Meditation practice is far simpler, more fun, less esoteric and much more relevant to the wide-ranging situations we encounter in everyday life than we might imagine. Rather than an ornate, arcane set of instructions, meditation consists of practical tools to help deepen concentration, mindfulness and compassion. We rely on this depth when things change though we would much prefer stability, when we feel out of control of events, and above all when we want a quality of happiness that is not so fragile, so dependent on shifting conditions.

"In Real Happiness Sharon Salzberg introduces us with a gentle but firm hand to the meditation experience. To those who have taken her courses (like me) this book contains all of the jewels of Sharon's teachings plus more." - Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now.

"Wonderfully clear, remarkably accessible, warmhearted and wise. All you need to transform your life!" - Jack Kornfield (speaking on Sharon Saltzberg's latest book Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.

"People ask me all the time to recommend a book that will introduce them to the practice of meditation. And while there are many books written on the subject, none have brought together the purpose, technique, inspiration, and science in such an integrated, intelligent, and personal way. I will be suggesting and giving this jewel of a book to everyone I know who wants to bring steadiness, grace, peace, and happiness into their life through the practice of meditation." - Elizabeth Lesser, Co-founder of Omega Institute and author of Broken Open speaking on Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.

Sharon Salzberg has made a personal commitment to support social activism for positive change. She undertakes outreach to social change groups and teaches meditation practices for activists. At the Garrison Institute, her work includes meditation training for domestic violence social workers to alleviate vicarious trauma.

Sharon Salzberg - born in New York City in 1952 , she experienced a childhood involving considerable loss and turmoil. An early realization of the power of meditation to overcome personal suffering determined her life direction. Her teaching and writing now communicates that power to a worldwide audience of practitioners. 

Sharon first encountered Buddhism in 1969, in an Asian philosophy course at the State University of New York, Buffalo. The course sparked an interest that, in 1970, took her to India, for an independent study program. Sharon traveled motivated by "an intuition that the methods of meditation would bring me some clarity and peace."

In 1971, in Bodh Gaya, India, Sharon attended her first intensive meditation course. She spent the next years engaged in intensive study with highly respected Buddhist teachers. She returned to America in 1974 and began teaching vipassana (insight) meditation. Today she leads intensive retreats worldwide as well as a variety of non-residential programs, workshops, and classes.

She is a regular contributor the Huffington Post, and was a contributing editor of Oprah's O Magazine for several years. She has appeared in Time Magazine, Yoga Journal, msnbc.com, Tricycle, Real Simple, Body & Soul, Mirabella, Good Housekeeping, Self, Buddhadharma, More and Shambhala Sun.

Sharon has also emerged as a featured speaker and teacher at a wide variety of events. She served as a panelist with the Dalai Lama and leading scientists at the 2005 Mind and Life Investigating the MindConference in Washington, DC. She also coordinated the meditation faculty for the 2005 Mind and Life Summer Institute, an intensive five-day meeting to advance research on the intersection of meditation and the cognitive and behavioral sciences.

At the 2005 Sacred Circles Conference at the Washington National Cathedral, Sharon served as a keynote speaker. She has addressed audiences at the State of the World Forum, the Peacemakers Conference (sharing a plenary panel with Nobel Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Jose Ramos Horta) and has delivered keynotes at Tricycle's Buddhism in AmericaConference, as well as Yoga Journal, Kripalu and Omega conferences. She was selected to attend the Gethsemani encounter, a dialogue on spiritual life between Buddhist and Christian leaders that included His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 

Sharon's latest book in the UK is The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Programme for Real Happiness published by Hay House (a New York Times Best Seller in the US). She is also the author of The Force of Kindness, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Loving kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness.

She will be leading a whole day workshop at Alternatives in London on Sunday 29 January 2012 on Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation. For full details visit: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/EventDescription.aspx?EventID=927 

Visit: www.SharonSalzberg.com