Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation (2nd Edition)

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There's something paradoxical about the idea of an "Idiot's Guide to Meditation." Describing the outward forms of meditation is easy but describing the subjective experience is harder, as is actually doing the meditating. There's real discipline involved in developing mental focus through meditation. Somehow, with all the jumping around from one topic to another in this book, that seemed to get lost in the mix.

Myabe that's where my problems with this book come from. There is so much information given about so many different methods that the basics get buried. The authors throw in various traditions, terminologies, positions, theories, and a few women's magazine quizzes were thrown in, not to mention frequent "Bliss Bytes" and "From A to Om." The book seemed scattered and a little too New Agey for my tastes. Personally, I found Lawrence LeShan's classic "How to Meditate" to be better grounded, more instructive, and a more helpful guide for this idiot.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation, by Joan Budilovsky and Eve Adamson, will answer every question you have about meditation, as well as help you find the kind of meditation that is right for you.

Budilovsky and Adamson have teamed up before with books on yoga and massage, as well as writing independently about holistic health.

They write that "meditation can teach you to live in the now, to know yourself--body, mind, and soul--better, and to find the life you need." They first explain how meditation reduces stress and helps in healing, then discuss how "meditation will lead you to a consideration of life's bigger questions. . ." before getting into the actual techniques for successful meditation.

They emphasize throughout the book that meditation does not conflict with any religious or spiritual beliefs.

Instructions start with how to prepare your mind and body for meditation, then explain the different seated, walking, and moving meditations. The authors discuss how to use mantras, mandalas, and visualization techniques to enhance meditation. They also review the basics of yoga, T'ai Chi, and QiGong as relaxation techniques.

Readers are taught how to adapt religious traditions to "create your own profound meditative exercises." They also learn how to perform "body scans" to determine what their bodies are telling them about their physical health.

Definitions of unfamiliar terms are included with the text, making it easy to understand the information presented. "Mindful Minutes," meditation trivia and anecdotes, are scattered throughout the book.

Budilovsky and Adamson say that with a "few simple techniques, you can harness the awesome power of your own mind-body." In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation, they show you exactly what those techniques are and how to apply them in your own life.

Is your life out of control? Are you stressed to the limit with family, job and social obligations? If your answer is yes... see a therapist immediately! For the rest of us who want to improve upon and take a break from, the everyday hassles of life, THIS IS OUR BOOK! No mumble, jumble, new age pie in the sky theories here, just a down-to-earth book introducing us to the ages old practice of meditation. History, terminology and easy to follow, step by step meditation techniques are explained in simple terms. You'll also be impressed with all the positive medical benefits associated with meditation. So, after thinking long and hard, if you want to improve the quality of your life, or want to get a taste of, or history of, meditation, you can't go wrong with this great book!

This book is one of the best books on the subject of meditation without the excessive religiousity that is often associated with books on this subject. The authors have presented the material in an organized fashion that is useful to the uninitiated and the experienced alike. It gives a good fundamental grasp of the subject in a modern day language emphasizing the scientific basis. It also gives explanation of different types of meditation. The benefits expected and nice little capsule summaries.

This book is definately not for idiots! It contains nearly everything that beginners would be interested in concerning meditation. There are lessons on different cultures and how they meditate, spiritual meditation practices (to reach for enlightenment) how and where to pick the perfect meditation sanctuary, poses and hand positions, moving meditation, and so much more. This manual is written in a down to earth style that makes you feel as though the author is sitting right there with you. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the broad and ever-expanding world of meditation!

It is fun, it is complete and it approaches the broad subject of meditation from many many angles. As such it is a very complete overview on the subject. Next step would be a true 'practitioners guide' and this book will certainly get you to that next step since it does provide a good path to finding out your personal preference. Good basic book.

There are many books on meditation, and I bought this one and Meditation by Sri Chinmoy. Main reason was that all the reviews were excellent. But Chinmoy's book is superior in every aspect. This book is more a dictionary or overview on meditation and technique than useful practitioners manual. Plus it contains misunderstanding of some basic classification of Yoga styles and separating one and the same thing in different groups. To give you easily understandable example if Biologist gave you a list of life forms that goes like: Animals, Plants, Carrots, Bacteria, ... you would question his knowledge.

I checked this book out at the library and enjoyed it so much that I had to buy it for reference. It's packed with good information on all aspects of meditation, including myths, history, a wide variety of practicies and excercises for the beginner as well as the more experienced meditator. I recommend it especially for the beginner.

I'm not sure why I bought this book. After making my way through it, I've come to the conclusion that meditating is as simple as this: sit or lie comfortable, maybe with a candle lit, and empty your mind. That's it! "How?" you may whine, like I did, before I read it.. Well, you just.. breathe. And there are techniques to breathing in the book. There is also the yoga Sun Salute pose, and some odds and ends about brainwaves and suchlike. Overall, a very informational book, but it won't get you out there "Om"-ing unless you (deep down) really want to. It's a nice read, though, and the only one I've read on the subject. Like they say in Program, "It works if you work it"...

It makes me feel like we are all idiots just from reading this book. Meditation has so many benefits that it should make anyone wonder why we aren't all meditating!

Well, until I read this book the answer seemed pretty clear: no time, no patience to sit down, not exactly something pleasing to do, not a suiting lifestyle, etc... This book completely breaks those barriers - it teaches so many techniques and methods that is hard not to find one that will suit you.

It is a great introductory book but takes things much further. Joan and Eve explain things, actually explain them, instead of just saying "Do this", like so many meditation and self-help books. They do rely on some outdated scientific information and should be more cautious when talking about herbs, but that doesn't take any merit from the book (that's not what it is about!). It also has so much information that it may be a little confusing for a beginner, but if you take it slowly it is quite pleasant.

So, if you are looking for a book on meditation this is the one - it will not only teach you and motivate you to meditate, but will make meditation a way of life, putting you in tune with yourself and with the rest of mankind and even the planet (I'm not getting "new-agy" here, the book really has techniques aimed at this kind of objectives).

In one sentence, my review would be "Buy it."