Meditation is the practical application of this simple idea: that satisfaction, happiness, absorption, is not the end-product of some gratifying thing or experience, but a way of going about things. Happiness is something we bring to life, not something life delivers to us. This may sound like a nice idea, but it is a profoundly strange one. It suggests that we can develop the state of absorption we call happiness independently of whether or not we find ourselves in happy circumstances. And this is where meditation comes in.

What is meditation? Why do it? In this accessible and thought-provoking guide Jinananda leads the reader through three traditional Buddhist meditations.

A gifted storyteller, Jinananda discusses meditation from a Buddhist perspective. He offers troubleshooting tips and reflections on the effects and significance of meditation as well as considering its role in other cultures and contexts. For anyone with a budding interest in meditation or Buddhism, this book provides a great introduction.