20 MINUTES TO MASTER … MEDITATION. Christina Feldman

      

IN THE SAME SERIES

       20 Minutes to Master Buddhism

       20 Minutes to Master Your Psychic Potential

       20 Minutes to Master Stress Management

       20 Minutes to Master Wicca

      This book is dedicated to all of my teachers, who have been living examples of the path of wisdom and compassion.

      To Sara and Arran, always an inspiration.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

      This ebook will show you how you can master meditation – in just 20 minutes.

      The book is split into two parts. The first part, Principles of Meditation, is an original, previously published work from an expert in the field. It’s a comprehensive and insightful introduction to the subject, explaining the ideas and techniques that will allow you to develop a true understanding and practise it every day.

      The second part is 20 Minutes to Master Meditation, which you’ll find towards the end. This is your meditation cheat-sheet – a short and lucid look at all the ideas and techniques covered in the first section, which will only take you 20 minutes to read. It’s a powerful and invaluable resource that you’ll return to again and again.

      If you want to truly master meditation – in both the short term and the long term – look no further. The answers are here.

      CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

       In the Same Series

       Dedication

       About this Book

       PRINCIPLES OF MEDITATION

       Introduction

       1 Principles of Meditation

       2 Concentration

       3 Mindfulness Meditation

       4 Devotion

       5 Calming the Mind and Body

       6 Meditation in Daily Life

       Resource Guide

       20 MINUTES TO MASTER MEDITATION

       Introduction

       1 Principles of Meditation

       2 Concentration

       3 Mindfulness Meditation

       4 Devotion

       5 Calming the Mind and Body

       6 Meditation in Daily Life

       Copyright

       About the Publisher

INTRODUCTION

      For anyone wishing to explore meditation there has never been a richer time to do so. Meditation is no longer the territory of cloistered, religious communities but is readily available to all, regardless of background or religious affiliation. Meditation practices are no longer considered esoteric techniques, shrouded in secrecy but are increasingly being integrated into every level of our culture. Meditation has become the path of countless people who seek spiritual renewal, well-being, calmness and an enriched quality of life. The escalating busyness, noise and stress of our world compels many of us to turn inwardly to find a refuge of stillness and understanding.

      The purpose of meditation is to transform and awaken us. It is intended to bring about change – through understanding, compassion and clarity of seeing. Through meditation practice our way of seeing ourselves – our minds, bodies, characters – alters through a process of becoming increasingly sensitive and aware. Our minds have greater access to calmness and clarity, our ways of perceiving ourselves become more intuitive and direct and we begin to understand ourselves with greater depth and compassion. We learn the art of simplicity and disentangling ourselves from the knots of confusion, images, habitual reactions and tension. We learn the skills of calmness and discover a way to be at peace with ourselves. The personal transformation that occurs translates into a growing capacity to approach our lives with increasing skilfulness, wisdom and care. The choices we make in our lives, our way of relating to other people and the events of our lives, is guided by sensitivity, mindfulness and calm.

      Within the variety of schools of meditation there are both mystical and practical elements. Through meditation practice we open up to new understandings and revelations, we enter into previously unfamiliar territory of stillness, oneness and grace. Profound and sometimes startling encounters with depths of concentration, peace and unity are possible through meditation practice. The insights that come to us through meditation translate into very real changes in our lives. Our minds and bodies calm – a tangible sense of well-being and balance begins to permeate all of our lives. Our capacity to think clearly and intuitively deepens, our potential for creativity is enhanced and the inner calmness we discover manifests in an increased calmness and harmony in our lives.

      Meditation is inherently experiential. It cannot be learned as a purely scholastic subject nor simply taught as an intellectual exercise. Meditation is not a new belief system to be adopted or a collection of information to be absorbed. Whatever style or discipline we adopt its effectiveness is reliant upon our direct personal exploration, practice and experience with it. Meditation introduces us to the life of our mind, body