How to meditate A practical guide to making friends with your mind

Chodron (Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears) is an American Buddhist nun who has written many well-received books that introduce and explore the essential elements of Buddhist living. This new instructional title on meditation enters a publishing field that is crowded, but Chodron's credentials, reputation, writing and teaching skills, and supportive tone make this book rise above the rest. This is a practical, workbook-like text; its five sections detail how to work with technique, thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, and "opening your heart to include everything." There are also occasional exercises including the steps to complete a body scan and use "sound as the object." At all times Chodron is careful not to overwhelm readers or make meditation feel like an Everest expedition, and she features her own practice as an example of challenges and successes. Verdict Both confirmed Chodron fans and newbies will gain much and find inspiration from this highly recommended, in-depth guide to meditation.-Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. Lib. Syst., NM (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.