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Meditation: A Simple Eight-Point Program for Translating Spiritual Ideals into Daily Life

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After my "born again" atheist phase, I was intent on discovering/uncovering God for myself. I read all sorts of books (see my other reviews for some of what I have read)and all of these books satisfied my intellectual curiosity for a more "personable" God. I wasn't interested in a new religion, I was interested in knowing that a God of Love could love me, as well.

I decided to start meditating for two reasons. (1) I always admired people who could somehow get still, centered, and focused and brought a clear sense of attention/intention to everything they did and (2)maybe through meditation I could form a deeper inner "knowingness" that God did exist within me and around me.

This was one of the first books on meditation that I not only read, but devoured. I enjoy Eknath Eswaran's simple approach to meditation. If you are looking for a more complicated approach I am sure you will find many books that will fit the bill. Simplicity is an art. Simplicity is very difficult for a confused mind to understand. Simplicity is the essence of genius.

So I studied Eswaran's words on meditation, but I also took them to heart. When I was first learning to meditate, I often broke my practice into "bite-sized chunks". Three minutes here, five minutes there, another two minutes here, maybe four minutes there. I celebrated every moment I could get still. I relished in every moment I could get quiet. I wish I could say that I mastered meditation in six short weeks but I don't think anyone ever quites "masters" meditation. It does have an accumulative effect and eventually I was able to get still for twenty minutes (with my longest session being two hours) but meditation is so unlike anything I have ever done. You can't just put a meditation practice into a "box" and say this is meditation because meditation is the art of just allowing things to be and when we let things be without trying to change them, for better or for worse, then we are allowing and when I finally allowed myself to "let" God be God, God "showed up" in my life.

Not that God wasn't always present within me and around me, but somewhere along the way, through the help of these practices, I pierced the veil between the seen and the unseen and in a split-second, I came to know and feel that God was really real. Most of us would try and cling to that feeling...I did...but I also knew enough to let it go...to let it go...to let it go...that the more I just made room in my heart, the more I allowed God to be God, the more I jus allowed my mind, heart, and soul to become aligned with each other and act as one, the deeper I went with my practice.

I believe that every one of us can "learn" to meditate. I believe each of us already know how, but we have forgotten. When we were tiny little infants we knew how to still our minds, and have our hearts be wide open, and be vulnerable enough, innocent enough, and beautiful enough to let ourselves be exactly who we needed to be. We had nothing to prove. And then we "built" a shell of identity around our true beauty. We began to worship the outside world and we gradually became fixated on those things external to our own being. Meditation is not about learning to be, each one of us really know how to be who we are, meditation is primarily about unlearning all those things that we thought we were and just allowing ourselves to be who we really are; Pure Spirit...

This is a beautiful book and I am sorry for being so long winded, I guess I just got caught up in the moment, because to me, writing is a meditation and I guess I was just going with the flow...

Peace and Blessings...

I recently finished this book and thought it a good place to start if one is having troubles with multi tasking or asking themselves some deeper questions about life. In my experience I have found that some people want to slow down and develop harmony within themselves, they read the words yet don't apply it to their lives. Eknath Easwaran takes you though each level of higher (inner) conscienceness if you are willing to follow,accept and apply it. I particularly enjoyed how one can reach for and obtain unconditional love, unheard of in the psychology world where unconditional love is only between parent and child, that adult love can not be so. He speaks about basic morals in our day to day encounters with others, our spouses, and the world in general, more importantly, for one to be aware that ones actions affects others. On speaking, the suggestion is to ask ones self three questions. First, "are these words true", secondly "are these words necessary", and thirdly "are these words kind". Imagine those with uncontrollable road rage asking themselves this! I have practiced this art of "single mindedness" throughout my life, not able to put it into words. This book reaffirmed me that I am on the right path. A pure delight to read and reflect upon, written in a comprehensive manner and from a person who practices what he preaches. Prayers for meditation at the end are helpful. Hopefully we all will find the right person to share a life that is emotionally rich and empowering, full of mutual love and respect. It starts with you.

I came across Easwaran's book after having read a few others on the subject - nothing comes close to this one in making the concept of meditation come alive in the minds of people who are not clear on the subject. Easwaran has the knack of getting to the heart of the matter in a flash, and then gently explaining the concepts in a simple fashion, with wry, and sometimes subtle. This is a book by a man who's been there, and done that. Highly recommended for any individual who wants to try to rise above the stress and strain of daily life.

Given today's glut of "new age gurus," it's comforting to find a wise soul like Easwaran. In completely unpretentious, lucid, and humorous prose he describes how meditation and its allied principles will instantly transform your life. MEDITATION does not promise overnight change. Easwaran, rather, says in blunt terms that it's hard work to meditate on the scriptures each morning, put others first, and give one-pointed attention to every detail of our life. The difficulty lies in the fact that these principles go against our conditioning. But I and many other faithful individuals will ensure that this book will dramatically change your life if you give it the chance. To paraphrase the Buddha, Don't go by blind faith, try it out yourself and see if it works. I assure you the journey will be prosperous.

I first read this book in search of a method of meditation I could actually practice on a daily basis. I was struck by the clarity and common-sense approach of Eknath Easwaran. Each time I re-read the book, I'm amazed at the depth that is hidden in what seem like very simple, obvious guidelines to meditation and related spiritual practices.

This book is not a comparison of different forms of meditation or an in-depth discussion about sitting in meditation. However, if you are hoping to read a book that you can put into practical use, you will soon find what seems basic on the surface leads to an amazingly effective method of meditation and a very rich set of spiritual tools that you can actually use in your daily life.

Meditation (in any style) is a practice that involves training your mind and directing your attention. Anyone who meditates daily will find it artificial to try to separate the period of time in which you meditate in the morning from the rest of what you think, say, and do during the day. The practices described in this book actually address this connection in a wholistic, down-to-earth way.

Another attraction this book has for me is that the method described in this book honors all religions and does not require the reader to change his or her religious affiliation to be able to meditate.

This is one of the best books anyone interested in meditation, spirituality or simply a calm, peaceful and happy life can hope to read. Easwaran outlines a very simply eight point program to help us through our daily lives grow towards a better, happier and more peaceful future. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone with spiritual inclanations, or a desire to slow down her or his hectic life.

Excellent book on meditation. I wanted to practice meditation for a long time but was afraid of picking a book that wouldn't provide a good path to it but delve in some kind of abstract practice or ritual. I happened to buy "Upanishads" by the same author and was highly impressed by the simplicity but yet clear Upanishad translation. So I bought this book on meditation. The book is simply fabulous. Not attached to any religion or mysticism but encompassing the message of all, Eknath Easwaran clearly brings the importance of meditation in clear and lucid language. Now I regularly practice meditation. And have found a great deal of change in myself. The book on Bhagavad Gita and Dhammapada by the same author are also great reading. A series of great books from the true master.

This excellent book has now been reissued with a new title "Passage Meditation" which is available direct from Amazon Passage Meditation: Bringing the Deep Wisdom of the Heart into Daily Life (Essential Easwaran Library)

The Kindle edition is Passage Meditation: Bringing the Deep Wisdom of the Heart into Daily Life

Eknath Easwaran's "Meditation" is a book that came to me at a time in my life when it was sorely needed. Having read many books on the subject of meditation, I found Easwaran's approach to be both simple and practical. The affect this book has had upon me is very deep, and I recommend it as a fine companion for anyone who is embarking on a spiritual journey.

This book is one of the most profound books i've ever read in my life. It has helped me bring meditation into my life, which has truly transformed me and my life for the positive. This book is great for anyone, advanced or beginner to meditation, or for anyone in general, even if you don't plan on practicing meditation. This man has a wealth of knowledge that we could all benefit from. I highly recommend this book!!