I’ve finished writing the second book in the “Meditation for Beginners” series, called, “Secrets for Success”. It is now with my “editor”, OK, my sister, I can’t afford to pay for a professional editor. But, my sister does a great job, she has already looked at it once, fixed it, then I revised a couple of hundred sentences and added an entire section to the book, and now she’s reviewing it again! That’s family for ya!
This book, even more so than, “Meditation for Beginners – A 22 Day Course,” is meant for absolute beginners AND those that have meditated for a long time and just not been successful with getting into the higher states of meditation like Jhana. I have considered writing this book for nearly 13 years. Finally, I pulled it together and wrote nearly everything I know about meditation in just 176 pages (53,000 words).
Here’s some more info about this book >
Here it is on Amazon >
Here is a peek at the Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Forward
Who is this Book For?
The Problem with Meditation
What is Your Teaching Approach?
Problems in How Meditation is Usually Taught
Putting the Cart Before the Horse
Why “Secrets For Success?”
Backward
Chapter 1 – Why Meditate?
What is the Fruit of Meditation? What Can You Expect?
Chapter 2 – The Three Essentials
Focusing on the Breath
Letting Go
Mindfulness of the Present Moment
Chapter 3 – The Breath
Why Does Meditation Practice Involve Focusing on the Breath?
Qualities of the Breath
How to Watch the Breath During Meditation?
Another Issue
What is the Goal?
What Happens Next?
Chapter 4 – Letting Go
Before You Meditate
As You Meditate
Letting Go During the Day
Before You Sleep
Chapter 5 – Mindfulness of the Present
What is Mindfulness?
Concentration in Mindfulness Vs. Concentration in Meditation
Inside The Process
How to Practice Mindfulness?
How Long Can Mindfulness Persist?
Is Mindfulness for Long Periods of Time Easy for Most People?
Eating in Mindfulness
Mental Health Benefits of Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness Is Always With You
Why is Mindfulness So Important?
How Did You Go About Learning Mindfulness?
Chapter 6 – Possible Mind Experiences
Normal Experiences During Meditation
Experiences to Avoid During Meditation
Experiences Outside of Meditation
Chapter 7 – Jhana
How Did I Find the Jhanas?
Chapter 8 – Jhana 1, 2, 3
How Does Jhana 1 Begin?
What Is Jhana 1 Like?
Jhana 2
Jhana 3
Chapter 9 – Jhana 4 and Abhinna
Jhana 4
Abhinna
Mind Penetrating Knowledge
Chapter 10 – Jhana 5, 6, 7, 8
Jhana 5
Jhana 6
Jhana 7
Jhana 8
Chapter 11 – Forget About It!
The Catch-22
Chapter 12 – The Incidentals
Sitting
Environment
Clothing
Sitting Posture
Your Eyes?
Where to Meditate?
Listening to Music During Meditation?
Purifying Your Mind Before You’re “Ready”?
Amulets and Other Superstitions
Practice Frequency / Schedule
Chapter 13 – A Simple Practice
Step 1 – Walking Meditation
Step 2 – Sitting
Step 3 – The Breath: Part 1
Step 4 – Observing the Mind
Step 5 – Observing the Body
Step 6 – Observing Pain and Discomfort
Step 7 – Observing Feelings
Step 8 – The Breath: Part 2
Timeline for a Simple Practice (Summary)
Chapter 14 – Experimentation
Opening Your Eyes
Observing Pain
Tickles or Itches
Chapter 15 – Tips and Tricks
Chapter 16 – Frequently Asked Questions About Meditation
Chapter 17 – Now What? Just Do It!
Afterward
Here it is on Amazon >
Here is the first book I wrote that I suggest you start with:
Meditation for Beginners – A 22-Day Course
The most extraordinary experiences I’ve ever had in my life were Jhana and Abhinna. Of these, Abhinna was by far the most impactful. See more about Abhinna on these pages:
- What Is Abhinna? (Abijna, Abhinnanana)
- Abhinna Experiences | My Background
- Abhinna Experiment 2019
- Divine Eye Experience
- Knowing Hearts and Minds | Abhinna Gift
- Meditation, Jhana, Abhinna Experience Overview
- Meditation for Beginners – Secrets for Success Book
- Meditation Journal Entries (Chronological)
- Meditation Topics
- Recalling Past Lives
- Reincarnation and Past Lives
- Supernatural Realms
Still just getting started with the new book but wanted to let you know I’m really loving it so far – you’ve done a great job distilling the practice & I can see it being a huge help to those interested in the subject! can see I’m going to have a hard time putting it down.. lol
That’s great news Mike. There is a lot in there that most meditators will already know. However, I might have a different take on it. The real keys are a dedication to winning the game of concentration on the breath at the nose, and when that is finished, being able to let go of any experience that comes up – regardless how amazing it seems… even jhana. If someone can do that, it is not a difficult path to follow. Thanks for your note Mike! If you think of it, can you write a review in Amazon for it after you finish? Those help SO much! Metta, Vern
Had already planned to definitely be writing a review for this one one Amazon (just hadn’t wanted to be premature about it but no question at all it will happen as soon as I get through it..) like I say can already tell at just a few pages in what an excellent job you’ve done with this one though!! Great work.. really!!