Buddhist meditation books
Buddhist meditation books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Mindfulness in Plain English
Bhante H. GunaratanaA plain, step-by-step introduction to Theravada-based sitting and mindfulness practice, widely used by beginners.
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Thích Nhất HạnhShort, practical guide to everyday mindfulness, written in an accessible style, and one of the most-read introductions in the genre. The catalogue entry lists a later edition (1987).
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Shunryū SuzukiCore text on Zen practice, centered on zazen and an attitude of openness, and a major influence on Western Zen.
Lovingkindness
Sharon SalzbergExplains the metta (loving-kindness) practice and its place in the Buddhist path.
The Mind Illuminated
Culadasa John YatesDetailed, structured guide to the stages of concentration practice, with diagrams and a graded progression.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More buddhist meditation books
- What the Buddha Taught
What the Buddha TaughtWalpola Rahula - Buddhist Meditation
Buddhist MeditationEdward Conze - Full Catastrophe Living
Full Catastrophe LivingJon Kabat-Zinn - Being Nobody, Going Nowhere
Being Nobody, Going NowhereAyya Khema - Gradual Awakening
Gradual AwakeningStephen Levine - A Path With Heart
A Path With HeartJack Kornfield - Comfortable with Uncertainty
Comfortable with UncertaintyPema Chödrön - Zen and the Brain
Zen and the BrainJames H. Austin - Emotional Alchemy
Emotional AlchemyTara Bennett-Goleman - The blooming of a lotus
The blooming of a lotusThích Nhất Hạnh1993 - Mindfulness for Dummies
Mindfulness for DummiesShamash Alidina2010 - Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind
Monk's Guide to a Clean House and MindShoukei Matsumoto2018