The Wooden Bowl: Simple Meditations for Everyday Life

by Clark Strand

"In poetic simplicity, Clark Strand makes meditation as effortless as breathing, as intimate as a heartbeat, as joyous as a child." --Hugh Prather, author of Notes to Myself and Spiritual Parenting "I asked myself one Was there a way for people to slow down and experience themselves, their lives, and other people in the present moment without adopting a new religious or philosophical ideology" In The Wooden Bowl, now in paperback, meditation teacher and author Clark Strand explains in short, simple chapters how to meditate on your own or within a group--the only requirement being that you maintain a spirit of lightness and friendliness, without goals or expectations. The secret of meditation lies in understanding that we all have an inner steadiness and calm that we can access right away, without obsessively monitoring or telling ourselves what to do. "The Wooden Bowl is a terrific book. Just reading it slows me down, reminds me in the most simple quiet language that I'm here--now. How sweet! I love the way Strand writes." --Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Meditation, Philosophy, Buddhism, Spirituality

Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

After nearly two months, I finally finished this book; and while I didn't exactly enjoy reading the book, I do think I got some important lessons out of it. The premise of the book, I realized after reading, is deconstructing the ideas and rules and all the extra stuff we imagine goes along with meditation and turning it into a simple act of experiencing the present. I was expecting, however, to reveil some sort of miraculous secret to meditating - which in hind sight was a little unrealistic - but the true simplicity of the author's advice was a little disappointing at first. By the end of the book though, I really appreciated his perspective of meditating without any sort of pretense or need to practice through the guidelines of any religious or spiritual doctrine. Clark Strand requested a handful of times throughout the book that we as readers set the book aside and practice meditating before moving on, which I had a love-hate relationship with. It was really a great idea because without it I probably would have read the whole book without having actually tried to put into practice what I'd read, but at the same time sometimes it killed the flow of reading and I'd just put the book down for a week because I didn't want to move on and yet I didn't want to meditate either. In sum, this book didn't really inspire me to make meditation a serious part of my life, but it did had a profound effect on the way I view meditation.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, clearest, simplest books on meditation I know. I've read countless books on the subject (I know, I know), and this is one I come back to often. Re-reading it is a meditative experience. Well-written and crystal clear, this is, along with the works of Jon Kabat Zinn, Joseph Goldstein, & Larry Rosenberg are the books I'd recommend most highly to anyone with an interest in starting or enriching a meditation practice.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meditation. Just meditation. No religion, no mysticism, just meditation for its own sake. Not exactly an instruction manual, just simple, low key, beautifully written reflections on what meditation is and isn't. The most accessible writing on the subject I have come across.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a refreshingly openminded book on meditation. It is an easy read and sits like your favorite warm grandma. Not for the pretentious.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy to read book that takes all of the preconceived ideas out of meditation and boils it it down the the basic, essential idea of being present.

[Irsaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imprescindible. Maravillosa lectura tanto para personas que jamás hayan meditado, como para personas que ya hayan practicado. Sincero, cercano, alegre y claro.

[Ericka]

Picked this find up at a thrift store. How could I not love a book title by the name of The Wooden Bowl? But so far, in my read of it, Strand, for being a former buddhist monk, hmmm, he's not too enlightening;-).

[Katypies]

The Wooden Bowl: Simple Meditations for Everyday Life by Clark Strand (2000)