Top 10 List of Best Meditation Books

One might think that meditation is not that all difficult. What you do is, just sitting and doing nothing. But according to Lord Buddha, meditation or keeping your mind still and focus is the toughest battle you will face. Just ask anybody who has just tried meditation, they will definitely tell you that it is the most difficult of all. So you need the correct guidance and support to meditation. The problems faced by different individuals while meditating will definitely be different to others, so it is best to have a personal adviser who has practiced and deep knowledge of mediation. Many would not find that luxury, but the following books will serve you something closer to that. These books are written by great people who have achieved great heights in meditation by doing meditation for years, so they know the most of the problems faced by many people who are starting meditation. Some of the books even include CDs so they will be an excellent support in your journey to successful meditation. Here are my recommendations based on my experience, the other experts’ recommendations and Amazon best sellers.

PS:

Buddha meditation or meditation in general, is good for health and brain. Many experiments have been conducted to prove this and they have come up with astonishing results. Some results claim that meditation has cured some diseases like cancer which are not possible to be cured by medical treatment. Some results prove that meditation improves brain activity. You can read two results I found on the web randomly here and here. So meditation is good medicine!

I also have written an article on best Buddhism books.

Author : Ven. Bhante Hanapola Gunarathne

This is a very well written step by step guide to meditation by a scholarly Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. This is a bestseller in Amazon. This explains Vipassana meditation, myths, realities and benefits of it in a very simple language which can be understood by the newcomers easily.

This book explains the easiest and fastest way to learn meditation simply by following the breathe. The varieties like purposeful meditation (sitting in some place for meditation) and how to meditate while you are doing your daily activities. A highly recommended book for a beginner.

A Gentle, Guided Approach (Book and CD)

Author : Diana Lang

This is an excellent guide for the western crowd especially who are starting to meditate. It has three sections: the art of meditation, how to practice and common questions. The accompanied CD adds much value to the book. It contains guided meditations, relaxing music and beautiful nature sounds.

How to Reduce Stress, Get Healthy, and Find your Happiness in Just 15 Minutes a Day

Author : Rachel J Rofe

Meditation is invaluable for your health, to reduce stress and in simple terms to mange your day to day activities correctly and efficiently. A small session of meditation after a stressful day will make you calm and peaceful. The book will guide you to find out the best meditation technique for you and how to follow a routine.

Author : Jack Kornfield

This is a book by the bestselling author and trusted meditation teacher Jack Kornfield. This is a complete step-by-step guide for beginners which explains how to breathe properly, handling the physical discomfort, and developing a daily mediation routine etc. The included CD contains guided meditation sessions which are very valuable for novice mediators.

Walking the Buddha’s Path

Author : Ven. Bhante Hanapola Gunarathne

The second book in the list from ven. Bhante Henapola Gunarathne. This is another masterpiece from the author of Mindfulness in Plain English, an all time bestseller in Buddhism books. This book explains the methods to handle anger, select the best livelihood, and maintaining lovely relationships with parents, partners, friends etc. This book will guide you to bring the Buddha’s teaching into your everyday life through meditation.

Author : Jon Kobat-Zinn

Jon Kobat-Zinn has done a tremendous job in introducing meditation to America. Also he is very much influential in researching meditation and bridging the gap between the meditation and modern science. In this book he explains how meditation can be used to reduce stress, reduce depression, pain and more.

Tibetan Wisdom to the Western World

Author : Lama Surya Das

According to the Buddha , each of us has the wisdom, awareness and power of Buddha within us. We do not know how to discover that. In this book Lama Surya Das shows us how we can awaken ourselves and identify true power within us.

The way to a Meaningful Life

Author : his holliness the Dalai Lama

A liston top 10 meditation books will not be completed if you miss a book from his holiness the Dalai Lama. He is the most respected Buddhist monk of the modern world; in addition he explains the complex Buddhism in a simple way so that the majority of the people can understand.

In this book his holiness the Dalai Lama explains that the ability to find the true fulfillment of life lies within each of us. And he further helps the reader to understand meditation and how to overcome daily obstacles by following the Buddha’s principles.

The Liberation Practice of Insight Mediation

Author : Larry Rosenberg

The book explains in detail the Anapanasathi meditation, probably the simplest and easiest type of meditation to practice, which was introduced by the Lord Buddha himself 2500 years ago. In Anapanasathi meditation you focus your attention entirely to breathing. This is a simple but effective way to keep your mind still and stay focused.

An Introduction to the practice of Meditation

Author : Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master, a great teacher of meditation and a bestselling author. In this book the Zen master illustrates that mindfulness mean being awake and fully aware. You can do this while you are eating, answering the phone, ironing clothes or in every daily activity.

Top 10 List of Buddhist Books