Meditation Guides to Contemplate

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MEDITATION by Joan Borysenko, PhD; Hay House Audio

Original audio material, two cassettes. Length: 3 hours; $16.95; read by the author. Available in bookstores or by calling (800) 654-5126.

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In this lecture, taped before a live audience, Joan Borysenko discusses the spiritual, physical and emotional aspects of meditation. If you’re interested in meditation for any of those reasons, she offers enough information to get you to sit still. She also covers the pitfalls and lets us in on a little secret--everyone’s mind wanders when we first begin to meditate. It may drive you slightly crazy, but it should not force you to abandon your cushion.

Though most of the lecture is devoted to the reasons we should meditate, she does offer a short, guided meditation on the second tape. However, if you are looking for something purely secular, look elsewhere. Borysenko does not proselytize a particular belief, but she does offer meditation as a way to “enjoy a more conscious communication with God.”

Cheery and likable, Borysenko laughs easily and keeps the lecture light and informative. She is such a polished communicator that you feel as entertained as informed by the end of the tape. The tonal quality is surprisingly high, considering that it was taped with an audience in a lecture hall.

MEDITATION MADE EASY

by Lorin Roche, PhD

Harper Audio

Abridged nonfiction, one cassette. Length: 90 minutes; $12; read by the author. Available in bookstores or by calling (800) 331-3761.

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Though he has been a “meditation trainer” for more than three decades, this brief audio by Lorin Roach is sadly underwhelming. While it does offer the intriguing and practical idea of integrating “mini- meditations” into our days, it is far too broad. Just about anything you do is OK with Roche, so if you are looking for a structured, disciplined guide, don’t listen to this.

He crams too much information into this audio, which leaves the listener with a lot of scattered information. The unabridged, printed version is much more complete and therefore more useful. Also, you won’t have to listen to Roche, who comes across as a little too New Agey and cloying. He may have a pleasant voice, but his overly caring manner sounds phony and annoying.