Meditation: A Foundation Course: A Book of Ten Lessons

by Barry Long

A straightforward practical course of instruction in ten lessons. It takes you in easy stages from the basics to the point where you'll be able to practice on your own, knowing exactly what you are doing and why. The approach is relevant and contemporary.

Genres: Meditation, Spirituality

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars.

I decided to try the techniques described in this book to see if they could help me to relax my mind and body, and to maybe help with my reading slump at the same time. The problem for me is that I couldn't get anywhere after the first 3 of the 10 rules/steps in this book.

It will certainly work for some of you but it didn't for me.

Thanks for reading.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been interested in Barry Long because I understand that he was one of Eckhart Tolle's inspirations. This is the first of his works that I have read. It did not resonate with me the way Tolle does.

I see some elements that Tolle has incorporated. In particular, Long discusses using the body as a tool of meditation - noticing, recognizing and focusing on the energy in the body. Tolle utilizes a similar concept when he talks about being aware of the energy of life in your body and using the body as a portal to Spirit. That was a novel idea to me. Many spiritual philosophies discuss disregarding the body as merely a material object. Recognizing that it is also of Spirit and using it as an avenue to open oneself to Spirit is a neat idea.

I see a few other concepts that Tolle has built upon that have been quite meaningful to me. I honor what Long has done and his ideas, but Tolle presents his teaching in a way that I find more pleasing, understandable and stimulating. Still, I did come across a couple of quotes that I found quite noteworthy and that took this book from being "OK" to "I liked it."

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s of it’s time, I’m not exactly sure what time but the foundations are good and it’s written very breezily, it’s more of a PowerPoint but instead of visual transitions it’s just big gaps occasionally and a different tempo and style, prose pages if that’s a thing. I really liked that. I’m reading bell hooks next but I’m going to keep doing my 10 minutes every morning and night

[Tuomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book about meditation.

[Ahcn Bnbrkn · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY GOOD BOOK

[Dean Paradiso · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of talks and writings by Barry Long organised into a book that covers a series of meditation topics and related practical lessons. Personally, I didn't get a lot out of this book, in contrast to some of his spoken talks. The book seemed dry in parts, and the lessons in themselves don't seem particularly joined to one another, some on the feelings in the body, others on psychological considerations and others on basic meditation practices such as focusing of attention. It wasn't a book I'll likely refer to again, and I feel more could have been done to present BL's teachings in a coherent course.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Meditatie" basisboek

[Leslie North · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic, simple, practical. I liked it a lot. Good stuff.