Meditation Books

Bob Sorge's book Secrets of the Secret Place reveals practical ways to jump start your quiet time's with the Lord.
He offers a solid Biblical foundation for doing this based on Matthew 6:6 and Jesus' words to his disciples - ...when you go into your room and when you have shut the door.... He offers incredible creative disciplines for creating an intimate relationship with the Lord in this secret place. I highly recommend this book for those desiring to make the " inner room experience with the Lord" the place they most want to be.

Excellent book. If you are looking for a closer relationship with God, this book shares how. Great tool for a Bible Study. I say get this book, you wont be sorry, and you'll wont want to put it down.

Oh, my GOD! I can not say it enough when I tell you that this book has transformed my life and relationship with God. I have read the first ten chapters twice before I even went to read the very next chapters in the book.

You will refer back to this book more than you could ever imagine. It is like a BIBLE on how to grow closer to God that you would want to keep around you at all times to reference back too.

This book is anointed and if you read it and you don't get anything out of it, then it has to be that you did not want to get anything out of it because it will absolutely have you craving and hungering to experience what Bob Sorge is talking about. The first step is overcoming your fear of never doing anything like that before. First FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real and you need to get that out of your life. Second, grab a hold of God and be willing to apply the secrets in your own secret place and God will meet you there. Actually, He is waiting for you to join him and what a marvelous journey it will be if you will leap! I did and I am forever longing to be in the secret place all the days of my life because it transformed my life to the point that I can't live with out the secret place. It is Absolutely AWESOME! I highly recommend it. Also, if you would like to experiment with growing closer with God and you are willing to take a trip, go to Hamilton Alabama, THE RAMP, and Karen Wheaton Ministries. That will rock your world! It is life changing for the gloriousness of GOD!!!!

This book was awesome. I higly recommend this book. I have bought several copies of this book and gave them out. Every person that received a copy was blessed and learned a lot. It is a good read for your alone time with God.

I have been using this book as the study for my moms' small group for the past year. From beginning to end it has never gotten dry. Each week we are challenged and inspired to find our own secret place with God. I and the other two leaders use the study guide to help us lead the group, but the book stands very well on its own. The other great thing is that others who join the group can jump in at any point. We only have eight chapters left, and I am still ordering books for new group members. It's that good!

Well bound leather book with quality feeling pages makes this an easy book to pick up and use. I would recommend this small daily devotional to everyone. Easy to use, carry with you and to read.

I ordered Daily Light from Amazon and was thrilled to get the 5 copies I orders, especially since the book has gone out of print. I received excellent service.

Daily Light is a book that I have read for over thirty years. There is a daily reading, morning and evening, of various scriptures that are all on the same theme. It was compiled by the Bagster family of London, England. There were twelve children and it was Jonathan, their tenth child, who was mainfily responsible for the idea and for the method by which Daily Light was compiled. The family prayed over, discussed and agreed on each scripture and sometimes it was weeks before it was felt that they came to an agreement. Not one word has been altered from its conception (1794). Hundreds and thousands of Christians have read the same page with its message of comfort and help through the years since it was first published. It brings hope and encouragement each morning and evening to anyone who takes the few minutes to read it and let it sink in. "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Daily Light is a compot of Scriptures arranged around daily topics. It has been a favorite for generations but in 1998 Anne Graham Lotz revived it, published it in the New King James translation and offered it in a leather bound edition. Though very popular it is unfortunately no longer available. Our hope is that J. Countryman will republish it soon.

This book is a treasure of God's Word. Our family of 6 each have their own copy and we give it as gifts to those who are seeking the Lord.

This is a wonderful addition I recommend it for newbies and old timers a like..

Sent to a friend in distress, she said it helped her through some rough days.

The New International Version is excellent for readability and overall quality. However, because it is only 52% consistent with the original language (Old Testament comparison only) you cannot do serious bible study without using a concordance. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Strongest Strong's)

I love this Bible...unfortunately it's the second one I have now. I loved it so much I wanted to find something similiar but didn't realize I was buying the same Bible with a different cover. Please note that the compact NIV Bible with a pink cover and the number "1" on the front is the EXACT same text. For some reason this one typically sells for less.

This is a wonderful Bible. Full of small interesting stories. Love this Bible.

For someone who is interested in religion and who is taking his/her Kabbalah studies one step beyond the book is delightful. It includes around five different versions of the Sefer Yetzirah and it comments you the reading fragment by fragment, therefore providing you a full understanding of the whole text and also a detailed, useful, and interesting explanation of Kabbalah as a whole, even providing you with spiritual exercises or a way to practice what the text says

Most impressive representation. While the subject is deep and extremely thought provoking, the writer has made every attempt to explain the subject in explicit detail.

I especially appreciated the use of root words in Hebrew to further clarify definitions. As well as the explanation of pronunciation of Hebrew terms, as in where to place the tongue to make the correct sound.

I would like for there to have been more direct instructions for meditation.

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I am not Jewish, nor am I an expert on Kabbalistic text, but I know a precious gem when I find one. As others have said here, this is NOT for the beginning student of Kabbalah. I really enjoyed how Aryeh Kaplan included the Hebrew text, along with a translation, then followed by extensive interpretations of each line. It is an intense read--really enjoyed the section on the 231 gates (ironically, I nearly flunked geometry in high school).

If you are truly ready for more intense study of Kabbalah, then this translation of the Sefer Yetzirah may be exactly what you are looking for.

Rabbi Kaplan does a wonderful job (as he does in all of his works) of explaining the primary text says and of opening the way for further study (through his copious footnotes).

The diagrams are extremely helpful, as are the recommendations concerning the "practical" use of Sefer Yetzirah.

However, even for those grounded in Jewish studies (as a spiritual path, not as an academic field), this work is NOT recommended as a "first step" in the esoteric. Try Rabbi Kaplan's "Innerspace."

One copy is at my bedside. One copy is in my study scrawled with notes, quotes and notations! I found the second copy at a bookstore bargain table! I didn't even blink, it was bought by me. I knew a second copy would give me one to share. This book is what Kabbalah is. An amazing book. Simply, amazing.

In. My. Purse.

All. The. Time.

Seriously ---- This book is amazing. It has a permanent home in my purse... (it's not too small, not too big - just right) And I use it almost daily....or at least a few times per week. Sometimes I'm in a bad place and need a quick inspirational message, and sometimes I just feel like feeling better about something....Whatever the reason, you will LOVE THIS BOOK. I ordered 5 more after I got it to give to friends and family...that's how much I love it. I know when some open it they will think "ummm....ok..?" at first....but they end up thanking me later.

GET THIS BOOK you wont be sorry!

this book has been so helpful at valuable to me so many tough times like i'm going through now. the messages are short but powerful. this book will certainly help you restore your peace. like another poster said mine is getting worn out.

Each time my spirt is down, or I'm going through a situation, I turn to this book. I hold the book in my right hand by its spine, fan the pages with my left hand to stop at randum. The passages I've read, I have felt its deep spirtual feeling and I understand its meaning. Then I reflect on my situation and the passage fits. It helps me to understanding whats going on. It uplifts my spirit to deal with my situation. It give me insight to view my problem from a different angle. It also assures me that what I am currently going through will end. I will get through it. In my view, its a powerfull book. I have read several other books by Iyanla, even watched her talk show (sorry that went off the air), but like the bible, I keep Faith In The Valley near by.

This is my FAVORITE book by Iyanla Vanzant because of: It's size(small enough for your tiny purse), its lack of preach-i-ness and how the index is organized by subject. I feel its a synopsis of all the subjects covered in her other books. I also feel the book is applicable to women of ALL cultures. You can use it as a daily guide or you can use the index to find a subject for which you could use guidance.

I can not express how insightful and helpful this book is! It really makes you look deep into the reason(s) why you thought you needed a book of affirmations in the first place. This book is perfect for those "why me" and "I really can't take any more" moments when you feel like life, and everything in it, needs to give you a break. If you're a woman experiencing a lot of change in your life and it seems like you just can't handle another crisis (or is it a crisis afterall?), this is the book for you. I carry it in my purse!

I have purchased many copies of this book to share with friends for its thoughtful and compassionate look at life and its challenges.

John O'Donohue has used ordinary language creatively, often turning
negatives into positives: e.g. "laboratory of the soul".

I had previously been turned off by some of his ideas and bought the
book because the price was right at the WRITERS ALMANAC web site.
Turned out to be a great idea.

John O Donohue introduces the reader to the art of blessing. "It is the modest wish of this book to illuminate the gift that a blessing can be,the doors it can open,the healing and transfiguration it can bring."(ODonohue)
The author poured his heart and soul into creating blessings that speak to the human condition from the cradle to the grave and beyond. He intoduces each of the seven sections of the book with a poetic grace that draws the reader in while linking them to the Source of their own creativity and spirituality.

This is a beautiful book, a treasure! I've purchased additional copies for friends, and I'm certain they will love it.

I absolutely LOVE this book! My husband & I are planning for a family, when I got this book in the mail I opened randomly to a page somewhere in the middle and magically turned right to the blessing for "The Mother-To-Be"! So amazing! My yoga instructor reads us passages from this book sometimes (how I heard about it) and everytime she does, the peaceful, blessed effect is palpable.

If you are truly after understanding the nature of Zen Buddhism this book will be the greatest gift ever. Infinite wisdom of this man will touch you with every phrase, not colored, not wrapped in unnecessary complications, simple, deep and true. This is a book to read many times and to feel lucky time after time.

I am very new to Zen and have read several books on the subject. I have practiced zazen for a little while, so I am, by no means, advanced on the subject of Zen and zazen meditation. This book is geared more for those who are more advanced into the world of Zen and Buddhism than I am as there are a lot of things written that I really don't understand (I know that's somewhat Zen in and of itself), but seriously there are better books for beginners. Hopefully in a few years I can pick this book back up and get more out of it.

That being said, the essays are short and wonderful and even though I didn't "get" all of them, there were a lot of great little nuggets inside. For the price, this book is packed with great stuff, I'm just not sure it's for beginners.

Ed Brown definitely knows Master Suzuki's heart.
And he presents the warm heart of his master in a logical and progressive ordering of a few of Suzuki's lectures.

After 30 years of daily meditation (15 in the style of Monk Dogen) and always failing to reach calmness of mind in every session,
a book like this gives a nugget of hope.

For example:
specifically, on page 6 of the Chapter on "Calmness of Mind," it offers:
"Exhaling, you gradually fade into emptiness--empty, white paper."

This is as clear as it gets;
the essence of the connection between breath, body, mind and emptiness.
Thank you very much.

Other concepts are also explained nicely.

For example:
Suzuki explains the meaning of the koan of "Jumping Off the 100-foot Pole,"
starting at page 16. (Myself, I've never really understood this one. I've always pictured myself reaching the top of the Pole and then trying to decide what to do next.)
Suzuki explains that this is precisely where I make my big mistake--stopping at the top of the pole and thinking. He says that the secret is just to say "Yes!" and jump off from there--forget the top of the pole and extend your practice.

One last example:
In the Chapter "Stand Up by the Ground" (page 139)
Suzuki explains "Immo,"
which can also mean a questioning, "What is this?"
A very subtle point here.
"What" or "It" is both something very definite ( "What" is "it"? may refer to that specific table right over there, and at the same time something beyond description and comprehension, maybe this table has only one leg and functions more like a chair and is merely drawn by an artist to symbolize some basic human emotion.)
Oh boy, my mind really runs wild with kind of "stuff."

Maybe Ed Brown will write a new book, giving his own commentary on these concepts.
Didn't Zen successors always write commentaries on scriptures?

Well, maybe "not always so."
Yet this book is like a Zen scripture.

Thank you very much Mr Brown.

Outstanding book with insight into a true Zen master. Written after the passing of Suzuki Roshi by one of his students, it is an insight into a beautiful man.

Not always so is a simple book with a single teisho or talk every couple of pages. This allows you to read one talk and digest it without having to delve into any serious brain bending. Suzuki Roshi presents the most complex ideas of Zen in a refreshing and accessible way. I enjoyed reading the 1-2 pages and then going to sit, just as if he gave me a personal teisho.

It is a thin book, but would you expect anything less from someone who could say one word and hold everything in it?

If you are new to Zen or an old master there is probably something wonderful to find in here for you.

On page 110, it is written: "Because we do not cling to any particular standard for thinking, for us there is no true way and not false." Is that not a meaty philosophical idea that could lead to endless intellectual discussions about the Buddha etc. etc.? His life will be prolonged in your mind and get in the way of your practice.
The book does end on what Zen really "is"; "So the point is just to sit..." (page 152). "Even though our practice is not better than a frog's, we continue to sit." (page 151). "Just sit for the the sake of zazen" (page 152).
But you won't make a best-seller with: Just sit. Just sit. Just sit., page after page. Sazuki's best-seller "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" was already too much more than enough to get across the simple idea that Zen is what happens to you when you sit still and follow or count your breaths. And what happens to you cannot really be put into words and ideas.
I give the book four stars for the interesting personal stories, philosophical and psychological discussions. But for the real practice itself-- sitting and meditating in Zen fashion--it was entirely unnecessary.

This book was given to me when I lost my wife at 58 years of age to heart disease. It helped me in my grief. I have passed it to others and all have been very appreciative of it. It has been placed in the bookstore of a Seattle area church because it was so well received by a grief support group.

This book is written is such a good way to help you through the grieving process. It details what's "normal" and helps the grieving person sort out their feelings. Though nobody goes through the grieving process the same way another person may, this book gives guidance on how to cope with the feelings of loss and sadness. I found it encouraging and supportive and at the same time, it seemed to help me recover a little more from my loss.

I have used this book repeatedly - both with myself in the loss of a child - and as an offering to others experiencing loss of loved ones. It is an excellent daily aid to the confusion following shock. It is brief and to the point and offers so much hope - hope that the nightmare will come to an end and one will be happy again.

As a funeral directer, I highly recommend this little booklet. We give these books out as a gift on a regular basis to grieving families. The chapters are short, informative, inspiritional and filled with pracitical help. Those in grief find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time. The chapters are short and well catagorized to find help without having to read volumns of material.

This is one of the best grief books I've come across. I buy many of them for friends and new people I meet who are grieving.

This book serves as a constant inspiration to me in my own meditation practice; I have read it countless times. As a psychotherapist whose modality involves working with my clients in a state of mindfulness (www.wisemenopause.com), I also recommend this book as a clear, concise introduction to meditation.

I have an edition of this book that I picked up about 15 years ago. I keep returning to this book year after year and have never tired of it. It has survived many purges of my spiritual library over the years. This book is sweet, easy to understand, and helpful. It defines a meditation practice that is easy to apply to one's daily activities. It is helping me relate more gently to the world and my life and is helpful in learning to awaken to the spaciousness and freedom that are ever present.

Fabulous book. Chapters are different talks given during a retreat. Insightful, down-to-earth as usual for her writing.

This is one of my favorite books by Pema Chodron. It not only does a very good job of describing the essence of Buddhism, but it goes beyond that in making Tibetan Buddhism more understandable and relevant to a Western audience without deveating from the tradition. In short, it contains the heart of the teachings of the Vajrayana. A nice complimentary book if you are interested in going deeper into Tibetan Buddhism is Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism. These books compliment each other and the latter puts all of the Buddhist traditions in historical context. Huston Smith's essay in The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions or Buddhism: A Concise Introduction. You get more bang for your buck with the former Huston Smith book, however.

The fundamental teaching of the Buddha involves the following realizations: 1) Life is suffering; 2) The cause of suffering is selfish desire; 3) To get rid of selfish desire, follow the eightfold path. The essence of the eightfold path is a moral life grounded in a strong loving-kindness practice (A Mahayana emphasis, but true of all schools). This book provides precisely that -- a path of loving-kindness that any person could follow and apply to their life. When asked what religion the Dalai was, he once said... "my religion is loving-kindess." While the Dalai Lama didn't officially endorse the book that I know of, certainly it is written in keeping with this spirit.

This book covers a LOT of ground in short volume of about 108 pages. It looks at the existential situation of not being able to escape our life and the human condition which is characterized by suffering. The Buddha said as his last words, "be a lamp unto yourselves." I believe the intent here was that no super mommy or daddy in the sky is going to come down and save you from the human condition. You must look deeply to see the truth and this will liberate you from samsara or the cycle of suffering. In this book, Pema Chodron describes the Buddha's teachings and more importantly practices to help you to arrive at a place of loving-kindness and equanimity.

What I most like about this book is that she keeps things simple. She also describes Tonglen practice and other forms of meditation and habits of thought that cultivate a mind that is not locked in conditioned thinking. Krishnamurti once said, "seeing the truth deeply is what liberates, not your efforts to be free." A corallary to this might be... yes... but what limits how deeply you can see is your depth of compassion for others, but primarily for yourself. This book is a manual about how to cultivate a loving-kindness that allows you to penetrate the insufficiency of living for things like money, sex, power and status. It is a good read for anyone.

If you are interested in a somewhat different Western perspective or something to contrast these writings with then try A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life. This book by Jack Kornfield emphasizes an earlier Buddhist tradition namely the Theravada (Way of the Elders). Mahayana Buddhism was an outgrowth of these teachings and Tibetan Buddism (Vajrayana) a further extension and elaboration. Jack Kornfield is a Western psychologist who spent a number of years in Thailand as a Buddhist monk and his perspective is accessible, entertaining, practical and complimentary to this book. If you are looking for a more integrative read that relates to Western Psychology directly try Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation. This is a more difficult read, but extremely worthwhile. There are other recommendations on my listmania lists of this is your area of interest.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good book, but there are just a couple of things about it that make it not quite as good as I was hoping. First, her interpretation of the Four Noble Truths is problematic in my eyes. Basically she take Tibetan teachings on egolessness (which are great teachings in their own right) and superimposes them on the Four Noble Truths. Her interpretation does not ring true for me - she states that the 2nd Noble Truth is "resisting life causes suffering" and that the 3rd Noble Truth is learning to let go of our "selves"/ego. These are valuable teachings but do not represent the more usual (and probably academically correct, as well as more powerful, in my opinion) translations that I have read: that (very summarily put) the 2nd Noble Truth is that that craving/desire/grasping causes suffering and the 3rd Noble Truth is that ceasing to crave/desire/grasp results in the cessation of suffering. Her interpretation is not wrong, but it is a bit of a Chinese whispered version of the Four Noble Truths and I would have liked her book better had she not re-interpreted them like this. Secondly, she writes "from above" a little. I feel that she comes across like a lovely, cosy, caring and wise Aunty. For me this made her teachings have less impact. I preferred Tara Brach's "Radical Acceptance" (which deals with a similar subject - accepting life as it is) to "The Wisdom of No Escape": Brach's writing is a bit more raw and personal and she writes like one sister to another sister (or brother)).

Very clear, concise, and practical. Every one of us must have a copy.

The step by step guide of the 16 stages of breath meditaiton according to the Anapanasati suttra is very inspiring. It has helped tremendously in my learning insight mediatation.

Great book for learning the right frame of mind and the concepts of learning the Insight Meditation. Although this is not the complete book of learning the complex practice of Vipassana-Bhavana, for conditioning the mind to a proper way of thinking, before embarking your quest to Insight Meditation or reviewing things thats on your way, this is a good book.

Breath by Breath is an outstanding and seamless synthesis of interventions and talks that Rosenberg held about the Buddhist sutra (i.e., text) on the 'awareness on breathing' during his thirty-year teaching experience at Vipassana retreats and courses. Rosenberg style is plain and direct and his personal anecdotes make this fundamental teaching even more vivid and present for both beginners and expert practitioners. Clear links to other relevant Buddhist teachings make this text a good introduction to the Dhamma (Theravada tradition), as well.
All things considered, one of best introductions to the matter, a book that sheds a contemporary and western perspective on an universal and antique wisdom by focussing more on the main concepts and underlying rationales of Buddhist mindfulness practice and breath awareness (and its consequences on any personal life) than on some particular technique or method.

mindfullness of the breath. and opener of many doors. larry quotes the buddha... "the summary of all my teaching is 'do not attach to me or mine'" really i guess larry has summed up a third of all buddhism by quoting this therevadan approach. the emotional and psychic enlightenment side of buddhism. the annihilation of the tainted self.

there is very little on mahayanan 'philosophical' enlightenment, but i am incredibly grateful to this great teacher for quoting the buddha and for his introduction to mindfullness of the breath. the last and most important third of buddhism comes through in the pages of this book... true love/loving kindness (metta).

of those coming to this book, some will have realised that we only truly learn or know through experience. these people are seeking for genuine experience through meditation. mindulness of the breath will lead to other types of meditation, discovery of how to talk to or learn from spiritual beings, and ultimately how to talk to the perfection that everyone is and has within them through mastery of the unconscious mind. (learning how to harness stream of consciousness, imagination/visualisation etc etc). the kingdom of god is like a baby seed that becomes a little sapling and then and then on it grows. you will find that one thing leads to another, but ultimately to uncover who you are you will need to rely on yourself and not be confused by other people. every snow-flake is unique and has its own unique route to the earth/attainment. you are all snow-flakes, but you just dont see this yet, or do not have enough experience/conviction to know this.

as a digression... what is suchness? put in circular terms suchness is: As is ness, thusness. things just are, what is is what is. 'is' is is. this view is the ultimate 'relative' statement... it indicates that all truth is relative. everyone has their own truth. on the other hand it can be said to be the ultimate 'objective' statement. this 'is' objective reality. is it emptiness?, is it form? actually... no. it just is. this can seem to be the ultimate buddhist statement. that all knowledge is beyond conceptualising, beyond formulation. as is ness is just as things are. this is the water approach, which levels all theories. it is empty of knowledge in knowing much. suchness is the water of the moon. female womb, sometimes empty, sometimes full. rising and falling, rising and falling. bringing with it peace. (but... do not become attached to suchness! without speculation/conceptualization, we will not see where we are walking, nor will we see what thing matters most, mistakenly believing all things to be of equal importance).

what is absolute truth? if you seek the truth you will find it, generally speaking truth is 'understanding'. but, actually only true love/loving kindness is the absolute truth, and only this truly understands, if i/you do not know true love, then i/you do not know God, however there are lesser, though still objective truths. truth can be seen as what is... reality, taste and see. everything that 'is' has its roots in the one absolute truth, which is true love. the truth is true love, without love there cannot be understanding (truth). love is the truth, and this should gear our entire understanding of reality. even 'this'(consciousness) has its roots in ineffable true love/loving kindness. in the christian faith, we believe that what we seek is what we find. if we seek relative truths in accordance with suchness then we shall find them... like-wise, if we seek absolute objective truth, eventually we will find perfect love. true love is the ultimate seed and root of all, of essence (existence/is) itself. love is the fire of the sun.
bringing with it warmth. the light of the sun, penetrates the darkness of the moon. rising and falling, rising and falling, a child is born.

some feel that knowledge is helpful... well yes and no. yes if that knowledge is truth/understanding. however no, very often, and this is since much of what people know leads them away from the ultimate truth... and so i say, it is not ignorance that matters, nor is it knowledge (which puffeth up). what matters is truth/understanding. And anything that engenders true love is in accord with God. "he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love". "he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." "everyone that loveth is born of God"(born anew, spiritually). knowledge is not sufficient, we must not forget the heart, seat of emotions.

the buddha realised that without the anchor of true love/loving kindness, one becomes a nihilist... and you only need see their actions and crippled emotions to realise how unsatisfying nihilism is. (freedom of mind is not everything).
this is also why certain types of philosophy are utterly unsatisfying. theyve ripped their hearts out.

larry may have given more than he ever realises, this man is a true master.

true love/chesed, snow-flake. xxx

blessing/prayer: may all of us who read this, including myself, see the ultimate truth, loving kindness and become it and be it/him/her, by the grace of the one truth, loving kindness. amen.