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The Building Blocks of Meditation: The Purpose of Meditation and How to Start a Daily Practice That Actually Sticks
Learn How and Why You Should Shower Your Mind Every Single Day
As a Buddhist monk and psychotherapist with over ten years of experience in the mental health field, Venerable Nick has packaged the wisdom of his meditation teachers from Thailand into a simple yet profound meditation guide for a Western audience. With the help of relatable analogies, plenty of beautiful illustrations, links to online resources, and more, this book is meticulously designed to offer comprehensive support at each step of the way on your journey to developing a strong daily meditation practice.
Gain a clear understanding of meditation and the mind. Discover true inner peace. Find out how taking just five minutes each day to "shower your mind" can shift your entire life. No matter your skill or experience level, this guide will help you discover the universal building blocks for effective meditation. But as always, don't take our word for it. Come try for yourself and see your life transform as you undertake this sacred journey to inner space.
As a Buddhist monk and psychotherapist with over ten years of experience in the mental health field, Venerable Nick has packaged the wisdom of his meditation teachers from Thailand into a simple yet profound meditation guide for a Western audience. With the help of relatable analogies, plenty of beautiful illustrations, links to online resources, and more, this book is meticulously designed to offer comprehensive support at each step of the way on your journey to developing a strong daily meditation practice.
Gain a clear understanding of meditation and the mind. Discover true inner peace. Find out how taking just five minutes each day to "shower your mind" can shift your entire life. No matter your skill or experience level, this guide will help you discover the universal building blocks for effective meditation. But as always, don't take our word for it. Come try for yourself and see your life transform as you undertake this sacred journey to inner space.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2022
33 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 1, 2022
This book is a jewel and a absolute must have for beginners and advanced meditators. Congrats to both the amazing monk authors may your teachings continue to shower us with light & wisdom
February 5, 2023
I went into this book not expecting much, but I was delightfully surprised how clear, well-organized, and useful it was. It's a very practical guide for beginners who would like to start a meditation practice, or those like me who tried in the past but failed. I finally understand why I had difficulty keeping up a meditation habit on the long term, as I was:
1/ not making sure to achieve as much physical and mental comfort as possible during the meditation, since I thought the discomfort would just start disappearing on its own as I got used to the "meditation pose", instead of finding a pose that worked for me, as well as proper cushioning if needed;
2/ did not focus on simply showing up everyday, and instead wanted the meditation to be "perfect", and was frustrated by how I wasn't "making any progress";
3/ tried to force my mind to stillness during the meditation, instead of gently bringing my attention back to the meditation tool (usually breathing, which works best for me) every time it wanders off.
I originally wanted to meditate just to improve my ability to focus, but after finishing Vervaeke's series of lectures "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis", I understand that meditation is about more than a practical tool to ramp up productivity, but actually more of a way towards achieving wisdom. Wisdom being defined as a the ability to find the "right" balance between emotions, decisions and choices in life, big or small. This book reiterates these concepts in simpler terms, so the average person could easily follow and understand why they need meditation in their life.
Once small thing that rubbed me the wrong way while reading the book, was a passage were the author wrote that meditation was about "turning off the logic" (during the practice). I can see what he was going for (e.g. turning off the tendency of the mind to problem-solve, when the mind is supposed to be still), but I think this may turn off many rationalists, especially if they're not already sold on the concept of meditation and its benefits and relevance in modern life.
All in all, a highly recomended book for people interested in practicing meditation, or curious about what it is and how it works.
1/ not making sure to achieve as much physical and mental comfort as possible during the meditation, since I thought the discomfort would just start disappearing on its own as I got used to the "meditation pose", instead of finding a pose that worked for me, as well as proper cushioning if needed;
2/ did not focus on simply showing up everyday, and instead wanted the meditation to be "perfect", and was frustrated by how I wasn't "making any progress";
3/ tried to force my mind to stillness during the meditation, instead of gently bringing my attention back to the meditation tool (usually breathing, which works best for me) every time it wanders off.
I originally wanted to meditate just to improve my ability to focus, but after finishing Vervaeke's series of lectures "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis", I understand that meditation is about more than a practical tool to ramp up productivity, but actually more of a way towards achieving wisdom. Wisdom being defined as a the ability to find the "right" balance between emotions, decisions and choices in life, big or small. This book reiterates these concepts in simpler terms, so the average person could easily follow and understand why they need meditation in their life.
Once small thing that rubbed me the wrong way while reading the book, was a passage were the author wrote that meditation was about "turning off the logic" (during the practice). I can see what he was going for (e.g. turning off the tendency of the mind to problem-solve, when the mind is supposed to be still), but I think this may turn off many rationalists, especially if they're not already sold on the concept of meditation and its benefits and relevance in modern life.
All in all, a highly recomended book for people interested in practicing meditation, or curious about what it is and how it works.
March 2, 2024
Super fijn boek! Heeft mijn ogen geopend door me te laten kijken naar meditatie als iets wat je moet doen om gezond te blijven, net als tandenpoetsen en douchen. Gaf handige tips, ik ben fan.
January 4, 2025
Really helpful in laying out the basics of meditation in a simple and digestible way. Definitely recommend for people starting to meditate.
September 3, 2022
A brilliant short beginners guide to meditation. I was very pleasantly surprised by the accessibility and the down-to-earth writing. It really made me think about the benefits of meditation and it gives great easy to follow guidance. Having been put off in the past by books with lots of jargon or too much information, this book was pitched perfectly for me. Thanks Alex from Portugal for giving us the book!
September 18, 2023
I have been a fairly consistent meditator for a few years now and this book is filled so much easy to access and practical wisdom in the world of meditation - for beginners or those with experience. The book is light and fun.
Nick starts with telling us the purpose of meditation is to develop the skill of neutral observation. To me this is an essential viewpoint for anyone meditating. The 'positive' effects of better focus, happiness, bliss, relaxation etc are bi-products of the practice, but cannot be the goal. When we start to look for these things the actual act of 'looking' gets in the way.
The main focus of this book was to talk about the two pillars of meditation - comfort and awareness. The physical and mental comforts to set yourself up for success in meditation, while the right amount of awareness helps you to not have your mind wander, or to not stress too much about getting the practice 'right'. He also gives us 3 different types of meditation that we can start practicing right away.
All of these practices and tools are taught with the reminder that it is called a meditation practice, and that we will grow from practicing meditation - not reading about it! This book encourages me to do more sessions by myself and not using a guided meditation from online. I like the concept of exploring and deepening my own practice instead of relying on what others have prepared.
Finally this book really encourages a daily practice, for at least a month, but better if it's a year. This push to commitment is inspiring, and I am committing to 365 days of 10 minutes of meditation. Lets see what unfolds.
Nick starts with telling us the purpose of meditation is to develop the skill of neutral observation. To me this is an essential viewpoint for anyone meditating. The 'positive' effects of better focus, happiness, bliss, relaxation etc are bi-products of the practice, but cannot be the goal. When we start to look for these things the actual act of 'looking' gets in the way.
The main focus of this book was to talk about the two pillars of meditation - comfort and awareness. The physical and mental comforts to set yourself up for success in meditation, while the right amount of awareness helps you to not have your mind wander, or to not stress too much about getting the practice 'right'. He also gives us 3 different types of meditation that we can start practicing right away.
All of these practices and tools are taught with the reminder that it is called a meditation practice, and that we will grow from practicing meditation - not reading about it! This book encourages me to do more sessions by myself and not using a guided meditation from online. I like the concept of exploring and deepening my own practice instead of relying on what others have prepared.
Finally this book really encourages a daily practice, for at least a month, but better if it's a year. This push to commitment is inspiring, and I am committing to 365 days of 10 minutes of meditation. Lets see what unfolds.
July 17, 2024
Brilliant book! Perfect for beginners. Very well structured and organised. Great illustrations, examples and metaphors to accompany the work.
Currently at a meditation retreat in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and clearly an essential read. It’s the first full day and I’m not allowed to speak. But I have many questions about meditating that this book has answered. From feelings of discomfort, duration, what to focus on, how to approach distractions.
The book dabbles in the practice of Buddhism but refrains from pushing any teachings. I was recently told from a monk that this would be bad practice, unless officiated.
The book covers the 2 pillars: comfort and awareness. Comfort refers to both physical and mental.
The book also covers the 3 main meditation methods: visualisation, mantra and the center of the body.
The book also discusses the difference between the mind and the brain. It discusses wisdom, greed, anger, perception of reality. Ever thought that maybe the way you feel clouds your judgment. An excellent illustration of a glass of water and the effect greed, anger and delusion has on its clarity.
Most importantly the book emphasises the need to meditate now more than ever. The book is clear-cut, straight to the point, doesn’t go on any tangents, hence a quick read.
I’ve signed the page dedicating myself to a year of practice. I’m committing 5 minutes a day. It’s the dedication to the cause rather than the achievements made meditating. Let’s see shall we :)
#eatpraylove
Currently at a meditation retreat in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and clearly an essential read. It’s the first full day and I’m not allowed to speak. But I have many questions about meditating that this book has answered. From feelings of discomfort, duration, what to focus on, how to approach distractions.
The book dabbles in the practice of Buddhism but refrains from pushing any teachings. I was recently told from a monk that this would be bad practice, unless officiated.
The book covers the 2 pillars: comfort and awareness. Comfort refers to both physical and mental.
The book also covers the 3 main meditation methods: visualisation, mantra and the center of the body.
The book also discusses the difference between the mind and the brain. It discusses wisdom, greed, anger, perception of reality. Ever thought that maybe the way you feel clouds your judgment. An excellent illustration of a glass of water and the effect greed, anger and delusion has on its clarity.
Most importantly the book emphasises the need to meditate now more than ever. The book is clear-cut, straight to the point, doesn’t go on any tangents, hence a quick read.
I’ve signed the page dedicating myself to a year of practice. I’m committing 5 minutes a day. It’s the dedication to the cause rather than the achievements made meditating. Let’s see shall we :)
#eatpraylove
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2023
This book gave a very structured and practical guide to meditation that was very motivating even for someone with multiple years of experience. I read this book while partaking in a meditational retreat and it really allowed me to dive deeper into the experience and build up a
3 most impactful ideas from this book:
1. Do not underestimate the importance of a comfortable and consistent physical place for meditation. My main takeaway from this book is that I want to create a space and atmosphere where my practice can flourish. By creating such a ritual, I will not only be more consistent but also be able to remain more present throughout the practice.
2. Balance comfort and awareness. This is a great summary of achieving a state of stillness because balancing these two factors is equally essential in this process.
3. This book further opened my mind to straying away from exclusively guided meditation. By providing a comprehensive toolkit of visualisation and mantra techniques, it allows you to practice by yourself.
3 most impactful ideas from this book:
1. Do not underestimate the importance of a comfortable and consistent physical place for meditation. My main takeaway from this book is that I want to create a space and atmosphere where my practice can flourish. By creating such a ritual, I will not only be more consistent but also be able to remain more present throughout the practice.
2. Balance comfort and awareness. This is a great summary of achieving a state of stillness because balancing these two factors is equally essential in this process.
3. This book further opened my mind to straying away from exclusively guided meditation. By providing a comprehensive toolkit of visualisation and mantra techniques, it allows you to practice by yourself.
January 23, 2024
I was following along Nick’s guided meditation video on YouTube when started meditating last year. I love hearing the sound of the stream. From then on, I am content with silence. It was hard but I keep showing up every day.
For newbie meditators, I recommend this book. I still learned new ideas and tips even after reading other books about meditation prior to this. There’s more to learn on how to practice meditation but as the book suggests “showing up” is the first step. And everything else will follow.
I read this book after reading his other book “The Buddhist Cleanse: The 1-Day Spiritual Detox” on my day off work. It was a time well spent, indeed.
Now, it’s time to practice what I’ve learned and keep learning and having loving kindness and compassion to ourselves and others. We are all doing our best one day at a time.
For newbie meditators, I recommend this book. I still learned new ideas and tips even after reading other books about meditation prior to this. There’s more to learn on how to practice meditation but as the book suggests “showing up” is the first step. And everything else will follow.
I read this book after reading his other book “The Buddhist Cleanse: The 1-Day Spiritual Detox” on my day off work. It was a time well spent, indeed.
Now, it’s time to practice what I’ve learned and keep learning and having loving kindness and compassion to ourselves and others. We are all doing our best one day at a time.
January 20, 2025
I read this book at the Pa Pae meditation retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was perfect for how to get more comfortable with meditating and finding a suitable position that will allow your mind to surrender and enjoy the moment and stillness.
Also, how to focus your mind on either a mantra, visual object or centre of gravity. I like to use a mix of a mantra and a visual object.
Also, they gave great analogies such as Greed, Anger and Delusion making the crystal clear water dirty so you can’t see clearly. We need to still the mind so the dirt can settle, and we can have a clear view on life.
Also, how to focus your mind on either a mantra, visual object or centre of gravity. I like to use a mix of a mantra and a visual object.
Also, they gave great analogies such as Greed, Anger and Delusion making the crystal clear water dirty so you can’t see clearly. We need to still the mind so the dirt can settle, and we can have a clear view on life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2025
This book is brilliant for beginners, i finished it in just over an hour as someone who was using it as a guide to re discover their spirituality and for a refresher on the basic fundamentals principles of meditation. It’s the perfect stepping stone for the beginning of someone’s spiritual journey and uses good metaphors and analogies to simplify what can be complicated concepts.
September 12, 2025
A wonderful and wise book. Encouraging and easy to read. If you are in any way interested in meditation, pick this up. It has given me so many helpful tools and is the only method that has helped me develop a regular meditation practice. Helped me understand the why and the meaning of meditation for the first time.
December 6, 2025
An excellent book for those new to meditation.
This book will undoubtedly be interesting and useful for those just beginning their meditation practice. Its many tips and analogies will help you get started.
This book will undoubtedly be interesting and useful for those just beginning their meditation practice. Its many tips and analogies will help you get started.
December 10, 2025
It looks silly on the cover but this little intro to meditation was awesome. Even for me, it was surprisingly helpful to have a refresher. I found this in our airbnb in Vietnam, written by two monks in Thailand as a passion project and made free for people to have.
May 25, 2022
A great book to learn meditating, it helped to get started and get a better understanding for it.
June 2, 2022
Pragmatic book, easy read, very valuable.
April 28, 2024
I liked the first part where he connected the practice of meditation to the Buddhist tradition. Everything else was okay.
December 14, 2024
Clear, precise, to the point. Excellent starting point if one is interested in the subject of meditation.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews