Level 2 - recommended reading

Burkeman, Oliver, The antidote: happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking. Faber and Faber, 2012. Burkeman argues that trying too hard to be happy only makes us miserable. He encourages us to embrace the things in our life that we are trying to avoid such as uncertainty, insecurity and failure. This book is uplifting as it turns our ideas of happiness upside down.

Doidge, Norman, The brain that changes itself-stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. Penguin, 2008. Easy to read and entertaining : looks at discoveries showing how the brain is malleable and habits can be changed. If you have heard about ‘neuroplasticity’ and want to know more, this book is highly recommended.

Farhi, Donna, The Breathing book – good health and vitality through essential breath work. Owl Books, 1996. This is an excellent book for learning about breathing patterns, how they can become distorted, and how to improve the range and quality of everyday breathing. Great complement to the Mindfulness module.

Harrison, Eric, The 5-Minute Meditator. Perth Meditation Centre, 2005. An excellent guide to spot meditations and using meditation in practical, everyday situations.

Harrison, Eric. The foundations of mindfulness. Perth Meditation Centre, 2015. “How to relax, pay attention, see what is happening and think clearly”, based on the Buddha’s original text on mindfulness.

Jacobs, Gregg. The Ancestral Mind: reclaim the power. Viking, 2003. An exploration of how our minds work from a physiological perspective.

 Jacobs, Gregg. Say Goodnight to Insomnia. Henry Holt. 1998. Outlines a 6 week treatment program for insomnia without drugs.

Johnson, Robert. Inner work : using dreams and active imagination for personal growth. Harper Collins, 1986. An excellent book for working with your dreams. Complements meditation practice.

Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Coming to our senses: healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness. Hyperion, 2005. Encourages us to open to the rich world of the senses around us and through us.

Levine, Steven. A Gradual Awakening. Doubleday, 1989. “A simply and gently written book by a man sharing his own personal experiences and insights into how meditation can work” in your life.

MacKay, Hugh. The good life: what makes life worth living? Pan Macmillan, 2013. Hugh argues that the good life cannot be measured by security, wealth and status but by dropping self-centredness and developing “a willingness to connect with those around us in a meaningful way.” He shows us the things which lead to pain and confusion such as false expectations and a desire for perfection.

Pema Chodron, The wisdom of no escape and the path to loving-kindness. Shambhala, 1991. “This book is about saying yes to life and about making friends with ourselves and our world.” It encourages us to accept all the different parts of our lives as a starting point for meditation.

Pema Chodron. Start where you are. Shambhala, 1994. A companion to “The Wisdom of no escape”. This book encourages us to stay with the difficult situations in our lives and the things we don’t like about ourselves, accepting them as they are as part of our life and our meditation practice.

Selligman, Martin. Flourish: a visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Atria. 2011. Selligman shifts the emphasis from happiness to well-being as a goal worth striving for in life. He emphasises the role of positive emotions, engagement, a sense of accomplishment and the cultivation of good relationships as the basis for a sense of well-being.

Tarthang Tulku. Tibetan relaxation: Kum Nye massage and movement. Duncan Baird, 2003. (This book includes the movement meditations we do in Learn to Meditate and Level 2 plus many more).

Thich Nhat Hanh. Peace is every step: the path of mindfulness in everyday life. Rider, 1995. This book is devoted to the practice of living mindfully, slowing down and enjoying each breath. Provides exercises for conscious breathing and opening up to everyday life and the world around us.

All the books (plus many, many more) are in the Lifeflow Library at our Frewville Studio and are available for members to borrow. Find out more … ask your teacher for a quick tour.