Why Meditate: Working with Thoughts and Emotions

Wherever he goes, Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard is asked to explain what meditation is, how it is done, and what it can achieve. In this elegant, authoritative, and entirely accessible book, he sets out to answer these questions. Although meditation is a lifelong process even for the wisest, Why Meditate? demonstrates that by practicing it on a daily basis we can change our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In this brilliant short book and the accompanying audio download, Ricard talks us through the theory, spirituality, and practical aspects of meditation. He illustrates each stage of his teaching with examples, leading readers deeper into their own practice. Through his experience as a monk, his close reading of sacred texts, and his deep knowledge of the Buddhist masters, Ricard shows the significant benefits that meditation, based on selfless love and compassion, can bring to each of us.

• Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill
• Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World
• Art of Meditation
• In Search of Wisdom: A Monk, a Philosopher, and a Psychiatrist on What Matters Most
• The Mind's Own Physician: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the Healing Power of Meditation
• Most Intimate: A Zen Approach to Life's Challenges
• The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet
• Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward
• The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
• Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World