Meditation – The Buddhist Way

The author/narrator Jinananda’s gentle cultured voice weaves a vibration of peace even as he begins speaking the introduction to Buddhist meditation known as Vipassana, the practice of mindfulness. He begins with preparation for meditation, insight into and guidance through the progressions of human thought and feelings as attention is paid to the breathing during the stages of meditation. Jinananda discusses the development of loving kindness as another level of Buddhist meditation, and shares methods for dealing with distractions and hindrances which often arise in meditation practice. In the fourth and final CD an actual meditation is led. The calm rich voice provides instructions and guidance for each stage of the meditation. A long entoned, clear vibration meditation bell rings, followed by a deep silence in which meditation happens. The bell rings again before the instruction for the next stage begins. The publisher includes helpful, printed album notes. A written essay on meditation follows the chapter outline. It helps to read this first to understand the direction and development of Jinanada’s instructional book. This is culmination without denouement. The continuity of mindfulness, as taught by Jinanada remains, even as the CD ceases spinning. Do be certain to put this on its own playlist on your iPod so there is no next album which comes on to disturb the peaceful silence.

Rachel Claire, SoundCommentary.com