{"title":"Marcia Z. Nelson","description":"\u003cp\u003eMARCIA Z. NELSON is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in religion. Her recent books include \u003cem\u003eThe Gospel According to Oprah\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe God of Second Chances: Stories of Lives Transformed by Faith\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCome and Sit: A Week Inside Meditation Centers\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNelson’s work has appeared in the \u003cem\u003eUtne Reader\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e, and the \u003cem\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/em\u003e. She has served as the Midwest correspondent for ReligionLink, a media resource service, and is a member of the Religion Newswriters Association. She attended the Earlham School of Religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen she’s not writing, Nelson works as a teacher and meditator, pursuits that inform her focus on religion and spirituality across her books.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarcia lives in Yorkville, Illinois.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarcia Z. Nelson’s books are published by SkyLight Paths, an imprint of Turner Publishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/books-new-releases\"\u003eNew Releases\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/award-winning-books\"\u003eAward-Winning Books\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"come-and-sit","title":"Come and Sit: A Week Inside Meditation Centers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe meditation experience demystified—an essential guide to\u003cbr\u003ewhat goes on in meditation centers of many spiritual traditions.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday's would-be student of meditation is confronted with such a wealth of available traditions from which to learn that it can make the prospect intimidating. Where should I start? Which one should I try? \u003cem\u003eCome and Sit\u003c\/em\u003e is the perfect companion to guide you on your way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Christian centering prayer, to Sufi dhikr (chanting the names of God), to Zen Buddhist zazen (formal silent meditation), this book demystifies both the kinds of meditation practiced in different spiritual traditions and the places people go to do them—and gives you a real feel for which method might suit you best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy do people meditate?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow might meditation affect my life?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat kinds of meditation are there?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat do people do in each meditation tradition?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo I have to be a member of a specific religion to practice meditation?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhere should I start?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeditator and journalist Marcia Z. Nelson addresses all of these questions as she takes you on visits to meditation centers of seven different types—Christian, Zen, Insight (Vipassana), Tibetan, Hindu, Sufi, and Jewish—representing the wide range of spiritual traditions that can now be found throughout America. She shows what a typical visit to each is like and talks to the teachers and the people who go there to discover how they got started, why they keep going, and what benefits they derive from the practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA list of further resources for in-depth exploration of each tradition, a directory of centers, and a glossary of terms make this guide exactly what you need to start meditating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCome and Sit\u003c\/em\u003e is not only a handbook for the beginning meditator, but also an excellent resource for anyone who wants to know more about the world's great meditation traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683365534\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683365532\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Marcia Z. Nelson","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43240500429016,"sku":"9781683365532","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43240500461784,"sku":"9781683365549","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781893361355_FC_mockup_v2_1740150017_de71058a-6c5c-44ee-bddb-1fb4c167557f.jpg?v=1791043672"}],"url":"https:\/\/turnerpublishing.com\/collections\/author-marcia-z-nelson.oembed","provider":"Turner Publishing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}