain Into Compassion with Tonglen Meditation, by Pema Chodron (CD, $17) Sixteen recorded talks and guided meditation practices in Pema's charming, intimate style.
Meditation for Optimum Health: How to Use Mindfulness and Breathing to Heal Your Body and Refresh Your Mind, by Andrew Weil, Jon Kabat-Zinn (CD, $18) Two mind-body medicine experts join forces to teach stress-reducing meditation techniques in easy-to-follow instructions.
Meditation from the Heart of Judaism, edited by Avram Davis ($12) In their own voices, 18 different Jewish meditation teachers comment and instruct about meditation practice.
Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide, by Aryeh Kaplan ($12) teaches meditation consistent with traditional Jewish thought and practice, and presents a variety of meditative techniques including mantra, contemplation, visualization, conversing with God, and prayer.
That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist, by Sylvia Boorstein ($18) Boorstein explains why her twenty years of Buddhist meditation have deepened and enriched her Judaism.
Handbook of Jewish Meditation Practices: A Guide for Enriching the Sabbath and Other Days of Your Life, by David Cooper ($12). Rabbi Cooper shows newcomers and experienced meditators alike how Jewish meditation can be an integral part of daily life, and can refresh us in our day-to-day encounters.
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, by Chogyam Trungpa ($11) is “a manual for people who have lost the principles of sacredness, dignity, and warriorship in their lives,” according to the author. also on audio cassette ($11).
Sufi (Islamic) Meditation Books
The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, by Carl W. Ernst ($13). Written by an academic rather than a meditation instructor, this book gives a thorough and accessible introduction to the history, philosophy and practices of Sufism.
Awakening: A Sufi Experience, by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan ($10). A Sufi master writes about the practices of Sufi for beginners as well as experienced practitioners.
Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness and The Essential Self, by Kabir Edmund Helminski ($11). describes Sufi psychology in practical terms. A helpful answer to the question, 'why meditate?"
