The Wooden Bowl: Simple Meditations for Everyday Life

Meditation As A HobbyThe Wooden Bowl is out of print and very hard to find. I was lucky enough to buy mine used on Amazon - unfortunately for you - I ain't selling my copy.I really loved this book.I'm a student of Buddhism and am looking for clarity and instruction on meditation without a Guru - I liked that this book was recommended as such - as meditation instruction without a Guru - so if you're looking into meditation either through a Buddhist perspective or just looking into meditation without any "school of thought" this is a fantastic book.The biggest lesson I got from the book was keeping meditation as a hobby. I could see that my meditation was getting close to me "punching in" before I sat and The Wooden Bowl simply reminds you the joy of keeping meditation as a hobby rather than as a job - or a rigid activity.I can't express in words the simplicity and warmth that this book provides. There is very little instruction - but the instruction given is perfect.Clark Strand (the author) puts it perfectly - his thoughts are on instructing meditation is like giving driving directions - the easier and simpler - the better.Think for a minute - telling someone how to drive from your house to the mall.Throughout this book you also get reminded what the present moment is - the present moment is always right here and right now -I really enjoyed this book - it's simple and for everyday life.

"The Wooden Bowl" is a simple, practical introduction to Zen-style meditation, written in an elegantly straightforward style. The book is suitable for readers of any or no religious affiliation who want to learn to meditate, but I think it's even better for experienced meditators who tend, as Strand did, toward an excessively intense and willful approach to spiritual practice. I return to this book when I want to be reminded how simple meditation really is and that it's not about DOing anything.Also recommended: Strand's " Seeds From a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey ."

The Wooden Bowl is the quintessential book about meditation. It inspired me to re-examine my views about meditation, and de-stressed and de-mystified the practice enough that I have become confident enough to use it nearly every day. The book is filled with simple and expressively eloquent aphorisms that cause me to exclaim, "Of course!" even on subsequent readings. I am grateful for the author's background as a poet - it makes this prose that much more readable.

I would emphasize what one of the other reviewer's stated. This is a very interesting account of one man's path to meditation, but you really have to read it carefully. It is not a prescription for beginners. At about the third chapter it occurred to me that the author was not talking so much about meditation but his own struggle to cope with extreme depression.

This is one of the best, most useful books I have read. I do not understand why is it out of print.....

The Wooden Bowl is by far the best book I have ever read on Buddhist meditation.It is simple, practical and satisfying.

I have meditated and guided meditations for years and this is my favorite. It's beautiful and simple, purely genius!! Thank you Mr. Strand for such a well written, user friendly piece.

A sincere, for real people, everyday, guide to meditation, without any rigidity. Clark Strand honestly shares his experiences with meditation and gives very valuable advice on how include mindfulness in everyday life.

Nice library copy... As stated