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Commit to Sit: Tools for Cultivating a Meditation Practice — Mysticism

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Commit to Sit: Tools for Cultivating a Meditation Practice

Name: Commit to Sit: Tools for Cultivating a Meditation Practice
Price: 17.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781401921750

✍️ Joan Duncan Oliver, Pema Chodron, James Shaheen

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$17.95 ~~$20.00~~ Save $2.05 (10%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This essential compendium, curated from the renowned pages of *Tricycle* magazine, offers an accessible entry point into the transformative art of meditation. Whether you're embarking on a spiritual quest or simply seeking tools for a more balanced and purposeful life, this collection provides a rich tapestry of Buddhist meditative techniques. Featuring insights from luminaries like Pema Chödrön, Sharon Salzberg, and Joseph Goldstein, it guides readers through various practices, from establishing a daily routine to exploring specialized forms like metta, zazen, and tonglen, fostering a profound connection to inner peace.

Oliver, Joan Duncan; , Chodron, Pema; , Shaheen, James

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Mysticism

🏛 Hay House 📅 2009 📖 290 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781401921750

Fun Fact

This compilation excels as an exceptional entry point for anyone drawn to meditation, offering a remarkably diverse toolkit from leading Buddhist teachers. Its strength lies in its breadth and practical guidance for establishing a consistent practice. While it provides a taste of many paths, those seeking an exhaustive, single-tradition deep dive might find its overview nature less satisfying. It stands as a vital, accessible resource in the modern landscape of spiritual and wellness literature, highly recommended for beginners and those looking to diversify their practice.

📝 Description: Commit to Sit: Tools for Cultivating a Meditation Practice

From the pages of Tricycle, the country's most widely read Buddhist magazine, comes Commit to Sit, an introduction to the art of meditation. In recent years, interest in meditation has grown to include not only those on a spiritual search, but also those who are simply working toward a healthy and meaningful life. This book brings together a broad range of Buddhist meditative techniques that have appeared in the magazine over the years. Contributors include some of the foremost voices in contemporary Buddhism: Pema Chödrön starts our journey with an inspirational Foreword. Lama Surya Das explores the definition of meditation, while Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein lay out a 28-day program for establishing a daily practice. Wherever you are on your search, you will find plenty of guidance in this book. Learn about insight meditation from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana and Sylvia Boorstein. Or about zazen from Barry Magid and Martine Batchelor. Gil Fronsdal offers instruction in metta (lovingkindness) meditation, while Judith Simmer-Brown teaches tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist practice for cultivating compassion. We also learn about the crucial role the body plays in meditation from S. N. Goenka, Reginald Ray, Wes Nisker, and Cyndi Lee. We receive guidance on managing issues that arise in meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, Matthieu Ricard, Pat Enkyo O'Hara, and others. And there are practices for bringing mindfulness and compassion to daily life from Thubten Chodron, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and Michael Carroll. Though targeted to the reader who would like to begin meditating, this collection also offers support and guidance to the experienced meditator working to sustain a lifelong practice. This is a guide to meditative practice for any seeker wishing to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world .

📑 What's inside

Foreword / Pema Ch&oumlet;dr&oumlet;n
Preface: Tricycle Editor Publisher / James Shaheen
Introduction / Joan Duncan Oliver
Part I. Getting Started
The Heart of Meditation / Lama Surya Das
Guided Meditation: Simply Being / Lama Surya Das
The Refuge of Sitting / Narayan Liebenson Grady
Cultivating a Daily Meditation Practic / Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein
Posture, Posture, Posture / Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein
Yoga for Meditators / Cyndi Lee
Part II. Meditation Basics
The Meditation Challenge / Sharon Slazberg, Joseph Goldstein
Wisdom Arising / Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Focusing on the Breath / Sylvia Boorstein
Zen, or Just Sitting / Barry Magid
A Refuge into Being / Q&A, Martine Batchelor
May We All Be Happy / Gil Fronsdal
Giving and Taking / Judith Simmer-Brown
Guided Meditation: Awakening / Joy, James Baraz
Worry Beads / Clark Strand
Part III. Meditating With The Body
Finding Sense in Sensation / S. N. Goenka
Earth Breathing / Reginald Ray
Evolution's Body / Wes Nisker
Full Body, Empty Mind / Will Johnson
Awakening, Step by Step / Peter Doobinin
Breath and the Body / Frank Jude Boccio
Bowing / Lama Surya Das
Part IV. Everyday Practice
Cultivating Generosity / Marcia Rose
Giving Up Gossip / Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
Challenges at Work / Michael Carroll
Finding Patience / Michele McDonald
Just Say No / Sandra Weinberg
A Breath of Fresh Air / Mark Coleman
The Wise Investigator: An interview / Sayadaw U Tejaniya
Practicing with Loss / Lama Surya Das
Part V. Overcoming Obstacles
When in Doubt, Keep Meditating: Q&A / Sharon Salzberg
Like a Dragon in Water / Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara
Going Nowhere?: Q&A / Douglas Phillips
Receiving the Breath: Q&A / Christina Feldman
Working with Desire / Matthieu Ricard
Facing Fear: Q&A / Lama Tsony
Inviting Fear / Ajahn Amaro Bhikkhu
The Wisdom of Discomfort: Q&A / Sylvia Boorstein
Liberating Ourselves from the Prison of Pain: An Interview / Jon Kabat-Zinn
Pull Up a Chair / Karen Ready
Practicing the Five Perfections / Michael Dairyu Wenger
Part VI. Staying With It
Meditator's Toolbox
The Joy of Effort / Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Contributors
About the Editor
Acknowledgments

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This collection excels in providing an accessible gateway to Buddhist meditation, leveraging the credibility of *Tricycle* magazine to present diverse techniques from respected teachers. It is particularly strong for beginners needing structured guidance on routines and specific practices like tonglen. However, it may not suit advanced practitioners seeking deep scholarly analysis or those looking for strictly secular, non-religious mindfulness approaches, as its foundation is explicitly rooted in Buddhist tradition. The anthology format offers breadth but lacks the depth of a single-author treatise. It is best viewed as a practical toolkit rather than a theoretical manifesto, making it valuable for those ready to practice but potentially overwhelming for those preferring rigorous academic study of Dharma.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is an ideal companion for those embarking on a spiritual quest or seeking tools for a more balanced and purposeful life. It serves as an accessible entry point into the transformative art of meditation, offering a rich tapestry of Buddhist meditative techniques curated from renowned sources. Readers will benefit from insights by luminaries like Pema Chödrön and James Shaheen, who guide them through establishing daily routines and exploring specialized practices such as metta, zazen, and tonglen. Whether you desire inner peace, clarity, or a profound connection to your spiritual roots, this compendium provides the essential framework to cultivate a sustainable and meaningful meditation practice.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're yearning to begin or refresh a meditation journey, seeking practical techniques to calm the mind, or curious about the rich tapestry of Buddhist contemplative practices, this guide is an invaluable companion. It empowers you to cultivate inner tranquility and purpose, regardless of your…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This collection excels in providing an accessible gateway to Buddhist meditation, leveraging the credibility of *Tricycle* magazine to present diverse techniques from respected teachers. It is particularly strong for beginners needing structured guidance on routines and specific practices like tonglen. However, it may not suit advanced practitioners seeking deep scholarly analysis or those looking for strictly secular, non-religious mindfulness approaches, as its foundation is explicitly rooted in Buddhist tradition. The anthology format offers breadth but lacks the depth of a single-author treatise. It is best viewed as a practical toolkit rather than a theoretical manifesto, making it valuable for those ready to practice but potentially overwhelming for those preferring rigorous academic study of Dharma.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not at all. While rooted in Buddhist traditions, the practices shared here are presented in a way that benefits anyone seeking mental clarity, stress reduction, or a deeper sense of purpose, regardless of their spiritual background or beliefs.

Absolutely. The book includes structured approaches, such as a 28-day program developed by prominent teachers, specifically designed to help you build and maintain a regular and sustainable meditation practice over time.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Cultivating Daily Practice

This volume offers practical frameworks, including a structured 28-day program by Salzberg and Goldstein, designed to help novices and experienced practitioners alike integrate meditation consistently into their daily lives. It emphasizes the discipline and consistency needed to build a sustainable, meaningful habit, turning intention into enduring spiritual routine.

Exploring Buddhist Disciplines

The book serves as a comprehensive primer on various meditative paths within Buddhism, from Vipassana (insight) and Zen (zazen) to compassion-focused practices like Metta (loving-kindness) and Tibetan Tonglen. It provides a diverse toolkit for exploration, allowing readers to discover the techniques that resonate most deeply with their individual journey.

Meditation for Modern Life

Beyond traditional spiritual pursuits, the text addresses the growing contemporary interest in meditation as a means to foster mental well-being, reduce stress, and cultivate a more meaningful existence, making ancient wisdom relevant to today's challenges. It bridges the gap between ancient spiritual traditions and modern secular applications for personal growth.

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the pages of *Tricycle*, a pivotal voice in contemporary Western Buddhism, this collection situates itself within the modern resurgence of interest in Eastern contemplative practices. It democratizes ancient Buddhist wisdom, making diverse techniques from various lineages accessible to a broad, modern audience, reflecting a significant trend in the popularization of mindfulness and spiritual well-being for a global community.

📚 Glossary

Zazen
Metta
Tonglen

📔 Questions to reflect on

What resistance do you encounter when trying to establish a regular meditation practice, and how might a structured approach help overcome it?
If you were to explore one new meditation technique from this book (e.g., Metta, Zazen, Tonglen), which one resonates most with your current needs, and why?
How might cultivating greater awareness of your body during meditation transform your overall experience of daily life, both physically and mentally?