Beginner's Guide to Meditation

by Goswami Kriyananda

"Meditation is easy. It is as simple and natural as breathing. Meditation is a comfortable, delightful way of getting to know yourself."

Filled with Goswami Kriyananda's warm humor and mystical understanding, "Beginner’s Guide to Meditation" is a clear and concise guide to the ancient art of meditation. Readers will discover techniques from many traditions, and learn how to select the approach best suited to their personalities. This modern classic uses teaching stories and practical explanations to inspire both beginners and experienced meditators.

First published in 1985, "Beginner's Guide to Meditation" is Book One of The Meditation Series by Goswami Kriyananda. Books Two and Three are "Intermediate Guide to Meditation" and "Advanced Guide to Meditation".

What is meditation? In "Beginner's Guide to Meditation," Goswami Kriyananda explains that meditation is the art of remaining totally still physically and mentally, while centering your awareness. You then slowly and gently move ever upward, ascending toward that which is most beautiful and most meaningful to you. In this volume, you will find methods for moving even beyond this concept of beauty and truth, and coming face to face with the that soul beyond beauty, transcendent and immaculate.

118 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Mary bushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful text. I have read the book many times over the past 20 years. It is a good beginning text that will carry one through years of practice.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I like this book is that although it is very practical, with easy to learn techniques, it includes the spiritual. Meditation is not just about relaxation and healthy benefits although those are important. It's also part of the pathway to illumination.

[rae solomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kriyananda offers some great practical and not-so-practical tips for beginning a meditation practice. The organization of the book is a little bit confusing, and some of the "facts" cited are clearly not true (yaks members of the pig family?). Also some of the author's attitudes about gender relations seem a little bit out-dated. But Kriyananda does a fairly good job of describing the ineffable, and I was able to apply several of his techniques immediately.