In this article, we will see the Best Books on Meditation.
With the overwhelming stress and anxiety that engulfs us every day, relaxing the mind is something everyone should learn. This skill isn’t an inborn talent and thus you can work on developing it. Relaxation plays a huge role in helping us control certain body impulses and engage in rational thinking. This keeps our body and mind positive and healthy. This will in turn affect you by increasing your work performance, relationships and concentration.
We have a lot of relaxation techniques developed by professionals that can be used to calm down the body and improve overall health. Some relaxation techniques widely used today include-
- Massage
- Deep breath
- Meditation
- Biofeedback
- Yoga
- Art Therapy
Today, we will talk about meditation and how you can implement the various techniques and methods of mediation in your everyday life to help you relax. Mediation is a technique that is a combination of different methods and focuses on relaxing the body, improving concentration, and bringing a sense of awareness.
If you aspire to know more about mediation and grow your knowledge, then books are a great resource that you can consider. Here’s a list of books about mediation that you can refer to. These books can help you understand the various methods and techniques under mediation and how you can apply them in your everyday life.
Books on Meditation
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
‘Wherever You Go, There You Are’ written by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1994, is a book about the art of meditation and how you can actively use the power within you to improve your life. It is a self-help book that provides in-depth knowledge about the technique of meditation and how you can use it to your advantage. He tries to explain the power of our minds and feel the gap between our hearts and mind. This would help us in differentiating the two. He advises his readers to enjoy the small things in life instead of focusing on bigger things. Small things have the potential to keep you more satisfied than bigger things.
The book has various practical instances that the author provides. These practical experiences help in relating to the concepts better. Jon Kabat-Zinn even develops a program to help people understand mediation better. Later he covers up topics like the importance of mediation, the benefits of mediation, and how you can benefit from it. The book is divided into various chapters covered with practical examples.
It’s the perfect book for someone who aspires to understand the basics of mediation and use it effectively.
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh
‘The Miracle of Mindfulness’ written by Thích Nhất Hạnh in 1975, is a book that focuses on teaching its readers the art of mindfulness. He emphasizes the concept of living in the present rather than thinking of the past or dreaming about the future. Living in the present helps improve your self-awareness and gives you a deeper understanding of your life. Living in the past or the future is often associated with anxiety and depression which will lead to imbalance. This lost balance can be brought back by actively learning to live in the present.
Later in the book, he discusses three major factors that can help you in practicing mindfulness meditation. The first step is to focus on your breathing and use a stomach-oriented breathing approach to induce calmness. The second step is to take a break for once and enjoy the different things that life offers you. While the third step is to pay attention to your thoughts and actions during meditation.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
‘Mindfulness in Plain English’ written by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana in 1991, is a book that covers topics surrounding meditation and mindfulness and certain myths and truth attached to it. This book is written by Henepola Gunaratana who is a Srilankan Buddhist Monk and has spent years specializing in the art of mediation. His book focuses on Vipassana meditation which is a traditional meditation technique popular among Buddhists. Regardless of your religion you can practice this technique and apply it in your everyday life.
The author has included various facts and information related to meditation and has given certain ways about how you can develop the habit of meditation. The book presents key insights about why people feel dissatisfied in life and how you can overcome it.
Get Some Headspace: 10 Minutes Can Make All the Difference by Andy Puddicombe
‘Get Some Headspace:10 Minutes Can Make All the Difference’ written by Andy Puddicombe in 2011, is a book that focuses on making time for oneself and taking care of oneself. His main concern is making his readers understand the real importance of mental health and how everyone needs to maintain their health. In his book, he presents fun and easy ways to meditate at home, which are quite effective. He wants his readers to devote 10 minutes towards personal peace and happiness by meditating and calming the body.
The book contains evidence about the results of meditation and why most doctors suggest their patients meditate regularly. This book can be read by every type of person whether you are a beginner or an expert as it is written in a simple tone and thus everyone can understand it.
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
‘Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind’ written by Shunryu Suzuki in 1970, is a book that focuses on the Beginner’s Mind- the act of being open to new thoughts. According to the author, a Beginner’s Mind is often empty, doesn’t contain any self-obsessed thoughts, is genuine, and doesn’t follow particular conditioning. The author emphasizes the point of always keeping your mind open for others and always having a beginner’s mind. This attitude will help you learn better.
He also discussed a common problem that most Zen minds go through and how we can tackle it. The book describes three different aspects of Zen which are the Zazen posture that defines our dependence and independence, breathing which focuses on attending to the continuous thoughts while paying attention to each breath, and bowing that will help you ground yourself and release the ego thoughts and impulse.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
‘The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment’ written by Eckhart Tolle in 1997, is a book that focuses on the now instead of the future. The present state is an important part of our life and being present means being conscious of our choices. When your everyday choices are controlled and governed by conscious impulses and not by your unconscious impulses, you truly feel alive.
In the book, Tolle started by sharing his journey where he was suffering from anxiety and depression which had worsened his mental health. He shares his own story of how he understood the powers of the spiritual world and went on to fulfill his journey and finally reached the stage of Enlightenment. This book shares his personal experiences and the problems that he went through before reaching the ultimate goal of his life.
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön
‘How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind’ written by Pema Chödrön in 2007, is a book that focuses on the effects of meditation on bringing positive changes in life. The author explains that whenever you are in pain or suffering from something else, you need to control your mind to feel better. This can be done by practicing meditation to calm down the mind.
Pema Chödrön is a Buddhist nun and is quite well known for her practices that help bring peace and compassion. In the book, she lays down certain steps that we should follow to align our minds and use those steps to bring peace and calmness around us.
The Mind Illuminated by John Yates
‘The Mind Illuminated’ written by John Yates in 2015, is a book that focuses on the scientific basis of meditation. The author of the book John Yates is a neuroscientist by profession and thus explains the scientific meanings behind the practice of meditation. This is one of the first self-help books written by a neuroscientist on meditation.
It’s a simple guide with certain steps that you can follow to learn the skills of mediation. This guide is a 10 step program developed by John Yates and is designed by including various spiritual techniques of meditation and mindfulness, and he has explained the effectiveness of the program through the help of brain science. This book is suitable for every individual who wishes to learn the art of meditation.
Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield
‘Meditation for Beginners’ written by Jack Kornfield in 1998, is an introductory book to understand the basic practices of meditation. He emphasizes ‘Insight’ often known as Vipassana meditation and how learning this skill can help them. He shares with his readers certain benefits of this meditation practice and how it can help you calm down your body and help in clearing your mind.
He presents an effective step-by-step method that you can follow to develop the habit of meditating daily. His method is quite easy to understand and is beginner-friendly in every way. The book teaches you how you can control your breath, use your emotion effectively, and understand your physical impulses to improve your life.
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, and Carlye Adler
‘Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics’ written by Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, and Carlye Adler in 2017, is a book that explains why many people fail to implement things in their everyday life. In his earlier book, he explained certain principles of medication and how you can develop the habit of meditation. But after writing the book he realized that the hardest part is implementing and maintaining those habits. Thus he wrote his second book devoted to this concept.
This book shares with readers certain ways they can implement these habits and then maintain them. The book is recognized to be the most researched book, as said by Tim Ferries in his show. This book isn’t any ordinary self-help book based on personal experiences rather includes the point of different people.
Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg
‘Real Happiness’ written by Sharon Salzberg in 2010, is a meditation guide for all those who never tried meditation in their entire life. She also focuses on Insight or Vipassana meditation which is quite popular. Sharon through her research found that most people engage in meditation to relieve their stress, improve their relationships, control emotions, etc. Thus she designed this 4-month long program that focuses on developing the habit of meditation.
Later in her book, she talks about the various benefits associated with meditation. One such benefit about meditation that is not commonly known by many is its ability to improve relations with closed ones. As you become more self-aware of yourself, you start understanding others as well. This acts as a binding force for all your relationships.
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
‘Full Catastrophe Living’ written by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1990, is a self-help book that will surely change your perspectives related to work. If you believe that completing your work before the deadlines, attending the meeting, attending the office are your intimate goals in life then you are completely mistaken. According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, your ultimate goal in life should be finding your true self, self-actualization to your highest potential, and experiencing the present moment to develop self-awareness.
The book covers various topics related to mindfulness and meditation and certain methods you can use to reach your fullest potentials. The meditation techniques in this book are easy to comprehend due to the interactive and easy language used by the author. The meditation techniques are also quite time-efficient. Anyone can approach this book and learn the various techniques described in it.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Alan Singer
‘The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself’ written by Michael Alan Singer in 2007, is a book that helps you understand the true meaning behind the question of ‘Who are you?.’ Micheal believes that the answer to this question can only be found through conscious existence. You need to be present at the moment and feel every aspect of it to truly develop your conciseness and understand who you are. This will help you understand why you exist in the first place and what is your purpose in this life.
This is a great book for all those suffering from an existential crisis and who are confused about their life. This book also helps you find your soul and the important values that you hold. The book gives various insights and techniques that can help you in finding yourself.
Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You by Benjamin W. Decker
‘Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You’
written by Benjamin W. Decker in 2018, is a book that focuses on building the habit of meditation. The author emphasizes Zen Buddhism and Vipassana meditation and how you can develop the habit. The book covers 10 different meditation techniques that you will learn throughout the book and the 10-day program that the book talks about.
It’s a simple program for beginners and experienced practitioners as the language used by the author are easy to comprehend. The techniques and theories mentioned by the author are worth reading due to his deep and interactive writing. The book also provides you with certain sorting meditation-related writing prompts that can increase your self-awareness.
Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan
‘Search Inside Yourself’ written by Chade-Meng Tan in 2012, is a book that focuses on bringing change in individuals through meditation. The author of the book explains how we can use meditation to our advantage and develop emotional intelligence. This book will help you understand your inner self which will facilitate your relationship in the workplace.
It also describes the benefits of meditation on work performance and works life and how positively it affects us. If you look at the book’s cover photo it might remind you of Google. The author himself wanted his reader to make this association as the book focuses on explaining the effects of meditation on work life. They also talk about how we can facilitate personal growth in the workplace.
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom by Rick Hanson
‘Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom’ written by Rick Hanson in 2009, is a book that gives us an understanding of Buddha and his thoughts and theories about meditation. It also compares the work of different well known thinkers with Buddha’s work. It’s a self-help book written by Rick who is a neurologist by profession. In the book, he combined traditional concepts with modern-day neuroscience of the brain to find happiness and love.
The book explains the different functions of the brain and how it creates certain feelings that you feel every day like anger, love, frustration, sadness, etc. Understanding the reasons behind what causes these emotional states brings self-awareness that helps you in controlling those emotional states. The book describes various strategies about how you can change neurological wiring and think consciously.
Meditation in action by Chögyam Trungpa
‘Meditation in action’ written by Chögyam Trungpa in 1969, is a book that focuses on Buddhism and the various techniques that you can learn from it. The book explains the six paramitas on the Buddhist paths and how you can follow those paramitas to reach the ultimate goal of enlightenment. Understanding and learning about these six paramitas will help you gain wisdom and awareness in your life. The author of the book is a Tibetan writer who is skilled in the art of meditation and mindfulness techniques. He elaborates that meditation is more than sitting at a place and paying attention to your breathing style, instead, it is a pathway to attain happiness and wisdom in life.
The Thoughts of the Emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus by Marcus Aurelius
‘The Thoughts of the Emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus’ written by Marcus Aurelius in 1797, is an old self-help book that focuses on explaining the various principles of meditation as described by the Ancient Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In the book, he describes his philosophies related to meditation and how everyone can practice developing the skill. The author had the habit of practicing certain night rituals that included meditation and exercises. He believed that these techniques will make him more humble and emotionally intelligent than others. This is a perfect book for people who are inclined to ancient philosophy and also wish to understand meditation.
The Mindful Way through Depression by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Zindel Segal, John. D. Teasdale, J. Mark G. Williams
‘The Mindful Way through Depression’ written by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Zindel Segal, John. D. Teasdale, J. Mark G. Williams in 2, is a book that talks about depression and how to successfully overcome chronic happiness. The book starts by explaining the connection between our brain, emotions, and the mind and how every time you go through emotions that are induced by the brain. The book says that there is a pattern of thoughts that leads to the feeling of depression and as humans recognizing this pattern should be a key task. The book also introduced a new type of meditation technique called the 3-minute breathing space.
Blue Meditation Book by Osho
‘Blue Meditation Book’ written by Osho in 1988, is a book about various meditation techniques that you can use to improve your life. The book has 40 different techniques that can be used by anyone. All these techniques are designed for individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression. You can meditate to realize the tension and thoughts. Osho believes that to keep yourself happy and fulfilling in life a person needs to make an effort because every type of self-care starts with effort.
Conclusion
These were some world-famous books written by well-known and incredibly talented authors out there. Developing a habit of mediation is a must and these books can help you with the same. Every time you sit down to meditate you may recall certain chapters from each book which will give you the motivation to continue your meditation even after a lot of disturbances around you and that’s the real power of books in imparting habits.
