Meditation is a scientifically verified method for decreasing stress, bettering well being, and making optimistic modifications within the mind. However it’s usually related to faith, or has a “new-age” air (like sitting in an unique place and burning incense). There’s actually nothing flawed with religious-based or unique strategies, which work positive for many individuals. However some are turned off by it or it makes them skeptical of meditation. For the latter group, Rick Heller has written Secular Meditation, a helpful down-to-earth information.

Rick is related to the humanist group at Harvard College, the place he teaches meditation. I loved the guide and would extremely suggest it for anybody who has beforehand been skeptical of meditation. Rick admits that some individuals are crucial of attempting to give you a secularized model that extracts it from spiritual roots. That’s the reason he makes use of the extra generic time period secular meditation as an alternative of one thing like secularized Buddhism. I feel the essential query is whether or not the secularized model continues to be useful. It’s doable to lose some worth should you choose and select solely what you need. For instance, one might observe mindfulness and calming the thoughts diligently however nonetheless not be a really good particular person. However I imagine that is prevented should you preserve a minimal important set of parts like meditation, mindfulness, and cultivation of loving-kindness, as I mentioned right here. Loving-kindness or equal compassion trainings are an essential facet that’s generally omitted.

So I used to be joyful that Rick’s information begins with loving-kindness practices. He describes these and different useful practices intimately within the guide. It was additionally good to see him cowl a secularized model of mantra meditation. Whereas many individuals discover breath-based strategies to work nicely for meditation, I personally have had extra success with mantra meditation.