One need not go to the Himalayas,
or move into a forest to live in a hut or renounce one’s family and friends to
sit down and meditate daily. It can be easily incorporated in one’s life by
setting aside a few minutes and gradually increasing it to half an hour or more
according to convenience and reap it’s benefits. David Fontana’s book
‘
Meditation –week by week- 52 meditations to help you grow in peace and
awareness’ published by Duncan Baird Publishers in 2004 introduces a lay person
to meditation practices. The philosophy behind each practice is explained in
detail and each chapter is accompanied by corresponding practices for each week
of the year.
What sets this book apart from other books is that the
author is able to explain complex metaphysical concepts in a very simple, easy
to understand language as it draws on the philosophies of the Orient and
relates it to everyday life. The author is able to reach out to his readers
irrespective of their religious creed or beliefs and brings about a
universality to the experience. He is able to skillfully answer the questions
related to the experience of meditating such as how to sit, what to wear, how
to manage one’s breathing and move from one level of awareness to the next,
encompassing all aspects of life.
The practice of meditation leads the reader gradually from
self-awareness, to mindful meditation leading to reduction of stress in life
and bringing about better concentration and calm and harmony in one’s life. The
benefits accrue not only for one’s physical well-being but also leads to
emotional and spiritual health of the regular practitioner.
David Fontana himself has been practicing meditation for the
past 30 years and is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is
therefore able to reach out to his readers in a colloquial and informal way
making the art of meditation accessible to the common man.