Books about meditation or introspection

[Anonymous No.22621269]

Any books on how to attain deep state of meditation or introspection for intellectual practice?

[Anonymous No.22621290]

Which kind of meditation?

[Anonymous No.22621314]

>>22621290

The thinking kind, not in the buddhist sense (i.e reflection, contemplation)

[Anonymous No.22621326]

>>22621314
I ain't no expert, but I'm pretty sure Buddhists (and Hindus too probably) invented meditation. So you're going to have a hard time if you don't want any of that influence.

They say Vipassana is the thinking style of meditation (Buddhist) by the way. But I don't know it.

[Anonymous No.22621327]

>>22621314
Then it’s probably the western style of meditation you are seeking. Read ‘Meditations’ by Marcus Aurelius.

[Anonymous No.22621409]

>>22621327
>>22621326

Thanks, I'd give both a try. I thought the western had their own prominent practice of meditation similar to the buddhists

[Anonymous No.22621433]

A guide to Metta meditation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajp2CfoblpA

[Anonymous No.22623154]

Ignatius of Loyola - Spiritual Exercises

[Anonymous No.22623156]

Itinerarium Mentis
Cloud of Unknowing
Gurdjieff

[Anonymous No.22623171]

>>22621409
Nah, this is why for an embarrassingly long time through history very close to modern day, western thought actually believed that we are our thoughts rather than the reality of our thoughts being another phenomenon we vaguely have some tiny control over, like breathing

[Anonymous No.22623229]

>>22623154
This, western discursive meditation is distinct from eastern meditation. Your best bets will be Christian literature like Loyola, Anselm, etc. The Rosary includes heavy meditational aspects. Read Secret of the Rosary if you get into that.
In the west, there is some distinction between meditation (active, directed, discursive) and contemplation (emptying, more apophatic). Lectio divina touches both sides of this.
If you can’t deal with Christianity, then look into western occultism. Read like Dion Fortune, Mystical Qabalah or something, one numbered snippet at a time, and then unpack it. Tarot is another classic meditational subject.
The two big types of Buddhist meditation are vipassana and samatha, mindfulness and concentration. Former applies bare attention to phenomena to gain insight into lack of any permanent or abiding self. Latter cultivates jhana states to loosen the grip of hindrances (bad mental habits).