Meditation: Reading Suggestions

A completely subjective—but not exactly arbitrary—list.

I find that reading for about 20 minutes before meditating helps settle me into my early morning practice. Here are a few books, in no particular order, that I’ve particularly enjoyed and that you might want to spend some time with:

—Sylvia Boorstein’s Don’t Just Do Something Sit There. Can’t get away for a meditation retreat this fall? This small book is like a mini-retreat between two covers.

—Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Wherever You Go There You Are. Paying attention to each moment as it arises.

—Joseph Goldstein’s Insight Meditation. Los Angeles times called it “startlingly clear.” Yes, yes; well said.  

—Pema Chodron, The Pocket Pema Chodron. It's the nature of things to change, Pema tells us, "and you don't have to freak out about it."

—Sharon Salzberg’s Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation. I’ve written about this book previously. A 28-day program for the beginner (as which of us is not).

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And Please Save The Date: I’ll be offering “An Introduction to Jewish Meditation” at the Second Annual WBR/WJC “Night of Jewish Learning” in New Rochelle, Saturday, November 12. For information check the WJC website.

Rabbi Mark Sameth is the spiritual leader of Pleasantville Community Synagogue (Joyful Judaism!) an inclusive progressive synagogue–with members from twenty towns, villages and cities all across Westchester. Read The New York Times  article. Weekly meditation at the synagogue every Saturday morning at 9 am is open to the public. Everyone is welcome and warmly invited.