My favorite resources on meditation
A bunch of links to useful resources
This post is a collection of resources on meditation practice that I have found especially useful. I might update it from time to time when I learn about new resources.
Books
The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa
The most comprehensive guide to meditation that I know of. It focuses mostly on concentration practice and provides useful frameworks for understanding meditation. Highly recommended.
Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas by Leigh Brasington
The best book for people who want to go deep into concentration practice and give exploring the Jhanas a try.
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book by Daniel M. Ingram
The writing style and attitude of the author are not for everyone, but I found the book very interesting.
I recommend skimming and skipping around. This is not a book to be read from front to back, IMO.
You can find the PDF for free here.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
This was the first book I read about meditation. I remember finding it quite accessible for beginners, but it has been a few years since I read it.
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
About metta meditation, contains a lot of gems.
Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright
I am not a fan of the title, but the content is solid.
Not a guide to meditation but a science-y exploration of the subject.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Putting this here even though the book isn’t about meditation per se. Yet I think it is basically an applied version of important Buddhist concepts like mindfulness, metta, karuna and right speech.
Teachers
I especially recommend their series of dharma talks on the Waking Up App.
My favorite teacher for metta meditation.
Yes, I am a fan of Insight Meditation Society 🙂
I love how they often incorporate poems into their guided meditations.
I especially like this guided metta meditation.
I used to go through their Mindfulness In Daily Life series.
Apps
Overall the best meditation app that I have tried. I use it regularly and only wish it had more content on metta and concentration practice.
You can use that link to try it for free for 30 days.
Tell them if you can’t afford the app, and you will get a subscription for free.
The best app if you are looking for something free or just need a timer and bell. I have been using it for years.
Great for beginners, but a lot of the content stays quite shallow. I got into meditation with this app in 2017 but then moved on to other resources.
Personal blogs and other websites
Their post on Meditation Tips for a Lifetime of Practice is a great starting point.
Nick Cammarata on Twitter
Regularly posts great nuggets of wisdom and is generally an interesting person to follow.
Seriously, this is a goldmine for valuable teachings.
Befriending the Suttas — Tips on Reading the Pali Discourses
Useful if you want to read some of the original Buddhist texts.
My posts on meditation 🙂
First published on my website.