This excellent book explores how to attain enlightenment, according to the historic writings of Buddha Gotama.

A Buddhist monk of Greek origin has compiled the historic writings of Buddha Gotama, which he uses to explain the how and why of meditation. He starts with simpler serenity mediations on breathing, compassion, and the four elements, moving through more intense insight meditations, and to vipassanā, an insight meditation that is the direct path to Nibbāna (aka Nirvanā).

The author warns of the danger of attachment (becoming dependent on the calm and bliss of meditation) because “these achievements are also impermanent and transient, have their own limitations, and do not lead to liberation from existential suffering within the continuous cycle of birth and death.”

While there are plentiful books on meditation; this book stands out for its precision and thoroughness. For beginners, the author pinpoints the exact spot on the face to feel their breath, how far into the nostrils to follow the breath, and specific ways to count the in-breaths and out-breaths. The author explores in detail every moment along the way to the eighth level of meditative absorption, to bring readers to the purity of Satipaṭṭhāna, the method of self-liberation, “free from dogma and dependence on ‘divine revelations’ or any external authority in spiritual matters.”

There’s much more to this book than the two facets the title suggests. A quibble is that its frequent translations of English into Pāli, the language used by Buddha Gotama, will be distracting to readers just hoping for a less frantic mind; but that’s unlikely to deter serious seekers determined to reach enlightenment. And the book offers a Q&A section at the end that considers more earthly issues, such as “Can this energy of the mind help us to gain abundance, whether spiritual or material, in our lives?”

In sum, this book is overflowing with valuable advice for those seeking to broaden their knowledge of the intricacies of meditation.

Also available as an ebook.