In spite of the fact that you can get materials on any subject of interest online with just a few swipes of fingers, there are a lot of upsides to reading printed meditation books. Meditation books will not only save your eyes from the detrimental lights of your device’s screen, but they’ll literary put you in the same room with the writer of the book.
Indeed, there are a ton of impactful meditation books out there. But then again, not everything you read on the internet can help you achieve your desired outcomes from your meditation efforts. But then again, the most edifying ones were written years before the internet and computers became a topic of discussion.
To fully understand yourself through meditation, you have to reflect on yourself just as the past authors penned it down in their books. It is in light of this fact that I have created this short list of the top 5 best meditation books for anyone looking to enjoy a more meditative life.
The books listed here, cover every aspect of meditation for up-and-coming meditators as well as experienced practitioners. And will help you get optimal results with your meditation.
5. Dear Universe: 200 Mini-Meditations for Instant Manifestations
Discover how to use the power of your feelings to create the success, love, and joy you deserve, with emotional empowerment expert, Sarah Prout
This book is a wonderful and thoughtful guide through the emotions you are feeling right now and it helps you move through feelings like fear and anxiety to abundance, gratitude, and love. Sarah Prout brings her personal experiences to her readers in such an authentic and honest way. She creates a sacred safe place to be and grow.
When I am feeling nervous, anxious, or disconnected, I just open the book to one of those emotions and Sarah meets me there with her wisdom and powerful meditations. I never have to feel bad or wrong about what I am feeling. Then, on the same page, I am offered an alternative, love based emotion. It’s like an instant soul reboot.
Since putting into practice the techniques Sarah teaches, I’ve strengthened my intuition and learned to honor myself, acknowledge my emotions, and move through them with confidence and power. I’ve learned to embrace every situation as a growth opportunity for my soul and it feels amazing.
For years it has been said,
“you can achieve anything you set your mind to.” But have you ever wondered why so many people struggle to achieve health, wealth, and happiness? Why do we bottle-up our emotions and feel like life is happening to us, rather than for us? Finally, Dear Universe reveals the real answers to create abundance, love, freedom, and joy in all areas of your life. From the moment you open it’s pages, you’ll begin to understand your hidden, untapped power to guide your emotions and create the life you want, no matter what you’re experiencing.
Feeling powerless, anxious, lonely or sad? Simply turn to one of the 100 mini-meditations to rise above fear so you can honor your feelings and move towards what you desire. Wanting to feel more abundant, lucky, confident, or inspired? Then turn to one of the 100 mini-meditations to embrace love so you can instantly transform your experience now. Filled with practical guidance, soulful exercises, and nuggets of wisdom, Dear Universe is your invitation to use the power of your emotions to achieve anything your heart desires.
This book is a wonderful and thoughtful guide through the emotions you are feeling right now. It helps you move through feelings like fear and anxiety to abundance, gratitude, and love. Sarah Prout brings her personal experiences to her readers in such an authentic and honest way. She creates a sacred safe place to be and grow.
When I am feeling nervous, anxious, or disconnected, I just open the book to one of those emotions and Sarah meets me there with her wisdom and powerful meditations. I never have to feel bad or wrong about what I am feeling. Then, on the same page, I am offered an alternative, love based emotion. It’s like an instant soul reboot.
Since putting into practice the techniques Sarah teaches, I’ve strengthened my intuition and learned to honor myself, acknowledge my emotions, and move through them with confidence and power. I’ve learned to embrace every situation as a growth opportunity for my soul and it feels amazing. Check out the book here.
4. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief
I had ordered this book for a friend who lost her husband in a shocking incident and was left a widow just after 2 years of marriage. Although I had never read this book, I carefully searched the web for a book that could really help her find strength and make sense of the harsh reality. I trusted the reviews here and chose this book.
This book has become a silent guide for my friend. She has thanked me a number of times for this. Has also told me about how much she can relate to what the author is saying. This book doesn’t preach nor does it give you tasks to do. It just simply states various aspects of grief thus giving you an assurance that what you are feeling is okay.
It just has one page for each day of the year addressing one aspect following with a small explanation of poem or a quote and a prayer for each day. The best thing is that it is very precise and to the point. I highly recommend this book to those seeking the right approach in such difficult times. Check out the book here.
3. Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga
This is a truly classic and the most comprehensive text of Yogasanas. What I liked about the book in addition to intricately detailed steps of achieving poses is — (1) For difficult poses, it also gives alternative preparatory poses that a beginner can start following to graduate to the actual pose, (2) Towards the end of the book, Shri Iyengar has given week-by-week yoasana guide to start following and go from being a complete novice to the most advanced practitioner. On average it takes 3-6 months to achieve decent skill, and up to 2-3 years to become a master. (3) Also towards the end of the book are given specific Yogasanas to be done for specific health problems, like migraines, heart trouble, high/low BP, backaches etc. (4) The guidance given on how to practice Yogasanas and Pranayama together is excellent. It shows the depth at which Iyengar himself had studied the theory of yoga and pranayama!
Excellent!!!
People who have criticized this book saying it’s not for the beginners, should note my point #2 above. I think these people have not paid attention to ALL the sections in the book, and hence have felt discouraged.
The only thing I wish was there was categorization of Asanas according to their focus muscle or organ groups, e.g., “back-bending”, “forward bending”, “side twisting”, “inverted poses” etc.
But apart from this, the book is gold and a must have possession for anyone who’s serious about the following Yoga! Two thumbs up! Check the book out here.
2. The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents (Hazelden Meditation Series)
A decade or so ago a friend who was going through a rough patch in her life had a therapist. A therapist who highly recommended this book of meditations. I happened to be in Barnes and Noble with her when she bought Melody Beattie’s book. After perusing a few of the passages, I bought one for myself. What a difference reading The Language of Letting Go made (and continues to make) in my life.
I’ve bought and given away several copies of Letting Go since that night in the bookstore. In the hope that my friends will benefit as much as I have from these sage words of “gentle” advice and reminders that we deserve “the best that life and love have to offer.” A few of my personal favorites are the reminders to be patient and realize that timing is perfect, that it’s okay to say “no” sometimes and equally okay to say yes to what feels right and good, and that we are responsible for taking care of ourselves.
The realization that we are being divinely led and that we need to trust our Higher Power is reinforced throughout the book. Anyone interested in growth and self-care will benefit from reading it. Check out the book here.
1. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
I have been reading and re-reading this book for years. It is my go-to book during any difficult time, and I always glean something knew regarding my current situation. pema Chodron’s writing takes away a lot of the loftiness I’ve encountered while trying to read Buddhist self-help books, but since Pema has already gone through so much of the craziness of life, her lessons are extremely comprehensive and compassionate.
I love this book because you can open it to any page and start reading and you will find something you can use. love it. thank you, Pema! I recommend all of her books.
The places that scare you are awesome. A good one for impulsive activity, including jumping to conclusions, anger, etc, is called don’t bite the hook. those are my 3 favorites. oh, i guess it would help to mention my reasons for seeking out this genre of information. I went through a terrible breakup, moved across the country with my dog. The dog bit someone ferociously on the neck. I lost my dog and the house I was living at the time (on the same day as losing the dog). Was outcast from my group of friends because they saw my dog as an extension of me. Went to live in a basement apartment and started drinking heavily. Fell into a depression that consisted of me waking up, taking an Ambien, and going back to sleep.
Then when I woke up again, I would just take more Ambien until I fell asleep again. I lost about 15 pounds on my already 120-pound frame and contemplated “disappearing” whenever I was awake. it was a completely sucktastic time. I do indeed credit Pema for helping me see that I had to kick my butt into gear and grab ahold of the reins. Check out the book here.