Commit to Sit: Tools for Cultivating a Meditation Practice

by Joan Duncan Oliver (Editor)

From the pages of Tricycle, the country’s most widely read Buddhist magazine, comes Commit to Sit, an introduction to the art of meditation. In recent years, interest in meditation has grown to include not only those on a spiritual search, but also those who are simply working toward a healthy and meaningful life. This book brings together a broad range of Buddhist meditative techniques that have appeared in the magazine over the years. Contributors include some of the foremost voices in contemporary Pema Chödrön starts our journey with an inspirational  Foreword. Lama Surya Das explores the definition of meditation, while Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein lay out a 28-day program for establishing a daily practice. Wherever you are on your search, you will find plenty of guidance in this book. Learn about insight meditation from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana and Sylvia Boorstein. Or about zazen from Barry Magid and Martine Batchelor. Gil Fronsdal offers instruction in metta (lovingkindness) meditation, while Judith Simmer-Brown teaches tonglen , a Tibetan Buddhist practice for cultivating compassion. We also learn about the crucial role the body plays in meditation from S. N. Goenka, Reginald Ray, Wes Nisker, and Cyndi Lee. We receive guidance on managing issues that arise in meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, Matthieu Ricard, Pat Enkyo O’Hara, and others. And there are practices for bringing mindfulness and compassion to daily life from Thubten Chodron, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and Michael Carroll.         Though targeted to the reader who would like to begin meditating, this collection also offers support and guidance to the experienced meditator working to sustain a lifelong practice. This is a guide to meditative practice for any seeker wishing to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world .

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation, Spirituality, Nonfiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure some else may get a lot out of this book, but not me.

I would definitely NOT recommend it to someone just starting to meditate. In the first few pages it tells the reader to start with meditating 20 minutes twice a day and work up to an hour twice a day. A beginner will read that and say "I ain't got that much time" and never get started in the first place. A better recommendation would be to start at 5 minutes 3 times a day, then 10 minutes twice a day, and so on.

If however, you have meditated in the past, or are currently practicing meditation, and need suggestions to invigorate your practice, then this might be the book for you.

[Melanie Briscoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 30% of this book is a path to how to develop a practice over a month. The rest of the book are essays / readings that you could use in your practice of sitting. While I enjoyed a bunch of the essays, the whole thing seemed kind of odd because when you sit you are suppose to clear your mind…so I’m not sure how you would do a reading as a part of the practice…?

[Karlene Olesuk]

Didn't read it yet, but computer won't let me select my "to read" shelf

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good tips, but since I like reading about how meditation is good for me instead of actually meditating.... well, we will see...

[Gita Madhu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite boring and uninspired. Had bookmarked some pages but it's not something I'll readily pick up again to try and finish