"The Experience of Samadhi" has been released by Shambhala Publications.

Unraveling the mix of ideas about what proper samadhi (concentration) is and its place in dharma practice can be difficult.  Students may become confused about the degree or type of samadhi they should cultivate or how to incorporate it into their meditation practice.  There is a wide range of views, opinions and disagreements among teachers about the place of samadhi in insight meditation.  Some stress the importance of concentration while others teach that insight arises through mindfulness alone and do not give concentration any particular emphasis. 

This book differs from most books on samadhi and jhana in that it is not presenting teaching from only one teacher or perspective.  Rather, it provides an in-depth examination of the range of teachings on samadhi and then discusses some of the important views, disagreements and controversies on the topic. 

Part 1 of the book offers an in-depth examination of samadhi in the source Pali texts, and then discusses some of the most important questions, such as: Are insight and concentration two separate paths of meditation, or is there a single path that synthesizes the two into one practice?  What is the nature of the deepest stages of concentration known as Jhana?  Is deep concentration necessary for liberating insight?

Part 2 consists of interviews with the following teachers on the topic of samadhi:  Monastic teachers: Ajaan Thanissaro, Bhante Gunaratana, Ajahn Brahmavamso, and Sayadaw Pa Auk.  Lay teachers:  Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Christina Feldman, and Leigh Brasington.