The wilderness within - Nicholas Buxton

The Wilderness Within offers a strikingly original approach to the what, the why, and the how of practising meditation today. Meditation is not a form of 'spiritual technology' to help us achieve our personal goals, but simply sitting quietly before God. It is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. Though it can be learnt in a few minutes, it is likely to take more than a lifetime to master.Drawing extensively on the teachings of Jesus and other biblical narratives, The Wilderness Within takes a deeper look at what meditation really is and what it actually involves. It enables us to explore with honesty our motives for practising it, and explains the need to create a positive and balanced spiritual discipline in our lives. It encourages us to take a step back from ourselves, put things into perspective and learn to see reality as it really is, rather than as we would wish it to be. Ultimately, it is about becoming more fully who and what we really are.

Nicholas Buxton is an Anglican parish priest in Newcastle upon Tyne. He has a PhD in Buddhist philosophy, has studied meditation with both Buddhist and Christian monks in monasteries around the world, and is an experienced meditation teacher and retreat leader.

'this is an exceptionally well-written book aimed at those interested in exploring Christian meditation.'
The Reader - Kirsty Anderson