Twenty-Five Doors to Meditation: A Handbook for Entering Samadhi (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lee Shu-Mei (Contributor)
Key Phrases: tumo fire, visualization samadhi, sexual cultivation, The Zen, Zhunti Buddha, Desire Realm (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Twenty-Five Doors to Meditation is the first guide to provide extensive, comprehensive, and detailed information about a variety of meditation methods. Together, William Bodri and Lee Shu-Mei make sense of that seemingly conflicting information that exists today regarding the path to spiritual enlightenment. Eacch meditation technique is fully described as is the interrelationship between the different paths to enlightenment. The authors show how Buddhist techniques can be explained through Taoist principles, Christian techniques through Hindu principles, and so on. Each meditation technique is designed to help you attain samadhi, the crux of spiritual development. The Authors explore the scientific basis behind each technique, developmental stages of accomplishment, and each path's effectiveness for entering samadhi. Especially useful is an extensive list of recommended references for the further study of individual techniques. An indespensable book for individuals searching to find the meditation technique that is best for them.

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578630355
• ISBN-13: 978-1578630356
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #385,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book for advanced and serious cultivators, July 14, 1998

By	"joao123" (Wuzburg, Germany) - See all my reviews

There is a flurry of "spiritual activity" out there, with hundreds and hundreds of books expounding on spiritual cultivation and all kinds of esoteric or New Age practices. Oftentimes, the literature is confusing and easily leads the inexperienced reader astray. One would expect that the writer of such subjects to have at least some degree of personal attainment or realization, which I've found in general not to be the case. This is what makes this book all the more invaluable. Bill and Shu-Mei are serious practitioners who back theory with countless hours of practice and self-realization. They belong to a select few who have been trained directly by the great Master Nan Huai-chin, one of the few true Zen Masters still living today. Both spent more than 10 years in dedicated practice, all devoted exclusively to the pursuit of the Way. I was also one of the few who was priviledged to see a draft of this book before it came out (the authors' courtesy) a! ! nd was awaiting anxiously to see it out in press. I have very little doubt that Bill and Shu-Mei will emerge as among the foremost masters of Zen for many years to come. In the tradition of Master Nan, their approach is refreshingly non-sectarian, teaching the practitioner the practical aspects (what really matters!) of the various cultivation schools. By drawing the reader's attention to the common features underlying the various meditation techniques, the authors succeed in building from ground up a robust scientific and biophysical foundation for spiritual cultivation that demystifies much of the superstition and beliefs that have clouded this field in the past. Readers who are serious practitioners of meditation will treasure this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of 25 doors, July 20, 2000

By	Avid reader (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a compilation of spiritual practices and techniques, mostly derived from the Chinese (Taoist) and Indian (Hinduism, Buddhism) schools of philosophy and religion.

The book is first and foremost, practical. Each technique is carefully described, along with other historical and bibliographical notes. These notes are useful for more inquisitive readers who wish to learn more about a particular method or topic.

The idea of all these spiritual practices is the attainment of self-realisation. This can also be called "enlightenment" or "seeing the Tao". The authors make a great deal of effort in trying to make this point; possibly because people get side-tracked, looking for mystical experience's or the attainment of superpower's, which have nothing to do with the real spiritual path.

The authors also emphasise proper behaviour and virtuous actions. In fact they say, before a person can make any real progress (on the spiritual path), he must accumulate merit from performing good deeds. This is quite strange and unique. I have not come across any other material, other than the books of Nan Huai Chin (BUY them), that talk about moral conduct.

I therefore recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn the HOW's and WHY's of meditation practice. The book also should be commended because it try's to make an effort in explaining the spiritual path, in terms of Western science. All to often, meditation books tell us, that a particular technique has been around for 1000 years and that's it! No further explanation as to why it actually benefits us or how the body actually gets healthy (it's true) through meditation.

I hope this tells you what you want know!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Instructions for Actual Meditators, February 10, 2004

By	John Newtson (Asheville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're serious about getting results from your meditative practice -- read this book! It does an excellent job of explaining the principles behind various meditation practices. With a depth all to rare in this field.

You'll find it's one of the best tools for people who actually meditate. Read it and you'll learn 25 different types of meditation...what they do...and why they work. If you're only interested in abstract, touchy feely stuff, this isn't for you. But if you want to actually get results and progress in your meditation -- whether you're a beginner or a veteran -- this is one of most helpful books you'll find.

Serious meditators should also check out the author's website, www.meditationexpert.com. The stuff on there is the most detailed, comprehensive and useful information a meditator can find. If you have any real familiarity with the field you'll be HUGELY impressed with the info. on this site.

Most of this information isn't available anywhere else to the western reader. The clear, detailed explanation will clear up a lot of the mistaken ideas about meditation and give you the tools to be able to understand meditation(theory & practice) ...and to get results.

Seriously, check out the website. The more you know the more you'll be impressed.