Mindfulness and Intimacy

Connelly (Inside the Grass Hut) uses his experiences as a Zen practitioner and as a secular meditation teacher to tour the possibilities of Buddhist mindfulness training in this rewarding introduction to meditation and Zen Buddhism. He explains how the practice of meditation and mindfulness is designed to help individuals bring compassionate, careful attention to their lives. While the practice itself can be either religious or secular, he notes, it always begins with close attention to breathing. Connelly recommends mindfulness practices directed at certain areas of one’s life (such as possessions or values) and provides meditation instructions for readers to try, including “mindfulness of breath” and “mindful listening.” Beginners or those curious about the practice will find this an invaluable volume that presents the basics of meditation in open, unhurried fashion. Connelly’s explanations are simple, without being oversimplified. This work will speak mostly to novice meditators or those interested in starting, though even readers with an established practice may enjoy revisiting the foundations of mindfulness. (Feb.)