http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=meditation+monk
While in deep meditation, a Tibetan Monk hooked up to an EEG did not flinch (his brainwaves remained unaltered) as a shotgun blast was fired right past his head. So, if anyone has any doubts, then they should be vanquished.
how-to links:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...nce+meditation
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...ent+meditation
Thomas Merton was an infamous beatnik that became a Catholic monk that became a famous spiritual author and advocate of ecumenism. He can prove useful since he is a western teacher. D.T. Suzuki and Alan Watts are probably the two other (more) famous pop-philosophers on meditation and Zen &
Mahayana Buddhism. Although, the new-ager kooks out there today make these guys seem extremely important. Watts' Way of Zen book actually puts Zen into a historical context that exposes some of its basic fallacies. Personally, I enjoy J. Krishnamurti's teachings.
The symbolic writings in the ancient Tao Te Ching can be useful for understanding the process of how to not try but still clear the mind along with the rhythm of breathing.