How to Meditate: a practical guide

What is meditation?
Why practice it?
Which technique is for me?
How do I do it?

The answers to these often-asked questions are contained in this down-to-earth book, compiled and written by Kathleen McDonald, a Western Buddhist nun with solid experience in both the practice and teaching of meditation. HOW TO MEDITATE contains a wealth of practical advice on a variety of authentic and proven techniques.

Preface

PART ONE: MIND AND MEDITATION
Why Meditate?
What is Meditation?

PART TWO: ESTABLISHING A MEDITATINO PRACTICE
Advice for Beginners
The Meditation Session
Posture
Common Problems

PART THREE: MEDITATIONS ON THE MIND
Breathing Meditations
Meditation on the Clarity of the Mind
Meditation on the Continuity of the Mind

PART FOUR: ANALYTICAL MEDITATIONS
About Analytical Meditation
Meditation on Emptiness
Appreciating our Human Life
Death Awareness Meditation
Meditation on Impermanence
Meditation on Suffering
Equilibrium Meditation
Meditation on Love
Dealing with Negative Energy

PART FIVE: VISUALIZATION MEDITATIONS
About Visualization
Body of Light Meditation
Purification Meditation
Meditation on Tara
Meditation on Compassion
Meditation on the Buddha
Inner Heat Meditation

PART SIX: DEVOTIONAL PRACTICES
About Devotion
Prayers
Explanation of the Prayers
A Short Meditationo n the Graduated Path to Enlightenment
The Eight Verses and Avalokiteshvara
Prayer to Tara
Vajrasattva Purification
The Eight Mahayana Precepts
The Bodhisattva's Confession of Moral Downfalls

APPENDIX
Phonetics of Prayers in Tibetan

Glossary
Suggested Further Reading