Bhante Henepola GunaratanaRezensionen

The first half is very useful… the second half is not. Follow the instructions and leave the fluff for later.

Despite having and constantly trying to deepen a daily meditation practice for years, I hadn't read this book. Since I'm slowly in the process of trying to reintegrate vipassana into my existing meditation practice—one rooted in the Kundalini yogic tradition—I found this book the be an invaluable resource, not only as a reintroduction of sorts to vipassana (insight meditation), but also perhaps reminding me why I've always preferred vipassana practice to zazen ("just sitting").

For those new to meditation and mindfulness practice, this book is perhaps the best place to start. With short chapters, it would be ideal to work through the ideas here slowly, reading and savoring and reflecting on each as they're presenting as one incorporates them into a daily practice at home. In all of my reading on meditation, yoga, Buddhism, and even some sometimes questionable, esoteric philosophical tracts on the training of the mind, I don't think I've encountered a book that has been so direct, accessible, and admirably put together.

This will help you to see why sitting daily is for everyone, not just Buddhists or those seeking enlightenment (whatever that might be). But, more importantly, this book will articulate how your practice of seated meditation carries over into your daily life, and how the point of meditation—and the most important part of meditation—begins after you have risen from your cushion.

Start or deepen your practice here... or, for those who might have fallen off the meditation bandwagon, and recall all of the positive effects it had on their daily lives (and perhaps bemoan daily something along these lines: "I wish I had more time to meditate again!"), this is the book for you to recommence your journey.

not bad

Good read if it's one of your first mindfulness reads. If you're a bit more seasoned it won't add much.

Wonderful work.

'This work will be of great value to newcomers...especially people without access to a teacher.'-Larry Rosenberg

'Time and time again, the student is told to...meditate, meditate, meditate. But how? Venerable Gunaratana's book answers how.'-Chris O'Keefe

'Mindfulness in Plain English is just that: a wonderfully clear and straightforward explanation of mindfulness meditation. Venerable Gunaratana has done a valuable service in writing this book. It will be of great help to all who read it.'-Joseph Goldstein

This step-by-step guide to Insight meditation is truly practical and direct. Vernerable Gunaratana's conventional style and use of everyday examples imbue the basic teachings of Vipassana meditaton with unsurpassable clarity and wit. His deeply spiritual yet nondenominational approach invites readers of all backgrounds to experience the fruits of meditative awareness.

Contents

Preface
Introduciton: American Buddhism
1 Meditation: Why bother
2 What meditation isn't
3 What meditation is
4 Attitude
5 The practice
6 What to do with your body
7 What to do with your mind
8 Structuring your meditation
9 Set up exercises
10 Dealing with problems
11 Dealing with distractions I
12 Dealing with distractions II
13 Mindfulnes (Sati)
14 Mindfulness versus concentration
15 Meditation in everyday life
16 What's in it for you

Very good book, and would’ve definitely been a 5-star book had it been my first introduction to meditation.

This book helped me get into a regular meditation routine several years ago. Most meditation books are all saying the same thing, so it's really just a matter of finding one that speaks to you. I like Thich Nhat Hanh's books a lot, too.

The best book on meditation I have read. This book is a practical guide to Vipassana or Insight mediation and written in simple english as in the same.

Ideal for anyone beginning the practice Vipassana meditation.

Everything you ever wanted to know but never had a chance to ask about meditation and Buddhist spiritual practice, from one of the greatest mindfulness teachers of our time and the author of the bestselling book Mindfulness in Plain English.
How can I fit meditation into my busy life?
How should I understand karma and rebirth?
Is enlightenment even possible for me?

Sound familiar? If you've ever meditated or studied Buddhism, you may have found yourself asking these questions--and many more! Here's the good news: there are answers, and you'll find them all in this book. Imagine that you could sit down with one of Buddhism's most accomplished and plainspoken teachers--and imagine that he patiently agreed to answer any question you had about meditation, living mindfully, and key Buddhist concepts--even the myriad brilliant questions you've never thought to ask! What, Why, How condenses into one volume a half-century of Bhante G.'s wise answers to common questions about the Buddha's core teachings on meditation and spiritual practice. With his kind and clear guidance, you'll gain simple yet powerful insights and practices to end unhealthy patterns and habits so that you can transform your experience of the world--from your own mind to your relationships, your job, and beyond.

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Venerable-Henepola-Gunaratana-Les-4-fondements-de...

> Comme d' habitude, le Venerable Hénépola Gunaratana a écrit un livre clair et précis.
C' est un excellent guide pour ceux qui désirent comprendre comment fonctionne l'esprit et pour ceux qui désirent améliorer leur méditation.
—Danieljean (Babelio)

Một cuốn sách bắt buộc cần phải đọc cho thiền sinh Vipassana. Một bản đồ con đường thiền rõ ràng và chi tiết cho các thiền sinh nghiêm cẩn.

Must read for beginner meditators

This is more than the 3rd times I re-read this great book, after 3 years practicing meditation. Each time I read it, each time I learn more out of it. Certainly, I will re-read if after more meditation. If there is only one book to suggest for beginner meditators on the practice side, no doubt that I would pick this one.

The title of this book does not lie. Gunaratana offers a how-to for insight mindfulness in a straight-forward and easy-to-understand language. This is not the deeply didactic philosophy of mindfulness, but rather a deep dive into South and Southeast Asian Buddhism. The first order of business is to dispel the misconceptions surrounding mindfulness and meditation. For example, there is no magic to this vipassana style medication. You won't levitate. Instead, you become grounded in morality, concentration, and wisdom. Speaking of concentration, you learn the concept of shallow concentration which seems contrary to successful mindfulness. In other words, you won't lose yourself in mindfulness. Instead, you will train your mind to concentrate on a mental object, the breath being more convenient and ever-present. Despite the easy language and thin volume, Mindfulness is a treasure trove of information.½

I used this book as a guide to start meditating, commencing with an open mind and not knowing where it would lead. Heck, I didn't even know what meditation was! There was just so much noise in life and I hoped this would help. The author provides a detailed toolkit on meditation and holds your hand through getting started and translating it all to every moment of life. I've gradually implemented meditation and will continue to exercise mindfulness.

This was my second book on meditation. Having read its name a lot on the internet, I had high hopes for it; and, I was not disappointed.
This might be the very book that turns the course of my life towards mental fulfillment.

The book leaves no doubt about the awesome power of mindfulness. But it also cautions that to see any palpable result, one has to keep practicing for years; but all that effort is very well worth it.

I (re)started my meditation practice after reading the method described in this book. The thing that I liked the most about this book was that I found the answers to EVERY SINGLE doubt or question that I had about meditation.
It explained in a very coherent way WHY we need to meditate, even more so when you are busy. It explains how we live our life in a blur: chasing happiness, evading pain and ignoring the neutral moments. When we practice Vipassana meditation we become mindful of our universe: internal and external. Even a simple act of breathing or walking isn't the same when you are mindful. When you get rid of the concept of "me", the world as you know it disappears, and you perceive every moment as if for the very first time.

The last chapter that described the end-result that one could attain with meditation was mind-blowing! Just reading that part made me tingle with excitement.

I will definitely keep on meditating in the future and hope to become a better human being.

EDIT (upon the second re-read):

On the second reading, I felt some things were different with the book. Having read Siddhartha before it, I felt there were some common threads here as well.
Once again, it was a legit treat to read the last chapter. The author has put forth so eloquently the point of it all.

I have noticed that recently while meditating, I would sometimes get these really profound thoughts. For example, the other day I realized that being mindful is like breaking the fourth wall. You can see your predicament as a third person.
The most difficult part for me in my practice that I've realized would be to cultivate loving-kindness towards all beings, even those who have hurt us.

I will continue pursuing the goal of becoming able to meditate throughout my wakeful existence.

In this book Bhante G explains what Metta is. Translated by the author it comes down to loving kindness. When we talk about "normal" love, we usually mean that we like or love something with conditions. As what we love would change, our love also changes or disappears. An example: "I love you if you love me," or "I love you if you behave the way I want." As a conclusion of what metta is, we arrive at a love that knows no boundaries.

We should of course feel the feeling of metta for ourselves, but also for all other people and beings. Even our enemies are worth our metta. This may sound like an impossible task to perform, but if our enemies were happy, healthy and calm, there would be no reason to be enemies. The fact is that everyone is bothered by stress, pain, suffering, neuroses, psychoses, paranoia, anxiety, tension, panic, or nervousness, which can cause their behavior to collide with ours. Or of course ours with theirs.

The saying "practice makes perfect" also applies to metta. The loving kindness that you practice becomes stronger the more you practice and use it. Furthermore, we are not dependent on the outside world for metta. We do not practice saving the world or making the world perfect. We practice it primarily for ourselves, for our own well-being (this has been scientifically researched and found to be effective). This will then have an effect on the environment in which you find yourself.

Imagine trying to fulfill your desire for a certain object. When you realize that the core of the feeling is in you and not in the object, you will see that our desire is the problem and not the object outside of ourselves. So here we have the opportunity to practice. It is therefore very important to be aware (mindful) of your own emotions and behavior so that you can clearly see whether you suffer from jealousy, hatred or illusions (misunderstanding). According to the Buddha, these are the three poisons that we have to deal with during our lifetime and that cause us so much suffering and discomfort.

The Buddha said that a hatchet comes to life in the mouth of a person at birth. The things we say can have a huge impact on other people. You can see for yourself being mindful during the day how often we say mean or hurtful things. This would be a wonderful place to start our metta practice.

Do yourself a big favor, read and live this book to the best that you can!

An odd mix: kept switching back and forth between pragmatic-sounding approaches to meditation and kinda out-there metaphysical/philosphical tangents. Felt repetitive, but that could have just been the attempt to put this material in "plain English".

No rating until I actually have been putting this stuff into practice for a bit and see where it takes me.

A new book distilling the wisdom of the definitive masterpiece on mindfulness the all-time bestseller - Mindfulness in Plain English, down to a pocket-sized guide with everything you need to get started practicing mindfulness right now.

In a clear, friendly voice, this concise collection of beloved and renowned meditation master Bhante G&;s bestselling instructions will teach you everything you need to know to start&;and maintain!&;your mindfulness meditation practice. The book includes practical advice on
What to do with the body and mind in meditation;
What to do when the mind wanders and how to work with distraction;
How to deal with physical discomfort in meditation;
How to overcome drowsiness, boredom, and inability to concentrate;
How to work with fear and agitation, judgments, and self-criticism;
How to avoid trying too hard, expecting too much, or getting discouraged;
11 common misconceptions about meditation;
10 tips for effective practice;
and how to get the most out of your practice.

A lavishly produced book featuring carefully chosen selections from the Buddha’s teachings for use in recitation and reflection.

Buddhist Suttas for Recitation provides everything you need to begin and maintain a practice of contemplative recitation and reflection. These practices will deepen your connection to the Buddha, strengthen your faith in the Path, and nurture your intellectual understanding of the Dhamma.

This unique volume includes carefully chosen discourses of the Buddha from the Pali Canon—presented in inspiring and accessible English with accompanying Pali—that convey the essence of the Dhamma. The introductory material explains the relationship between meditation and devotional practice, offers instructions on setting up a home altar, and gives advice on how to use these texts to enhance your spiritual development.

Unrated, because the real test is whether it helps my meditation. My initial impression is that it was somewhat useful, because it provided a slightly different perspective from [b:The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness|40637204|The Mind Illuminated A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness|Culadasa (John Yates)|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529917257s/40637204.jpg|63141284] (which I began with, and am still working my way through), reinforcing some points and in other cases opening my eyes to alternatives. But compared to TMI, this is not a very detailed guidebook, nor (I think) would it have done such a good job of motivating me to give meditation a serious try.

It's not long, and it's quite straightforward and readable, but it's not exactly dense; unless I missed some nuanced distinctions, it's fairly repetitive. It's also rather vague in parts, though in some cases that was probably unavoidable (explaining some of this stuff is probably a bit like explaining qualia -- you can either be precise and wrong, or so vague that nobody without direct experience will get it).

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Venerable-Henepola-Gunaratana-Initiation-a-la-med...
> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Venerable-Henepola-Gunaratana-Initiation-a-la-med...

> PLUS QU'INDISPENSABLE. — La question ne se pose pas, ce livre est indispensable au méditant qui a déjà acquis une expérience lui permettant d'aller un peu plus profondément. Il s'agit là d'un plan détaillé des différents stades à accomplir en méditation profonde (les jhanas). Pour chaque stade il est très clairement décrit comment y accéder et comment le reconnaître. Les erreurs qu'on peut faire ainsi que les fausses impressions sont également présentent. Ne surtout pas passer à côté de ce manuel de l'esprit.
Pour la théorie, Osho est excellent. (Oribase)
—le 12 juil. 2018 (Sur Amazon) 5/5

> Ce livre donne une description des états de méditation avancés (jhanas) et définie leur utilité pour progresser sur la voie de l'éveil (dans le cadre du Bouddhisme Théravâda). Ces états de méditation ouvrent une perspective nouvelle d'introspection, qui agit 'mécaniquement' sur la progression du méditant qui parcourt des états de plus en plus subtils et raffinés. L'auteur insiste particulièrement sur le développement de la bienveillance, pour effacer provisoirement les obstacles à l'atteinte d'une concentration juste.
—Danieljean (Babelio)

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Venerable-Henepola-Gunaratana-Meditation-sur-la-p...

> Un bon livre pour qui veux débuter la méditation.
—Danieljean (Babelio)

> 12 EXERCISES PRATIQUE. — Tous les livres de l'auteur sont des merveilles de la pratique bouddhiste. Ici, 12 sujets de méditations qui sont les fondations du bouddhisme. L'auteur commence par les mots du Bouddha, puis les explique tout en détaillant l'exercice. Encore un must de la pratique ! (Oribase)
—le 22 juil. 2019 (Sur Amazon) 4/5

Hey neat, the whole thing is available online. Anyway, this meditation book deals primarily with meditation practice with very little reference to Buddhism. The writing style is friendly and off the cuff. It gave me new ideas for my practice, but I was also a little discouraged when he wrote that you really do need to catch distractions at the beginning rather than the end - and that's really hard! Practical and interesting. (July 24, 2006)

El libro del mindfulness es ya el texto más leído, reconocido y recomendado en todo el mundo acerca de la práctica de la meditación. Joseph Goldstein lo ha elogiado como una obra «extraordinariamente clara y directa». Con un lenguaje muy ingenioso y asequible, “Bhante G” –como cariñosamente se conoce a su autor– extiende su mano y ofrece su amplia experiencia y conocimientos a lectores de cualquier extracción y condición. Paso a paso, nos conduce a través de los mitos, realidades y beneficios de la práctica de la meditación y de la atención plena (mindfulness). Con una claridad poco habitual nos revela que ya poseemos el fundamento necesario para vivir nuestra vida de un modo más productivo, consciente y pacífico. Bhante simplemente señala cada herramienta de meditación y nos explica en qué consiste, lo que hace y cómo emplearla con eficacia. Esta edición ampliada incluye el texto completo de la aclamada primera versión, así como un nuevo capítulo dedicado al cultivo del amor-amistad, un tema especialmente importante en el mundo convulso en el que vivimos.

Since Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling — and most
influential — books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why.

Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, and
benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases Bhante’s trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.

This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving
kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great
resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life.