Nelson (The God of Second Chances) offers the quintessential work for anyone who is commencing meditation practice. She notes today's need for meditation that fits all traditions, adapting "ancient teachings to answer the contemporary need for a spirituality that is deep enough to provide inner peace and flexible enough to fit today's non-monastic lifestyle." She has a strong grasp of the historical and spiritual background of the seven traditions she explores: Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, Buddhism (Zen, Tibetan and Vipassana) and Judaism. She explains in non-threatening layperson's terms the goals of each tradition, what to expect in that tradition's meditation practice and what resources are available to understand more. To this end, she includes a helpful glossary of terms and a list of meditation centers and organizations. But the book is not just a how-to manual; Nelson describes her own personal experiences as she practices in each tradition's meditation centers and interviews students and teachers about how meditation has affected their personal lives. Her encouraging and informative tone helps to make meditation accessible to a general audience. Yet she is wise enough to caution readers that she "found no one... who reported instant enlightenment, no matter how greatly it was desired. Instant gratification is more appropriate for microwave soup than a spiritual journey." Well said. (Feb.)
