The fruit of some twenty years' experience leading Buddhist meditation retreats, this book touches on a wide range of topics raised repeatedly by meditators, whether they are beginners attending their first weekend course or seasoned practitioners on a three-month retreat. In short sections that can be either read in sequence or browsed through at leisure, Joseph Goldstein offers favorite stories, key Buddhist teachings, and answers to most-asked questions. The discussions include:
* freeing the mind from disturbing emotions, such as fear, jealousy, anger, loneliness, guilt, greed, and boredom
* the difference between psychotherapy and meditation
* helping ourselves to happiness: mindfulness, lovingkindness, and compassion
* detailed meditation instructions
* working with physical pain
* the realization of egolessness: the Buddha's teaching on "no-self"
* daily life as spiritual practice
* the art of wise communication
* meditation at the time of death

(From front dust flap.)