Three Books About Mindfulness for Beginners
I’m often asked by students and friends (and sometimes completely random strangers who email me) what books about meditation I like to recommend. Since I’ve been meditating for twenty years, I have read a fair number of books on meditation, and I’ll recommend three that I think are the best for beginners. Before I do that, I have to caution you against reading too many books on meditation. I love to read to the point that I’ll read the ingredients of a shampoo in the toilet, and I never thought I’d be recommending against reading as much as possible, but when it comes to meditation, I do feel the need to caution you. Very often people spend more time reading about meditation than meditating. The truth is that meditation is a practice, not a theory. You can easily learn the basics for a lifetime from each of these books.
Read, of course, by all means, just make sure that reading about meditation doesn’t replace the actual meditation!
Meditation in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
This book was written by a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher and its tone and language are explicitly Buddhist. But that aside, this is a short, well-written book by someone who knows exactly what he’s talking about
This book will teach you the basic technique and it will teach you how to deal with the five hindrances should they arise in meditation, and they are bound to at some point.
The downside of this book is that you won’t be introduced to the variety of practices. However, if we’re being truthful, you only need one practice so that’s only a downside if you’re curious about trying out different methods before settling on one.
For years, this was my favorite meditation book. I appreciate direct and concise instructions, and this is exactly what this book delivers.
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is a wonderful person and her personality shines through everything that she writes. This book is a joy to read, filled with anecdotes from her personal practice and life. I appreciate an author who talks about her mistakes, not just her attainments. Meditation teachers can appear superhuman at times and I find this to be alienating. Sharon Salzberg is a relatable human being.
All that aside, this book has been in print for a few decades now and still a better book on the four boundless qualities hasn’t been written, at least not in English. There’s just enough theory to understand the concept without making it overwhelming and she provides an abundance of meditation instructions, all clearly explained.
If you’re interested in cultivating lovingkindness, compassion, joy or equanimity – this is the only resource you’ll need.
Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Unlike the previous two books, this one is entirely secular and intended for complete beginners. Jon Kabat-Zinn makes sure to avoid most references to Buddhist terminology and presents meditation from a very particular angle. Kabat-Zinn often refers to H. D. Thoreau and his influence is visible in this book.
Wherever You Go There You Are presents a wide variety of meditation practices, from focusing on the breath to visualizations. Because this book has the width, it doesn’t go in as many details as the previous two books. If you’re interested in trying out different practices before deciding on the one you want to deepen, this book is a good start.
Another thing that I appreciate about this book is Kabat-Zinn’s slow, reflective writing style. In a way, he makes you more mindful through his writing.
