Meditation for Starters [Paperback]

Donald J. Walters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2005

Award-winning guide shares a safe, simple, way to try meditation--and then explore its cosmic potential. Covers fundamentals of posture, breathing, mental techniques, and more. With four guided visualizations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda) is an internationally known author, lecturer, and composer. Widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on meditation and yoga, he has taught these principles and techniques to hundreds of thousands of students around the world.

An advocate of simple living and high thinking, his more than 80 books emphasize the need to live wisely by one’s own experience of life, and not by abstract theories or dogmas.

In 1968, Walters founded Ananda Village in Nevada City, California, dedicated to spreading the spirit of friendship, service, and community throughout the world. Ananda is recognized as one of the most successful intentional community in the world. Today, over 1,000 people reside in five Ananda communities throughout the U.S. (Seattle, Palo Alto, Portland, Sacramento and Ananda Village) and in Europe. The European retreat and community located in Assisi, Italy, also serves Ananda meditation groups in Europe, Croatia, and Russia. Both the Nevada City and Assisi communities have world-renowned guest retreat facilities where thousands of visitors annually visit for renewal or instruction in many aspects of meditation, yoga, and the spiritual life. Walters has also established "Living Wisdom" schools for grades K-12 in Nevada City, Sacramento, Portland, and Palo Alto.

Mr. Walters books and music have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and been translated into 28 languages. He is the author of more than 80 books on a variety of topics including leadership, education, creativity, and moral values. His Best-selling titles include Awaken to Superconsciousness, Meditation for Starters, God Is for Everyone,The Art of Supportive Leadership, The Path – One Man’s Quest on the Only Path There Is, Money Magnetism, The Essence of Self-Realization, Affirmations for Self-Healing, Education for Life, and his best-selling Secrets gift books.

A composer since 1964, Walters has written over 400 musical works. His music is inspiring, soothing, and uplifting. Many of his new albums are instrumental works with brief affirmations or visualizations. Chuck Dilberto, of Awareness Magazine says, "Walters’ words and music are full of his life and light. His sole intention is to heal, something we could all use during these chaotic times". His recent albums include Secrets of Love, Music to Awaken Superconsciousness, Windows on the World and Surrender: Mystical Music for Yoga. As a composer, Walters is best known for the top-selling albums Mystic Harp and Mystic Harp 2, featuring the legendary harpist Derek Bell, of the 5-time Grammy Award-winning group The Chieftains. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

What is Meditation

...The essential attitude for correct meditation is one of listening. The difference between prayer and meditation is that in prayer we talk to God, whereas in meditation we listen for His answer.

In meditation, the mind must be kept receptive. You can't think your way into deep meditation. Nor, indeed, can you think your way into deep insights and inspirations. You can only receive wisdom: You cannot concoct it. A truth must be perceived, in that calm awareness which is superconsciousness.

Meditation, then, is not creating answers: It is perceiving, or receiving them. And this is the secret of creativity.

Meditation is listening. The mind must suspend it's normal activity of analyzing, of weighing alternatives, and of generally "talking" so much that one cannot hear melodies that the superconscious is playing to it.

Meditation is a process of returning to your own center. It is learning to relate to life and to your environment from who you are, and not from the way other people try to define you. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Crystal Clarity Publishers (April 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565890809
• ISBN-13: 978-1565890800
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,277,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) , a direct disciple of the great master, Paramhansa Yogananda, is an internationally known author, lecturer, and composer. Widely recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on meditation and yoga, he has taught these principles and techniques to hundreds of thousands of students around the world.

In 1968, Kriyananda founded Ananda Village in Nevada City, California, dedicated to spreading the spirit of friendship, service, and community throughout the world. Ananda is recognized as one of the most successful intentional communities in the world; over 1,000 people reside in Ananda communities in the US, India, and Italy. The European retreat and community located in Assisi, Italy, also serves Ananda meditation groups in Europe, Croatia, and Russia.

Ananda Village is also home to The Expanding Light, a world-renowned guest retreat facilities where thousands of visitors annually visit for renewal or instruction in many aspects of meditation, yoga, and the spiritual life. The nearby Ananda Meditation Retreat, located on Ananda's first property, function both as a retreat and as the site for Ananda's Institute of Alternative Living.

An advocate of simple living and high thinking, his more than 90 books covering a wide range of subjects emphasize the need to live wisely by one's own experience of life, and not by abstract theories or dogmas.

A composer since 1964, Kriyananda has written over 400 musical works. His music is inspiring, soothing, and uplifting. Many of his later albums are instrumental works with brief affirmations or visualizations. Chuck Dilberto, of Awareness Magazine says, "[His] words and music are full of his life and light. His sole intention is to heal, something we could all use during these chaotic times."

Through Crystal Clarity Publishers, his works, have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 25 languages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educational and deeply inspiring, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Meditation for Starters [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Part One includes a talk by Walters on meditation. Even as a long time meditator, I found lots of help for my own meditation practice. I think that beginning meditators will also be greatly aided by Walters' experience and advice. He shares the Hong-Sau technique of meditation, an ancient practice used by many spiritual traditions- yogis and buddhists alike.

Part Two is a beautiful guided meditation/visualization. Again, experienced and advanced meditators will most likely find this deeply restful and helpful to their meditation practice.

If you would like to help a friend learn about meditation, Meditation for Starters would make a great gift.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent, One-of-a-Kind Meditation Video, May 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Meditation for Starters [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of the most unique and interesting instructional videos that I have ever seen. Walters begins by giving a great talk on what meditation is, how to do it, and why. He speaks simply, clearly, and practically. I really came away feeling like I could do this!

The second part is a guided visualization, also narrated by Walters. His voice is so soothing and relaxing--its the kind of voice you wish was on every guided meditation tape. Of course, it isn't very easy to create compelling visuals to go with a guided meditation, but I think the video succeeds admirably with its blend of enchanting environmental scenes and images.

I also recently discovered that there is a great companion book for this video also called Meditation for Starters, which I bought. It is the perfect accompaniment and serves as an excellent at-a-glance reference, although the video producers take great pains to emphasize that you do NOT need to buy the book to get a great introduction to meditation from the video alone. They are meant to be separate, stand-alone products. While this is definitely true, if you are really serious about getting a practice going, I would recommend buying the book as well.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspiring and informative., May 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Meditation for Starters [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I found Mr. Walters talk on this meditation video to be very inspiring and informative. He teaches a meditation technique that was brought to America in the 1920's from India. This is an ancient meditation technique that brings you to a state of deep calmness and great peace. I have used this meditation technique for 20 years myself, so I am speaking from my own personal experience.

The guided visualization part of this video is really a lot of fun. The live video footage interwoven with animated still images is very soothing. I really liked the animation of the butterfly. The music that Mr. Walters wrote to accompany this visualization is thrilling. His voice is soothing and uplifting. The guided visualization presented in this video is a great way to relax and calm the mind in preparation for meditation. I would recommend this video to anyone new to mediation. It's a great starting place.