Essential Guide to How to Meditate

Nothing warms the heart like a loving hug. To make the experience even deeper and more healing, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us this practice of hugging meditation he created.

Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon say meditation works by giving your distracted mind a job. With practice, you can learn to be present with whatever arises.

If you’re not trying to get somewhere, says Buddhist teacher Judy Lief, nothing can stop you.

Shamatha meditation is the foundation of Buddhist practice. Lama Rod Owens teaches us a version from the Vajrayana tradition.

Joanna Hardy teaches us the famed Buddhist practice of metta – offering love to ourselves and others.

Pema Chödrön teaches us Tonglen, “sending and taking,” an ancient Buddhist practice to awaken compassion.

John Tarrant demystifies Zen koan practice. Yes, it’s paradoxical, poetic, and totally personal. And so is life.

Leslie Booker offers step-by-step instruction.

Jules Shuzen Harris teaches Zazen, the meditation practice at the heart of Zen Buddhism.

Zen teacher Norman Fischer proposes a two-week trial run to get your meditation practice started and looks at how to deal with some of the obstacles you may encounter.