A Shopper's Guide to Meditation

Flavors
CONCENTRATIVE
Meditative technique that directs the mind to a single focus, such as on the breath or a mantra

MINDFULNESS
Teaches an evenhanded, accepting awareness of whatever arises in the senses

MOVEMENT
Heightens awareness of the sensations of movement, such as in walking or Tai Chi

VISUALIZATION
Generates a mental image, from simple crosses or a single square of color to complex symbols such as the elaborate mandalas of Tibetan Buddhism

LOVINGKINDNESS
Cultivates a positive mood or beneficent outlook through the contemplation of such feelings as compassion for all people

TRANSFORMATIVE
Seeks solace or the solution to specific problems by turning negative emotions into positive energies

Centers
--Naropa University Boulder, Colo.
--Maharishi University Fairfield, Iowa
--Shambhala Mountain Red Feather Lakes, Colo.
--Stress Reduction Clinic University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mass. --Insight Meditation Society, Barre, Mass.
--Spirit Rock Center Woodacre, Calif.
--The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society Northampton, Mass.

Readings
MAGAZINES

--Tricycle magazine
--Shambhala Sun
--Inquiring Mind
--Snow Lion Newsletter

Books
Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Loving-Kindness by Sharon Salzberg

Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up by B. Alan Wallace

Autobiography of a Yogi by P. Yogananda

Centering Prayer by M. Basil Pennington

Websites
mindandlife.org
tm.org
soundstrue.com
dhamma.org
mindfulnesstapes.com
zenguide.com