This is the first theoretically informed and historically accurate comparative anthology of primary texts on meditation and contemplative prayer. Written by international experts on the respective texts and corresponding traditions, Contemplative Literature provides introductions to and primary sources on contemplative practice from various religious traditions. The contributors explore classical Daoist apophatic meditation, Quaker silent prayer, Jewish Kabbalah, Southern Buddhist meditation, Sufi contemplation, Eastern Orthodox prayer, Pure Land Buddhist visualization, Hindu classical Yoga, Dominican Catholic prayer, Daoist internal alchemy, and modern therapeutic meditation. Each introduction to a contemplative text discusses its historical context, the associated religious tradition and literature, the method of contemplative practice, and the text's legacy and influence. Volume editor Louis Komjathy opens the work with a thoughtful consideration of interpretive issues in the emerging interdisciplinary field of contemplative studies. Readers will gain not only a nuanced understanding of important works of contemplative literature, but also resources for understanding contemplative practice and contemplative experience from a comparative and cross-cultural perspective.

Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Part I. Approaching Contemplative Practice 1. Approaching Contemplative Practice Louis Komjathy 2. Contemplative Traditions Louis Komjathy Part II. Contemplative Traditions 3. Daoist Apophatic Meditation: Selections from the Classical Daoist Textual Corpus Harold D. Roth 4. Quaker Silent Prayer: A Guide to True Peace Michael Birkel 5. Jewish Kabbalah: Hayyim Vital's Shaarei Kedusha Shaul Magid 6. Southern Buddhist Meditation: The Anapanasati Sutta Sarah Shaw 7. Sufi Contemplation: 'Abdullah Shah's Suluk-i Mujaddidiyya Arthur F. Buehler 8. Eastern Orthodox Prayer: The Rasskaz strannika John Anthony McGuckin 9. Mahayana Buddhist Visualization: The Guan wuliang shoufo jing Kenneth K. Tanaka 10. Hindu Classical Yoga: Patañjali's Yoga Sutras Edwin F. Bryant 11. Roman Catholic Prayer: The Novem modi orandi sancti Dominici Paul Philibert 12. Daoist Internal Alchemy: Liu Huayang's Huiming jing Louis Komjathy 13. Therapeutic Meditation: Herbert Benson's The Relaxation Response Louis Komjathy 14. Techniqueless Meditation: J. Krishnamurti's This Light in Oneself Constance A. Jones Part III. Reapproaching Contemplative Practice 15. Comparative Reflections Louis Komjathy Appendix: Toward a Technical Glossary of Contemplative Studies About the Contributors Index