Liẕat-i murāqibah-yi vāqi'ī: Persian 1402

“What is meditation? Pure fascination with this moment, exactly as it is”. Jeff Foster, a survivor of suicidal depression and now a popular spiritual teacher, invites us to discover the “life-saving” inner sanctuary of true meditation. He re-envisions meditation as a vast non-dual field of Presence, accessible to all of us in each and every moment of our lives; an effortless place where we can be our authentic selves—imperfections, doubts, fears, exhaustion, and all. Meditation does not involve zoning out, numbing ourselves to the pain of living, or trying to become spiritually enlightened. It means diving into “the sacred mess of this present moment” with curiosity and child-like wonder, drenching our deepest wounds with a loving Awareness, and bringing light to the darkness. In true meditation, we come to We are perfect, exactly as we are. The Joy of True Meditation gathers together nearly 50 of Jeff Foster’s soothing, touching, provocative, and encouraging essays and poetic reflections on life, love, our true nature, and the courageous journey towards wild self-acceptance. Plus, in an extended Introduction, Jeff opens up fully for the first time about his battle with chronic shame and depression. He shares movingly how a complete mental and spiritual breakdown eventually led him to the discovery of the present moment, his true home. He explains how true meditation literally saved his life. This book’s themes “Hidden in each of this book’s vignettes is a constant reminder of the fierceness and totality of the moment as an invitation to present, to breath, back home. Jeff’s invitations are manifold and pay homage to the pulsing, alive heart, and to the vital, inspired breath. By being who he a poet, lover, and madman in the best sense of the word, Jeff offers words of encouragement whispered into our tired ears and minds, meant for our dazzled, wild hearts to receive.” – From the Foreword by Kelly Boys, author of “The Blind Spot Effect”