MEDITATIONS - by Avi Sion

MEDITATIONS:

A Spiritual Logbook.

Avi Sion,  Ph. D.

First published, 2006.

Abstract

A meditation is a voluntary exercise intended to increase awareness, sustained over some time.

The main purpose of the present Meditations is to inspire and assist readers to practice meditation of some sort, and in particular ‘sitting meditation’.

This includes practices such as: observing the mechanisms of one’s thinking, stopping unnecessary thought, forgetting things about one’s self and one’s life that are irrelevant to the current effort of meditation, dealing with distractions, becoming aware of one’s breath, being here and now.

After such practice for some time, one gets to realize the value of meditation, and one’s commitment to it grows. The need for behavioral improvement becomes more and more obvious, and one finds it easy and natural to put more discipline into one’s life. Various recommendations are given in this regard.

Prior to such practical guidance, so as to prepare the reader for it, the book reviews the theoretical teachings relating to meditation in the main traditions of mankind. The ultimate goals of meditation, the various methods or techniques used to achieve them, the experiential results of meditation, and the interpretations given to them, are topics treated here.

Buy it or read it online

All of Avi Sion’s published books can be purchased at Amazon.com (in paperback or kindle/.mobi form), and at Lulu.com (in hardcover, paperback or e-book/.epub form), as well as other online stores.

They can also be read online free of charge, chapter by chapter, at www.TheLogician.net and, in '3D flipbook' format, at www.AviSionBooks.com, as well as in Google Books and other Internet locations. They are also available in many university and public libraries.

Contents in brief

Part 1: Some Theoretical Considerations

Part 2: Understanding The Self

Part 3: Some Behavioral Disciplines

Part 4: Some Sitting Meditations

Contents in detail

PART 1: SOME THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. What is meditation?
2. Thought and meditation
3. The goals of meditation
4. Theory and practice
5. Interpretations
6. The coexistence of the One and the many
7. Methods and experiences

PART 2: UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

8. The individual self in Monism
9. The impression of self 
10. Impermanence: the concept and the principle
11. Not an essence, but an entity
12. Distinguishing the ego
13. Dismissing the ego
14. Relief from suffering

PART 3: SOME BEHAVIORAL DISCIPLINES

15. Taking up the challenge
16. Face facts with equanimity
17. Stop substance addictions
18. Don’t stuff yourself silly
19. Limit input from the media
20. Forget your face
21. Give up sensuality
22. On “sexual liberation”
23. Practice non-attachment

PART 4: SOME SITTING MEDITATIONS

24. Time, place and posture
25. Observe the mechanisms of thought
26. Stop unnecessary thinking
27. Dealing with distractions
28. Sitting forgetting
29. Breath awareness
30. Being here and now
31. With or without a self
32. Whether mind or matter
33. Already there

(See also the sequel to this work: More Meditations)