How to Meditate: A Guide to Self-Discovery

"Please note the number 2 cd was missing. I received two number 3 cd .

Could you please mail me the missing cd ( the number 2 cd).

Thank you"
~ Written on 2008-09-10

"A friend handed me this book coincidentally at a time when I was becoming interested in meditation again after a brief experimentation several years ago. Turns out it was perfect as an icebreaker for me. It is simple and elegant, written concisely and with great clarity. Although it was written more than three decades ago, it reads like a timeless classic on meditation.

This book helped me correct various misconceptions about meditation that I had somehow acquired earlier. It also provides a nice way of organizing types of meditation without getting into all the heavy jargon sometimes used about this topic. Thus, I think it is especially useful for those who are not so familiar with Eastern systems of thought. But it also points out that meditation is not confined to Eastern cultures, and has been around in many other cultures (e.g., Hassidic Jewish) for almost as long as humans have existed. I enjoyed this broad, eclectic conceptualization of meditation and LeShan's treatment of the topic from a perspective that is not bound by any specific school, tradition, or religion.

Another positive aspect of the book is that the author keeps an open mind to the mysteries of the human mind and the universe; and explores some topics, such as paranormal phenomena, and their place in meditation. But he does this with a touch of skepticism and he brings in the relevant scientific knowledge of his day where it enriches his discussion.

Finally, he also expands his perspective to consider how psychotherapy and meditation may interface, and what the social significance of meditation is. These discussions keep the book enjoyable and add a philosophical value. So, it is not simply a book that shows you step by step how to meditate. Indeed, the "how to" is not the most important part of the book. He briefly presents several different methods and I found it enough to get me to design my own program of meditation and get started with it. But if you are looking for a book that teaches you a certain method very precisely and in great deal, I don't think this is the one. Apart from that, I highly recommend the book, especially as a primer for meditation.

This has been my first book review. I hope you find it useful."
~ Written on 2008-04-06

"This book and the other book by LeShan, THE MEDIUM, THE MYSTIC, AND THE PHYSICIST, were early inspirations in my spiritual journey. Although somewhat dated, the book has good notes and observations. It also gives some good guide lines about integrating psychotherapy and meditation. This something that I feel the work of Almaas, the contemplative psychotherapists, the alchemical hypnotherapists, the focusing work, and the process oriented hypnotherapists have gone deeper into since the publication of this book. But this does not invalidate what this book has to offer. He may be a little overly cautious with the physiological changes that deep meditation traditions may induce in people, but it is understandable given this cultures relative inexperience with what these shifts mean and how to meet them. This is probably why many Eastern meditation traditions have recommended that people have a guide to lead them through those changes. I have since moved to other phases of my own meditation journey, having done Dzogchen Buddhist meditations and Tumo Heat Yoga supported by Hatha Yoga, overtone chanting, and Pranayama. But I am happy with the support and grounding of several early books on the subject and this is one of them. The author gives several methods of meditation, makes them feel understandable, and relatively easy to practice as well as an overview of what is out there and what science has learned about them."
~ Written on 2008-01-01

"informative, has a few preliminary practices but 80%of it is lectures on types and systems of meditation. I say it is a must have if you dont know anything about meditation"
~ Written on 2007-06-08

"To its credit, I must say this was the first book that inspired me because a few days before purchasing, an inner voice in me told me to return back to the store I saw it at and buy it.

Can't say I was all that disappointed and in fact at least one or more of the techniques are helpful. However, one statement certainly turned out quite inaccurate in my own case. He states or at least implies that meditation goes hand in hand with being a good businessman. Well, if THAT were the case I wouldn't have lost money in the stock market some ten years after I commenced the practice! Nor would I have also lost in a business venture I had with someone where I got in over my head since I didn't grasp just how speculative the venture turned out."
~ Written on 2007-05-05