Customer Reviews

Breathe, You Are Alive: The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

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This is a seminal book in my collection of inspirational and instructional books on meditation and mindfulness. Though I had been meditating for years when I first opened this book, I had not yet made the connection between being mindful breath and meditation. This book introduced me to a level of stillness and awareness that I had not encountered before in my practice. Thich Nhat Hanh's gentle spirit and voice comes through his writing and can melt even the most anxious mind. I have a large collection of his books and savor every word of every one. I see that he has a new book coming out. I will be ordering that one too.

Thich Nhat Hanh provides the entirety of the Dharma within the practice of following the breath. I previously thought of this practice as a way to calm my mind so I can then begin some other meditative work. I see now that following the breath can take me to the entirety of the Dharma. I highly recommend this book.

We are so lucky that Thich Nhat Hanh's books and thoughts are still alive! We are so fortunate to be able to benefit from this in the times that we live in today.

This book was highly informative and gave practical exercises which could be implemented by most everyone, especially Buddhists.

From the first to last page, this is something all Buddhists/Meditators should read. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches the lessons of the Anapanasati Sutra so well, it should inspire anyone who picks this book up to new levels of Meditation and Mindfullness. I could go on and on..just get this book and learn from it.

BTW, This book is, more or less the Companion to "Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfullness". Both of these Sutras represent part of the core of Buddhist thought.

This book is worth studying, as almost everything I've read by Thich Nnat Hanh is.

The book arrived in a timely manner in the condition it was advertised to be.

I show below a meaning of four items of the Four Noble Truths.
The Noble Truth of Suffering is a law that greed for basic survival lets samsara continue if there is ignorance.
The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering is a law that samsara stops if there is not ignorance.
The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering is various analyses of direct causes and assistant relationships letting samsara continue.
The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering is a practice guidance called the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment abolishing those causes and relasionships.

It is necessary for the Buddhism of the 21st century to arrange the Four Noble Truths for oneself according to the Logic of Buddha oneself. It becomes the deliverance manual for exclusive use of each person. I omit the detailed explanation, but show Me's original "Guidance of the Four Noble Truths " which I derived from the Five Aggregate and the Twelve Nidanas and the Noble Eightfold Path next.

<The Noble Eightfold Path> **********< the Path for the Cessation of Suffering >
Right understanding 1----------------------------Kaya 1 (Form)
Right intention ------------------------------------Vedana (Sensory Feelings)
Right(speech + action + livelihood)----------------Citta 1 (Consciousness)
Right effort---------------------------------------Vedana (Sensory Feelings)
Right mindfulness----------------------------------Kaya 2 (Form)
Right concentration--------------------------------Citta 2 (Samskara + Samjna)
Right understanding 2----------------------------Ignorance (Avidya)

I show correspondency of the 37 Aids to Enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path which I arranged next to choose the practice method that is good for each person next. The reason why "Anapanasati Sutta" is said to be the highest peak of the ascetic practices system of Buddha becomes clear if you watch this. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness and the Seven Factors of Awakening included in "Anapanasati Sutta" completely cover the Noble Eightfold Path, and the reason is because it is given an explanation that the Noble Eightfold Path is detailed, besides.
In addition, this omits the details, but the Seven Factors of Awakening is nothing but the Four Foundations of Mindfulness where Right mindfulness acts on.

<Noble Eightfold Path>***< 4 foundations of mindfulness >***<7 Factors of Enlightenment>
Right understanding 1---------------Body
Right intention-----------------------Feeling
speech, action, livelihood------------Consciousness
Right effort
Right mindfulness-------------------------------------------------------Mindfulness
<><><><><><><><>----------------------------------Investigation + Energy + Joy + Tranquility
Right concentration-----------------------------------------------------Concentration
Right understanding 2---------------Mental qualities-----------------------Equanimity

<The Noble Eightfold Path>****< 4 bases of power >****<5 faculties / powers>
Right understanding 1
Right intention-----------------------------Will-------------------------Faith
Speech, action, livelihood---------------Consciousness
Right effort----------------------------Energy--------------------------Energy
Right mindfulness--------------------------------------------------------Mindfulness
Right concentration---------------------Discrimination------------------Concentration
Right understanding 2--------------------------------------------------Wisdom

<The Noble Eightfold Path>****<4 right exertions>
Right understanding 1-------------Skillful states(Body)
Right intention-----------------------Skillful states(Feeling)
Speech, action, livelihood------Skillful states(Consciousness)
Right effort
Right mindfulness
<><><><><><><>---------------Unskillful states(Body / feeling / consciousness)
Right concentration
Right understanding 2

The ascetic practices of a daughter loving Ananda and Nanda which wants to marry a celestial maiden are the Four Bases of Success.
The ascetic practices of Cuuda-pantaka which attained realization by cleaning are the Five Faculties and the Five Powers.
The ascetic practices known as the story of Sona's harp and Anurudha's sleep are the Four Right Efforts.
These Aids to Enlightenment were used for an owner of strong personality.