Meditation is a scientifically verified method for reducing stress, bettering well being, and making optimistic modifications within the mind. However it’s typically related to faith, or has a “new-age” air (like sitting in an unique place and burning incense). There may be definitely nothing mistaken with religious-based or unique methods, which work tremendous for many individuals. However some are turned off by it or it makes them skeptical of meditation. For the latter group, Rick Heller has written Secular Meditation, a helpful down-to-earth information.

Rick is related to the humanist group at Harvard College, the place he teaches meditation. I loved the ebook and would extremely suggest it for anybody who has beforehand been skeptical of meditation. Rick admits that some persons are important of attempting to give you a secularized model that extracts it from non secular roots. That’s the reason he makes use of the extra generic time period secular meditation as a substitute of one thing like secularized Buddhism. I feel the vital query is whether or not the secularized model continues to be useful. It’s doable to lose some worth should you decide and select solely what you need. For instance, one might follow mindfulness and calming the thoughts diligently however nonetheless not be a really good particular person. However I consider that is prevented should you keep a minimal important set of parts like meditation, mindfulness, and cultivation of loving-kindness, as I mentioned right here. Loving-kindness or equal compassion trainings are an vital facet that’s generally omitted.

So I used to be blissful that Rick’s information begins with loving-kindness practices. He describes these and different useful practices intimately within the ebook. It was additionally good to see him cowl a secularized model of mantra meditation. Whereas many individuals discover breath-based methods to work effectively for meditation, I personally have had extra success with mantra meditation.