Meditation is good for the body, mind, and soul. It lowers blood pressure, alleviates stress, facilitates sleep, stimulates energy, improves motor skills, combats illness, and much more. In this user-friendly overview of meditation, Richard W. Chilson (Yeshua of Nazareth: Spiritual Master) includes these definitions:

• "Meditation in its essence is the art of being aware, aware of what is going on inside you and around you."
— Osho

• "Meditation is not excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine."
— Shunryu Suzuki

• "Meditation must be used as a tool to come to the freedom beyond tools."
— Jack Kornfield

The author discusses some of the obstacles to meditation, including dullness and agitation, and then describes the meditative environment, the community, the teacher, and exoteric and esoteric teaching. One of the best sections examines meditation in India (yoga and body prayer, Buddhism), in Far Eastern Traditions (Tai Chi Chuan, Zen Buddhism) and in Western Spiritual Traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).

Chilson has a fine eye for wonderful teaching stories. Here's one from the Sufis:
"Once a healer came to visit a sick person. He spoke a few words in prayer with the patient. And as he turned to go a skeptic in the crowd murmured that this was a rather superficial way of healing. The healer turned to him and said, 'You do not know what you are saying. You are an ignorant fool!' The skeptic took great offense at such a response; he shook with anger and his face turned bright red. The healer said, 'If just a few words are able to make you so angry why should not other words have the power to heal?' "

Be sure to check out the bibliographies scattered throughout the book and the excellent glossary at the end filled with more interfaith information on meditation. This volume is part of Sorin's "Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice" series.