How To Meditate: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art and Science of Meditation [ILLUSTRATED] Novak, John

Review "An indispensible aid that offers clear instructions for meditation" -- The Reverand Jack Gorsuch, MDiv., author of An Invitation to the Spiritual Journey. Product Description This bestselling book presents a thorough, concise, step-by-step guide to the art andscience of meditation. Complete with photos and illustrations, How to Meditate is an aid tocalmness, increased vitality, clarity of mind, and ultimately, inner communion with God. Youlllearn about techniques for relaxing body and mind how to develop devotion and intuitionsecrets of the spinal centers chakras energy exercises and yoga philosophy from PatanjalisEightfold Path.John Jyotish Novak has been teaching meditation to students worldwide for 30 years, and iscurrently Spiritual Director of Ananda Sangha, the largest network of spiritual communities inthe world. Author of the popular 30 Day Essentials series, see pages 5 and 9. About the Author Jyotish (John) Novak has studied, practiced and taught meditation for over 30 years. He came onto the spiritual path when he met Swami Kriyananda in 1966. Jyotish was a founding member of Ananda Village in Nevada City, California in 1968. Ananda Village is dedicated to spreading the spirit of friendship, service and community throughout the world. For its first ten years Jyotish served as General Manager of Ananda Village. He and his wife Devi started the first city ashram for Ananda in San Francisco in 1979. In 1984 Jyotish expanded Ananda's outreach and helped start the work in Europe. Jyotish currently serves as the Spiritual Director of Ananda worldwide Today, over 800 people reside in six Ananda communities throughout the world. (Seattle, Palo Alto, Portland, Sacramento and Assisi, Italy). The European retreat and community located in Assisi, Italy, also serves Ananda meditation groups in Europe, Croatia, and Russia. Both the Nevada City and Assisi communities have world-renowned guest retreat facilities where thousands of visitors annually visit for renewal or instruction in many aspects of meditation, yoga, and the spiritual life. He is the author of the best-selling book How to Meditate, 30 Day Essentials for Career, and 30 Day Essentials for Marriage. He also is the creator of Meditation Therapy TM and has three videos: Meditation Therapy for Stress & Change, Meditation Therapy for Relationships, and Meditation Therapy for Health & Healing. Jyotish, who holds a BA in psychology, has taught and lectured throughout the world. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Getting Started Meditation is a simple process which can be done any time and anywhere you can interiorize your mind. It is not based on dogma, faith, or ritual but is concerned, like science, with experimentation and experience. Just as science seeks to uncover the secrets of nature, meditation seeks to discover truths about the nature of consciousness. It's tools, rather than microscopes and oscilloscopes, are concentration and intitution. While nothing is needed for meditation except a willing and inquiring mind, there are a number of things that can be done to make the search easier. The following are helpful aids. Set Aside a Special Area for Meditation It is very helpful to have an area that is used only for meditation. It will help reinforce a meditative mood and, over time, will become filled with meditation "vibrations." A small room or closet is ideal as long as it can be well ventilated. If you don't have enough space for a whole room, then set aside a small area in your bedroom or some other room that can be kept just for meditation. Your area can be kept very simple - all you really need is a small cushion or a chair to sit on. You may also want to set up a small alter with a picture or pictures of those great souls who particularly inspire you. Many people also like to have a small candle for evening meditations and perhaps an incense burner. Your alter can be elaborate or simple according to your own tastes. A pure