The Silenced Mind by Beck Anamin

Whether the meditator's needs are worldly or spiritual, this book on Yoga meditation supports both the beginner and those practicing at higher levels. In aiming to help people truly understand meditation, it begins with establishing universal basics. First, the ability to meditate is a natural trait of our species. Second, all meditation is about stilling mind activity. Third, a stilled mind brings the meditator to experience consciousness beyond everyday experience. The author reassures the meditator that there is no "right way." It is important to match chosen practices to the personal life experience. The book's discussion of the historical roots focuses on the ancient Samkhya philosophy, first composed more than 4000 years ago, which is the source of the meditation in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras from 2000 years ago. Since the highest three of the Yoga Sutras eight limbs are at the heart of practices described here, their discussion leads to important understanding leading to good practice. In preparation for presenting meditative practices, the book introduces the nature of alternate consciousness experiences. It discusses the relationships to prayer, mantras, chants, and other religious or quasi-religious practices. It follows that with the needed guidance for meditative sessions, discussing issues of attitude, time, place, props, and body. The chapter presenting methods of practice assigns each practice to one of the three meditative Yoga Sutras limbs. 'Concentration' (Limb 6) practices are perfect for the beginner and developing meditators. 'Meditation' (Limb 7) practices bring the experienced meditator to new levels of consciousness experience. 'Absorption' (Limb 8) practices yield increasingly strong spiritual experiences.