Defining Meditation
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES CHAPTER 1 Defining Meditation WEBSITES Website: Chopra Center Author: Melissa Eisler Article: History of Meditation URL: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/the-history-of-meditation Overview: Nice timeline graphic showing historically significant events related to meditation. Website: Live and Dare Author: Giovanni Dienstmann Article: Types of Meditation - An Overview of 23 Meditation Techniques URL: http://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/ Overview: Excellent article outlining and providing instructions for 23 different meditation techniques. Website: National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health Article: Most Used Mind & Body Practices URL: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/NHIS/2012/mind-body/ meditation Overview: A NCCIH statistical analysis of mind and body practices in America. Website: News Medical Author: Susan Chow Article: Meditation History URL: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Meditation-History.aspx Overview: Short overview of the history of meditative practices. Website: Psychology Today Article: Meditation URL: https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/meditation Overview: Psychology Today’s definition of meditation. Website: Spiritual Healing for You Article: Types of Meditation URL: http://www.spiritual-healing-for-you.com/types-of-meditation.html Overview: Article dedicated to dissecting five overarching meditation categories. Website: Wikipedia Article: History of Meditation URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_meditation Overview: Wikipedia’s page for the history of meditation. Website: Wikipedia Article: The Beatles in India URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_in_India Overview: Wikipedia’s page about the Beatles 1968 trip to India. BOOKS Author: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Title: Mindfulness in Plain English Publication Year: 2011 Overview: Extremely popular book dedicated to mindfulness and meditation. A great introductory read for new meditators. CHAPTER 2 The Scientific & Spiritual Reasons to Meditate WEBSITES Website: CNN Article: Can meditation really slow aging? Author: Jo Marchant URL: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/10/health/can-meditation- really-slow-aging/ Overview: Very interesting article that highlights the affects meditation has on the aging process. The work of Elizabeth Blackburn is explored. Website: Harvard Gazette Article: Eight weeks to a better brain Author: Sue McGreevey URL: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks- to-a-better-brain/ Overview: An attention-grabing article that illuminates the scientific findings of Sara Lazar and other Harvard researchers. Website: Johns Hopkins Medicine Article: Meditation for Anxiety and Depression URL: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/ meditation_for_anxiety_and_depression Overview: Press release about a 2013 meta-analysis carried out by Johns Hopkins University doctors who wanted to determine the effectiveness meditation has treating anxiety and depression. Website: Wikipedia Article: Buddhism URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Overview: Wikipedia’s page devoted to Buddhism. Website: Wikipedia Article: Hinduism URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Overview: Wikipedia’s page dedicated to Hinduism. OTHER Type of Source: Documentary Film Title: The Dhamma Brothers Director: Jenny Phillips Release Date: 2007 Website: https://www.dhammabrothers.com Overview: Captivating documentary about the first meditation course ever to be held within a United States correctional facility. CHAPTER 3 Fundamental Guidelines for Your Practice WEBSITES Website: Zen Mountain Monastery Article: Zazen Instructions URL: https://zmm.mro.org/teachings/meditation-instructions/ Overview: Nice article that looks at a variety of seated meditation postures with instructions and pictures. BOOKS Author: Yongey Mingyur Rincpoche Title: The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secrets and Science of Happiness Publication Year: 2008 Overview: Wonderful book that looks at how spiritual practices increase our levels of happiness while also providing scientific data to back up the claim. CHAPTER 4 Thich Nhat Hanh WEBSITES Website: Elephant Journal Article: Martin Luther King Jr. & Buddhism Author: Daniel Scharpenburg URL: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/01/martin-luther-king- jr-buddhism/ Overview: Article looking at the relationship between Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr. The nomination letter that MLK sent to the Nobel Prize Committee, recommending Hanh for the 1967 Peace Prize, can be found here. Website: Katinka Hesselink Article: Thich Nhat Hanh URL: http://www.katinkahesselink.net/tibet/Thich-Nhat-Hanh.html Overview: Nicely written Thich Nhat Hanh biography. Website: Kirkville Article: Just Sitting: The Zen Practice of Shikantaza Author: Kirk McElhearn URL: http://www.mcelhearn.com/just-sitting-the-zen-practice-of- shikantaza/ Overview: An article that discusses the practice of Shikantaza Meditation. Website: Lion’s Roar Article: How to Practice Zazen Author: Jules Shuzen Harris URL: http://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-zazen/ Overview: An article written by meditation teacher Jules Shuzen Harris who offers instructions for how to practice Zazen. Website: Plum Village Article: Numerous articles from the website were consulted URL: http://plumvillage.org/ Overview: The website for Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village monastery. Many article about Hanh, meditation and mindfulness can be found here. A great resource for those interested in Zen Buddhism. Website: Wikipedia Article: Engaged Buddhism URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engaged_Buddhism Overview: Wikipedia’s page looking at Engaged Buddhism. Website: Wikipedia Article: Shikantaza URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikantaza Overview: Wikipedia’s page examining Shikantaza Meditation. Website: Wikipedia Article: Thich Nhat Hanh URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nhất_Hạnh Overview: Wikipedia’s page dedicated to Thich Nhat Hanh. Website: Wikipedia Article: Zazen URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen Overview: Wikipedia’s page for the practice of Zazen Meditation. BOOKS Author: Thich Nhat Hanh Title: Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life Publication Year: 1991 Overview: A wonderful book that explains how to bring mindfulness into our everyday activities. Especially useful for those dealing with challenging life circumstances. Author: Thich Nhat Hanh Title: The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation Publication Year: 1999 Overview: One of Thich Nhat Hanh’s most celebrated books which discusses the benefits of mindful living and can be used as a good introductory resource for new meditators. Author: Thich Nhat Hanh Title: Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life Publication Year: 2010 Overview: Thich Nhat Hanh tells us how we can bring mindfulness into the kitchen while we’re eating and cooking, and change our relationship with food, in this book. Author: Thich Nhat Hanh Title: Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm Publication Year: 2012 Overview: A nice book that shows how to move beyond the stormy mental and emotional weather we’ll inevitably deal with at some point. Author: Thich Nhat Hanh Title: The Art of Communicating Publication Year: 2013 Overview: This book illuminates the importance of communicating mindfully with others and offers a variety of relational practices to help us speak with love and listen with compassion. OTHER Type of Source: Picture Title: Thay Shambala 2006 Website: Mindfulness Pugent Sound URL: http://mindfulnesspugetsound.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/03/Thay-Shambala-2006-larger.jpg Overview: Chapter profile picture for Thich Nhat Hanh. CHAPTER 5 Paramahansa Yogananda WEBSITES Website: Ananda Sangha Worldwide Article: Numerous articles from the website were consulted. URL: https://www.ananda.org Overview: An organization dedicated to sharing the teachings of Yogananda. There is plenty of good information on this website about Kriya Yoga and the great Hindu Swami. Website: Ananda Sangha Worldwide Article: The Hong-Sau Technique of Concentration URL: https://www.ananda.org/meditation/meditation-support/ meditation-techniques/the-hong-sau-technique-of-concentration/ Overview: A short video providing instructions for the Hong-Sau Mantra Meditation technique. Website: Expanding Light Article: Kriya Yoga Introduction URL: http://www.expandinglight.org/meditation/kriya-yoga/ Overview: Another organization dedicated to spreading the teachings of Yogananda. This particular article provides an introduction to the practice of Kriya Yoga. Website: Paramahansa Yogananda Article: Numerous articles from the website were consulted. URL: http://www.yogananda.com.au/index.html Overview: Excellent resource with information about the Self- Realization Fellowship, Yogananda and Kriya Yoga. This website offers in-depth analysis about everything Yoganandya and is highly recommended to visit. Website: Self-Realization Fellowship Article: Numerous articles from the website were consulted. URL: http://www.yogananda-srf.org Overview: The website for Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship program. Here, there is tons of good information about the life of Yogananda, the meditation techniques he taught and the self-realization fellowship program he founded. Website: Yoga Journal Article: Why Parmahansa Yogananda was a Man Before His Time Author: Shannon Sexton URL: http://www.yogajournal.com/slideshow/sneak-preview-awake- life-yogananda/ Overview: Nice slideshow examining Yogananda’s life and featuring some really fascinating pictures.