"Idiot’s Guide" Provides Best Overall Meditation Information

By Mark Hoerrner

From sex to world politics, from grammar to jokes and the Middle East, Idiot’s Guide books have entertained, enlightened and given all of us—even the actual idiots among us—information on a vast array of subjects. The Idiot’s Guide to Meditation is no different, offering tips on tools and techniques to help the everyman reach a place of serenity.

"This book is definitely not for idiots," says Charity Skelton of Versailles, Mont. "It contains nearly everything that beginners would be interested in concerning meditation. There are lessons on different cultures and how they meditate, spiritual meditation practices (to reach for enlightenment) how and where to pick the perfect meditation sanctuary, poses and hand positions, moving meditation, and so much more. This manual is written in a down to earth style that makes you feel as though the author is sitting right there with you."

The book discusses the different types of meditation in relation to Eastern spirituality—Yoga, Zen—and brings the different facets of the styles of meditation into sharp relief. It also discusses harmonic living outside of a specific religious context.

"No matter what your religious beliefs," says Alan T. Peto of Las Vegas, Nev., "anyone can practice meditation and benefit from it! As a Buddhist, I found this to be an excellent book for anyone getting started on the path. Without the help of a teacher you can easily learn the basics needed and in a very fun and enjoyable way."

The book includes a self-awareness assessment that allows practitioners both inexperienced and veteran to gauge their spiritual harmony with the universe. While the book is not designed specifically for those who already practice meditation, it does offer tips on meditation with a light-hearted and humorous slant.

Despite the easy-to-use format, some readers have not had as much success with the format as others. One reviewer of the book at Amazon.com noted his concerns.

"There's something paradoxical about the idea of an Idiot's Guide to Meditation," he wrote. "Describing the outward forms of meditation is easy but describing the subjective experience is harder, as is actually doing the meditating. There's real discipline involved in developing mental focus through meditation. Somehow, with all the jumping around from one topic to another in this book, that seemed to get lost in the mix.

"Maybe that's where my problems with this book come from. There is so much information given about so many different methods that the basics get buried. The authors throw in various traditions, terminologies, positions, theories, and a few women's magazine quizzes were thrown in, not to mention frequent ‘Bliss Bytes’ and ‘From A to Om.’ The book seemed scattered and a little too ‘New Agey’ for my tastes. Personally, I found Lawrence LeShan's classic How to Meditate to be better grounded, more instructive, and a more helpful guide for this idiot."

For those looking for an entry-level grimoire on the basics of meditation, there are enough manifestos to fill an entire library. The Idiot’s Guide to Meditation gives a broad, basic overview that’s worth checking out if for no other reason than to keep your karma from running over your dogma.