The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience [Paperback]

Daniel Goleman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (January 3, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874778336
• ISBN-13: 978-0874778335
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DANIEL GOLEMAN is the author of the international bestsellers Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, and Social Intelligence, and the co-author of the acclaimed business bestseller Primal Leadership. He was a science reporter for the New York Times, was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and received the American Psychological Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for his media writing. He lives in the Berkshires.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally Clear Presentation of Meditation, July 16, 1998

By 

B. Hynum "Max Qual" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (Paperback)

1. The distinction between concentration and mindfulness as forms of practice has never in my reading experience been so clearly stated. (My meditation library is extensive and my practice is 7 years old.) 2. The stages of insight work -- also, the clearest presentation in my reading experience. Particularly helpful were the discussions on "visions" (p. 12) and pseudonirvana (p. 26). 3. Part IV: The Psychology of Meditation -- This is a gem. Ties in beautifully with _Emotional Intelligence_ (another Goleman treasure). The "altered states or altered traits" of consciousness discussion (pg. 172-5) is the best explanation of the "3rd foundation of mindfulness" I have seen. Summary: If you are interested in how your practice fits into the grand scheme of practices or looking for a menu to chose from, this is the book. If you want a clarification of the path at the center of all practices, no where else have I seen a better presentation.

This! ! is a seven star book as is _Emotional Intelligence_.

56 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific study of meditation, March 21, 2002

By 

Shawn Regan (marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (Paperback)

Good overall book of meditation. Goleman makes the distinction between the two major types of meditation: Concentration and Mindfulness. He also gives a pretty thorough description of the Visuddhimagga mind maps. He goes on to describe Hindu Bhaki, Jewish Kabblah, Christian Hesychasm, Sufism, TM, Ashtanga, Tantra and Kundalini Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, Gurdjeiff and Krishnamurti

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Overview of Meditation Practices, August 29, 2005

By 

Jeff Koob (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (Paperback)

In THE MEDITATIVE MIND: THE VARIETIES OF MEDITATIVE EXPERIENCE Daniel Goleman does an even more comprehensive job of covering his subject matter than William James did in his classic study of relgion,THE VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. Goleman covers a wider range of experiences and -- given that psychology has come a long way since James'day -- provides a more detailed analysis. This book ranks with Aldous Huxley's THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY as a modern classic on spiritual paths. He makes a good case for meditation as an ancient "psychotechnology" (my words, not his) for the transformation of consciousness. He cuts through the superficial differences in meditative practices, and points out what all of them share at the core: the retraining of attention.