Rating: 
Summary: This Book is All You Need for Never-Ending Bliss!
Review: This is the greatest book written on do-it- yourself meditation ever written. And that is simply no exaggeration. It's better than reading 1,000 books. Buy it now! It is the trip to happiness. I've seen people follow this path and are so full of joy and happiness that you would simply not believe it! You will become concious. You will experience a bliss that you have never known. You will be indescribably happy. I know this to be true. I've know these people. But... This meditation (insight meditation) has been stripped of all non-necessities in order to get you to nirvana and home as soon as possible. I know. That sounds great. I paid $200 for The Insight Meditation Course and my assigned teacher recommended THIS book for me. And, lol, it's all you need. You don't need any other books. But this path, Theravada Buddhism, is "bare bones" and "no-nonsense". The only object is to enable you to fill great bliss and joy. Such a joy that you can't even imagine now. But it's "bare bones". There won't be any God. You can believe in God if you want. But it has nothing to do with this path. No prayer to a Higher Power. You can do that if you want. But this path doesn't advocate it. You simply sit on your butt and learn how to pay attention to the breath come in and leave your nostrils. Each chapter will tell you how to deal with distractions, pain, progress, thoughts, and emotions. Now I can't do this. I want a total path in which I can believe in God. So I am a Self-Realizationist. I just can't seem to last without a path so beautifully pragmatic but doesn't deal with afterlife or God. The other problem that you may find with this book was discovered back East by the meditation master, Jack Kornfield. Over 50% of meditators have trouble sitting steadily because of deep emotional problems. Now the author deals with these. But if you just can't sit for 20 minutes without exploding, what are you going to do? A Matthew Flickstein co-authored this book with the Venerable Henepola Gunaratana. And he has created a book for us "disturbed ones". Buy it if you simply can't sit. And give it a try. "Journey to the Center" by Matthew Flickstein. The introduction is by the author of "Mindfulness in Plain English". I started following it. I will give it my total dedication. One small other problem with this book, which is really quite minor. After about two-thirds down the path, you will need guidence from a teacher because the "mind states" that are keeping you from total happiness become very subtle. Don't sweat it! The internet is already providing instruction for people without a teacher! And one Thai teacher told me that you don't even need a teacher. It's best to check up with one, though. As this book states, you can actually get hooked out on "blissful states of mind". Before the real happiness or freedom is obtained. There. Put this book under your pillow and get rid of all your other books if you can sit, and don't demand a path that advocates a Higher Power.
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Summary: Simple Understated Mindful Meditation
Review: This should be on anyone's shelf that is interested meditation as even an idea to be pursued. This book is low on the "dogma") if there is such a thing) of Buddhism. Henepola simply shows how to step into meditation is the simplest of ways and how to allow the practice to permeate the non-meditative hours. The Buddhist aspects of mindfulness are treated as evidential facts, simple to understand and realize. The book has been a treat for the skeptic shaman I am.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent meditation guide
Review: Ven. Gunaratana has written by far the most straight forward, concise, and compassionate guide to the how's and why's of the meditative experience. This is a must have for any Buddhist or anyone who wants to begin meditation. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Very easy to understand and motivating. Just lovely
Rating:
Summary: Best book on meditation I've ever read
Review: Whether you are a complete novice thinking about starting to meditate, or someone who has meditated for decades, you will find much of value in this book. It is written in a delightfully straightforward way without a hint of any sort of sectarian dogma or new age goofiness. An exceptionally well written book that covers all the major topics in a crisp, concise, understandable way.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best place to start
Review: Words cannot accurately convey how well this book gets across all of the important ideas about meditation. If you are at all considering meditation or anything close to Eastern philosophy I highly recommend finding a copy.The depth of knowledge Gunaratana possesses is incredible since few have ever managed to capture so much about an action (meditation is ultimately about doing, not conceptualizing) in words. The book is very quiet in tone as opposed to trying to preach any dogma, yet there is much humour here too. Even those with well-worn zafus will enjoy this book; the novice will find the advice invaluable. If you want to have one book about meditation on your shelf, this would be a good choice.
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