6 Books that Will Help You in Your Meditation Journey

Meditation takes a lot of patience and dedication, but we all know it's well worth it. However, balancing "patience and commitment" with "energy and relaxation" might be beneficial at times. That's when you should pick up a decent meditation book and get some inspiration. We've made it simple for you by highlighting five of our favourites from the ever-growing list of outstanding options.

People often talk about wishing to have a transcendental experience to break up their routine in this current world of stress and strain. Dhyana, or meditation, is a phrase that frequently appears in these conversations. Since the dawn of time, meditation and spirituality have been used to solve some of life's most fundamental concerns.

Almost every type of meditation has its origins in India and its ancient civilization. Meditation isn't always as simple as sitting with your back straight and your eyes closed; many people find a variety of activities to be contemplative. It's a technique for going beyond the five senses and the mind's limitations. We've compiled a list of the greatest meditation books along with some tips to help you meditate more effectively in this article.

If you're new to meditation or want to learn more about it, picking up a book is a good place to start. Meditation encompasses a wide range of knowledge, and books are a useful tool for exploring and better understanding the practice.

1. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki 

A late Japanese priest of the Soto lineage, Shunryu Suzuki, has been called the true founding father of Zen in the west. He founded both the San Francisco Zen Center and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and authored multiple books about mindfulness and meditation. For first-timers, we recommend starting with his classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics, highly appreciated, much reread, and much recommended as the finest first book to read on Zen in the forty years after its original release. From the first to the last page, Suzuki Roshi delivers the fundamentals—from the intricacies of zazen posture and breathing to the awareness of nonduality—in a way that is not only incredibly clear, but also vibrates with the delight of insight. It's a book to return to time and time again as an inspiration to practise, and in this fortieth anniversary edition, with a new afterword by Shunryu Suzuki's biographer, David Chadwick, it's now available to a new generation of seekers. 

2. The Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi Philip Kapleau

Roshi Philip Kapleau gives a thorough explanation of Zen Buddhism's history and discipline. Buddhist theory lies at the heart of Zen meditation. The practice is known as Zazen, and it entails focusing inward, sometimes on the breath and other times cleansing the mind of all ideas. While meditating, many practitioners adopt the lotus position.

This book has a detailed overview of Zen Buddhism in this classic work of spiritual counselling. Exploring the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practise, and enlightenment. Philip Kapleau gives readers invaluable advice on how to develop their own practises by sharing a personal account of his own experiences as a student and teacher. The 35th anniversary edition has been revised and updated to include new graphics and photographs, as well as a new afterword by Sensei Bodhin Kjolhede. The Three Pillars of Zen is a stirring and eye-opening essay that serves as the essential introduction to Zen.

3. The Headspace Guide To Meditation & Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe

Written by Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk and founder of Headspace, the world's largest online meditation platform, this book has one goal: for everyone to spend 10 minutes a day being present and attentive. It encourages readers to use mindfulness practises in all aspects of their lives, including relationships, work, and food.

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness is a convenient and portable book that teaches simple but effective meditation techniques that have a positive impact on all aspects of physical and mental health: from productivity and focus to stress and anxiety relief, sleep, weight loss, and personal relationships, the benefits are endless. As a result, you'll have more mental space and be less stressed. Andy brings this old technique into the modern world, making it ideal for those of us who are short on time.

4. How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Ani Pema Chödrön

Pema Chödrön is revered throughout the world for her unique ability to impart teachings and practises that promote peace, understanding, and compassion. The American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun delivers her debut book, How to Meditate, in which she delves into what she thinks to be the foundations for a lifelong practice.

Pema argues that meditation provides us with a golden key to solve this longing. This step-by-step book teaches readers how to meet and relate openly with the mind, embrace the depth of our experience, and live fully. Even though they have their roots in the ancient Buddhist canon, the explanations are eminently accessible to anyone interested in sitting. Ani Pema describes how to connect with well-being and "live wholeheartedly" through practising mindfulness of the body, thoughts, emotions, and sense impressions. 

5. Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg

Sharon Salzberg, one of the world's top meditation teachers and spiritual authors, is the best person to show a beginner how to harness the power of meditation. Ms. Salzberg distils 30 years of teaching meditation into a 28-day programme that will alter lives. She is the cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the author of Lovingkindness, Faith, and other publications.

Real Happiness is a comprehensive handbook that covers everything from the fundamentals of posture, breathing, and daily schedules to the finer details of mind-calming, diversion, and dealing with specific problem areas to the wider themes of compassion and awareness. Meditation lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and soothes chronic pain. We can achieve a stronger sense of tranquillity through meditating. It explains how meditation works, why it leads to increased resiliency, creativity, peace, clarity, and balance, and offers twelve different meditation techniques, including mindfulness meditation and walking meditation.

6. This Moment Is Your Life (and So Is This One): A Fun and Easy Guide to Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga by Mariam Gates

Mariam Gates, the book's author, has a master's degree in education from Harvard University and has worked as a teacher for over 20 years. She is the founder of Kid Power Yoga, where she teaches yoga and mindfulness to children and adults.

There are sections on meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing, as well as the advantages of each. It's never too early to begin teaching children stress and anxiety management techniques. Simple activities in full-colour artwork are included in this manual to introduce kids to meditation and mindfulness. At the end of each chapter, there are fast exercises and a tool kit. The book is recommended for readers aged 10 and up.

Conclusion

Today's world is full of convenience and comfort, but ironically, the graph of happiness and joy seems to be drooping. Meditation is a tried and tested mechanism to be naturally joyful. You can opt for appropriate books to study, based on the goals that you have.