Learning to Dance Inside: Getting to the Heart of Meditation

Fowler spent 17 years obeying a vow of silence as a Trappist monk, then left the order, married and was excommunicated from his church. From this mix of experiences he has emerged with a clarity of communication that serves this volume well. The depths of his meditative abilities are also very evident, however, and the directness with which he addresses the reasons for following meditative practice will assist any reader. This is not a how-to book. Quite the contrary. Fowler says very clearly: ""I don't want readers to follow rules in their search-instead of understanding the process and how it works."" His compelling descriptions of the spirituality of the meditative state; the outlining of the progression of the four understandings (basic theologies) of God; and the approach to meditation either through clarified understanding or through the heart will assist even the most hesitant to begin the process. Fowler asks that our meditation be built on a foundation of reading and understanding for increased spiritual development, and he gives direction and examples of the nature of that further reading. This work, with its emphasis on the rewards of meditation rather than its external techniques, is infinitely more helpful and inspiring than the usual and expected treatises on the subject. (May)