How to Meditate: A Practical Guide [Paperback]

Kathleen McDonald (Author), Robina Courtin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2005

In a world seemingly moving at hyperspeed, it can be daunting to simply slow down — or stop — even briefly to try to make sense of things. Meditation has been proven to help. But exactly what is it? Why practice it? Which techniques are best? This popular guide answers these and many more questions for anyone who wants to begin — or is struggling to maintain — a meditation practice. Written by a Western Buddhist nun with solid experience in both the practice and teaching of meditation, How to Meditate contains a wealth of practical advice on a variety of authentic techniques, from what to do with the mind, to how to sit, to visualizations and other traditional practices. Best of all, McDonald's warm, encouraging approach is as close to the intimacy of private instruction as a book can be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent introduction...refreshingly readable...clarity without oversimplification." -- Buddhist Studies Review

This book is as beautifully simple and direct as its title... earnestly recommended..." -- Yoga Today --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

What is meditation? Why practice it? Which technique is best for me? How do I do it? The answers to these often-asked questions are contained in this down-to-earth book, compiled and written by Kathleen McDonald, a Western Buddhist nun with solid experience in both the practice and teaching of meditation. How to Meditate contains a wealth of practical advice on a variety of authentic and proven techniques. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications; 2nd edition (October 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861713419
• ISBN-13: 978-0861713417
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Fabulous!!!, August 16, 2002

By 

Bill Butler "Bill Butler" (Tarzana, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide (Wisdom Basic Book) (Paperback)

This is a real find. Just scrumptous! The author is a Tibetan
nun in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism (the same as the Dali Lama). So you will be taught to meditate in the same way that the Dali Lama meditates! She does try to cover all schools of meditation. But she still teaches primarily Tibetan. And
her meditations are mainly Gelugpa. What is so wonderful about this book is that it is for beginners. But intermediates like
me can learn so much from it as well. And for advanced practioners, I have no doubt that they can learn a thing or two as well. You will find out how to sit. When to sit. How long to sit. How to pick out a certain meditation. Dealing with problems frequently encountered in meditation. How to deal
with negative problems such as depression, anger, and anxiety.
Nevertheless, I would only recommend this book to people who think they might want to practice in the Tibetan tradition. Or
for people who want to practice Buddhist meditation but don't care what tradition they practice in. This is really a great and helpful book. Thank you.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect guide to meditation, January 3, 2004

By 

D. Golden (Savannah, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide (Wisdom Basic Book) (Paperback)

This book has enormous value for anyone who wishes to begin a meditation practice. Kathleen McDonald is a nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, but I feel that this book offers useful advice to anyone of any spiritual persuasion. I have to disagree with some of the other reviews who feel that this book is for aspiring Buddhists only. Meditation can be correctly seen as a highly effective technology that can be employed to tame the mind. In fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated that Tibetan Buddhism exists somewhere in between science and religion.

I also want to comment on the warmth with which McDonald has crafted this text. She writes with great simplicity, yet she manages to impart a great deal of valuable and sophisticated information. If a book can be described as being " friendly ", that would certainly apply here. Clearly interested in creating a book that in no way intimidates or overwhelms, her approach is gentle and reassuring. This is a wonderful book!

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "How to" book that actually teaches How to meditate., August 11, 2006

By 

Student (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

After purchasing 5 books on meditation this is the first book that actually teaches you how to meditate step by step. Most books on meditation tell you "what" to meditate on and seem to forget to tell you how to do it, this book tells you how to do it. It's very easy to read and it gives even the first time meditators the instructions needed to start meditating.
It starts with the very basic (but very effective) way of meditation and then progresses through the book to more in depth meditations covering many different ideas to meditate on.
I highly recommend this book to the beginners in meditation and also to the more experienced.