OK, first my personal bias out of the way, I'm in my mid 50s, been a Buddhist for approximately 35 years and thus think Buddhism is the Bees-Knees...
However people may look at it Buddhists have been meditating and investigating the nature of the Mind, its states and possible abilities and refining the technical language to explain such states for over 2500 years and where most contemplative traditions died out in India due to various historical reasons such practices and investigation continued in Tibet and the surrounding Theravadin countries... and has amassed a vast literature on this subject, it's for this reason that I personally think Buddhism is the best place to look for this type of information.
NOW for the Book itself.
Even though this book does draw it's information from various Buddhist sources (as well as science) the language used by Buddhists on meditation itself is of a technical and non religious nature which is reflected in this book thus anyone from any Contemplative Tradition may find this book useful, or even those who are purely secular in outlook.
The method presented takes its approach from an ancient Buddhist model where a concentration (tranquil abiding, shamatha or samatha) is developed in certain stages. Where this book excels is the share amount of detail and practical advice for all stages of mental development.
For those already familiar with the Buddhadhamma one very important point the author covers is access concentration which gives access to the Jhanas, he explains quite clearly that access concentration can arise even before Tranquil Abiding is accomplished, something I've NEVER seen covered else where and over which there is much confusion even among Tibetan Lamas (sorry but it's true). He also, in my honest opinion, ends the debate between Sutta & Abhidhamma type Jhanas, Thank you Culadasa & Saaadhu !
Plus the book has what the author calls interludes which are chapters filling in essential information to progress to the next level and well as slowly presenting a more sophisticated model of mind/Consciousness as ones practice and experience develops.
There is NO book on the market as detailed and comprehensive as this one, NONE, from the Tibetans, Theravadins or anyone else, and I say this after 35 years of experience and study, if YOU or anyone else can find better than please let me know.
This author also has one or two other "tricks" up his sleeve, e.g. he explains why "laziness" might have actually been useful and is not necessarily always negative, never seen that before and, well a very useful way of seeing things, I'll let purchasers of the book learn why by reading the book...
I cannot fault this book, it has everything you need to develop tranquil abiding and much more besides. I would recommend this book over all others.
HAPPY MEDITATING.
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 April 2016
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A Deep and Structured Guide to Mastering Meditation
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