This is an out-of-the-box resource on meditation that stands apart from others in the field by proudly displaying its idiosyncratic approach. John Selby, the author of seven books, has spent more than thirty years practicing and teaching meditation. He presents a seven-part process that focuses on aspects of meditation demonstrated by Patanjali, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, Gurdjieff, and Kirshnamurti. Each chapter contains material about the teacher and his approach, a meditation process, and a new inner experience. Go to www.7masters.com for free access to spoken guidance that makes learning these meditations more effective. All of the material in this helpful resource can be used no matter what the reader's religious or spiritual tradition.

The adventure begins with the inner-breath awareness from the 4000 year old Pranayama breathing techniques of Hindu sage Patanjali. The verbal expression for this process is "I am breathing freely." Next is the Taoist tradition of quieting the flow of thoughts, which begins with the intention "My mind is now quiet." Shelby salutes Lao Tzu's loving without interference, surrendering to the feminine, and emphasis upon balance. Next is the inner process characteristic of Buddha's meditations for transcending habitual judgments. The key here is "I accept the world just as it is." Selby offers a helpful assessment of the way our lives are colored by judgments on everyone and everything we encounter.

One of the most unusual chapters is the one on Jesus, who teaches ways to open the heart. For a tradition that has always emphasized sin, Selby puts out the challenge: "I love myself just as I am." Next is emotional healing that comes from fully surrendering to God. The teacher is Mohammad, and the verbal expression of this type of meditation is: "My heart is opening to receive God's healing help." The last two aspects of meditation are taken from contemporary teachers: the approach for expanding self-awareness presented by Greek-Armenian mystic and teacher of sacred dances Gurdjieff ("I know who I am") and Krishnamurti's techniques for directly perceiving reality ("I am here, now, in bliss").

Hats off to John Selby for finding making some fresh roads into the well-traveled country of meditation.