Top 5 Must-Read Books On Meditation

Wondering what meditation is all about? Or maybe you want to learn more about meditation? Then these 5 books are a must-read for any meditation lover, regardless of the level of knowledge you have on meditation. We loved each and every one of them, and we wholeheartedly recommend to add them to your reading list:

1. Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You by Benjamin W. Decker

If you are new into meditation, then this is the perfect book to start. In it, Decker explains 10 types of meditations, and helpful techniques to turn meditation into an everyday habit. As he explains in his book, one of the best ways to practice meditation is to practice it often. Each meditation he explains provides you with information and background about it before he shows you how to do it. Also, he explains how to fit in meditation even in the busiest schedules. It’s simply the perfect book to start off your meditation journey!

When we simply notice and allow things to be as they are, we naturally disengage from the impulses that would try to control or change things. This is not a practice in passivity or ignorance—quite the opposite. This is a practice in opening your mind and allowing yourself to receive all the information you possibly can before making any moves or taking any action. Notice the word allow. We do not force ourselves to pick up on sensory input; the awareness expands naturally from a practice of calm, relaxed allowing.

Benjamin W. Decker, Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You

2. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki

Want to learn more about Zen Meditation? Then this classic is a perfect choice. Shunryu Suzuki has masterfully explained the simplicity of Zen, in simple, concise words that allow even a complete beginner to understand what Zen actually means. It’s hard to describe Zen, and one of the most common issues on this subject that many book readers struggle with is misunderstanding Zen. But, with this book – it’s not an issue at all. From the very first line, Suzuki captivates you and brings you in the study of Zen. It’s a beautiful book, that will touch your soul, and change your understanding of the world.

When you do something, you should do it with your whole body and mind; you should be concentrated on what you do. You should do it completely, like a good bonfire. You should not be a smoky fire. You should burn yourself completely. If you do not burn yourself completely, a trace of yourself will be left in what you do.

Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

3. Dear Universe: 200 Mini-Meditations for Instant Manifestations by Sarah Prout

If you’d like to focus more on manifestation, then we wholeheartedly recommend to pick up Dear Universe right away. The book starts with how Sarah Prout lived, explaining how a couple of years ago she was living in a nightmare of home violence, and today, she lives the amazing life that he created for herself. Her story is truly inspiring, however, what makes this book amazing is how much she learned over the years, and the knowledge she shares with you. She provides mini-meditations for every occasion and emotion, helping you to manifest the life of your dreams, much like she has manifested hers.

More simply put, you either remember that you have the power to guide your emotions and instantly manifest a new reality, or you forget and fall into a state of fear. The fear disconnects you from your infinite potential. It’s kind of like when an Internet connection drops out. It cuts the cord and then invites you to rejoin the party again and again. It’s a constant dance.

Sarah Prout, Dear Universe: 200 Mini-Meditations for Instant Manifestations

4. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn

In today's modern way of living, you have to be five steps ahead. The obligations keep piling up, there is never enough time, and it's all very exhausting. Somehow in the rush to achieve more, joy seems to slip away from your life. Not only that but the constant focus on the past or the future never really lets you be in the present moment and enjoy it. With all of these issues, it's no wonder that you often feel disconnected and you can't help but feel like something is missing from your life. That is why mindfulness and daily meditations can help you a lot in your life. And if you are unsure where to start, well Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat Zinn is an amazing book that will help you hone mindfulness and change your life.

The book is written in a simple to understand language, and yet it explains many concepts and issues of modern life. Filled with a lot of subjects that will make you stop and think about how you are living your life, Wherever You Go, There You Are is perfect for anyone to pick up. It is an amazing read, and we definitely recommend to add this book to your read list!

To let go means to give up coercing, resisting, or struggling, in exchange for something more powerful and wholesome which comes out of allowing things to be as they are without getting caught up in your attraction to or rejection of them, in the intrinsic stickiness of wanting, of liking and disliking. It's akin to letting your palm open to unhand something you have been holding on to.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

5. The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness by John Yates

If you feel like you need to know more and understand more about meditation – not just the spiritual but also the physical part of it, then there pick this book right up. John Yates is a neuroscientist that turned into a meditation master. Through his research, facts, and information he provides, it’s truly enlightening to see meditation from a completely different perspective. It provides a deeper understanding, of what goes on during meditation on both a spiritual and physical level and how meditation is truly a magnificent practice to implement in your life. Definitely add this one to your reading list!

Meditation is the art of fully conscious living. What we make of our life—the sum total of thoughts, emotions, words, and actions that fill the brief interval between birth and death—is our one great creative masterpiece. The beauty and significance of a life well-lived consists not in the works we leave behind, or in what history has to say about us. It comes from the quality of conscious experience that infuses our every waking moment, and from the impact we have on others.

John Yates, The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide

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