Mediation

I bought the book "Mediation for the Dummy" by Stephan Bodian, meditation instructor, psychotherapist, and former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. You can also study meditation for years, exploring its subtleties. Meditation for Dummies is a simple, clear introduction to the basics of meditation, including an overview of dozens of techniques, practices, and specific meditations, plus direction for going deeper. You get step-by-step instructions for a variety of meditations, including body position, mental concentration, where to put your attention, what to contemplate or notice, physical movements, and breathing. A nice touch is the recurring "traditional wisdom": ancient stories or anecdotes that make a point. This book is useful whether you want the nuts and bolts for getting started in the next minute or you want to dip your mind into different practices and philosophies. Nothing is too elementary to explain: "how to sit up straight--and live to tell about it," what to wear, dealing with fear and self-judgment, and what to do when you get "stuck." You also get plenty of information about the benefits and varieties of meditation. You're bound find and develop a practice that feels right for you.

This book lightly touches on how to meditate, adopting yoga techniques and learn to utilise "mindfulness" which is commonly sprinked in the Buddhist text.

Personally, I like the phrase where our mind is like a monkey prancing or swinging from one branch to other while we could not develop our concentration while retaining receptive awareness of surrounding. It is like a puppy running around in the garden or chasing its tail! Many a times, in the rapid age of modernization, we are so caught up in the high speed to accomplish many tasks within a short span of time, thus, resulting in unnecessary stress or feeling inadequate of empty and deprived life. And also, this book taught us how to let go of certain things and learn to accept things readily as the Buddhist always advocates its belief of letting go of things. It certainly takes a lot of courage to let go of something that you have clung to tightly. So, it takes a lot of effort to manage your mind as well!