4th edition. Explains the benefits of regular meditation and explains the many different forms Take an inward journey for a happier, healthier life Meditation has been used for centuries to reduce stress, increase energy, and enhance overall health and well-being so it's no wonder more and more people in today's fast-paced and stress-centric world are adopting this age-old practice. Foreword xvii Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Meditation 5 CHAPTER 1: Embarking on Your Meditation Journey 7 CHAPTER 2: Why Meditate? 23 CHAPTER 3: Zen and Now: Where Meditation Comes From 39 CHAPTER 4: Your Brain on Meditation and How It Impacts Your Life 57 Part 2: Beginning Your Meditation Practice 69 CHAPTER 5: Laying the Foundation: Motivation, Attitude, and Beginner s Mind 71 CHAPTER 6: How Your Mind Stresses You Out and What You Can Do about It 83 CHAPTER 7: Mindfulness Meditation: Awareness of the Here and Now 105 CHAPTER 8: Preparing Your Body for Meditation 119 CHAPTER 9: Where to Sit, What to Wear, and Other Practical Stuff 137 CHAPTER 10: Just Doing It: Discipline, Effort, and Letting Go 149 CHAPTER 11: Opening Your Heart with Love and Compassion 161 Part 3: Troubleshooting and Fine-Tuning Your Practice 179 CHAPTER 12: Meditating with Challenging Emotions and Habitual Patterns 181 CHAPTER 13: Troubleshooting Common Roadblocks and Side Effects 203 CHAPTER 14: Developing a Practice That Works for You 221 Part 4: Meditation in Action 233 CHAPTER 15: Cultivating Spirituality 235 CHAPTER 16: Don t Worry, Be Happy with Meditation 263 CHAPTER 17: Meditating in Everyday Life 281 CHAPTER 18: Using Meditation for Healing and Performance Enhancement 297 Part 5: The Part of Tens 319 CHAPTER 19: Ten Commonly Asked Questions about Meditation 321 CHAPTER 20: Ten Favorite All-Purpose Meditations 329 Part 6: Appendixes 339 APPENDIX A: Meditation Resources 341 APPENDIX B: About the Audio Tracks 353 INDEX 355