Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness [Paperback]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2006

The Sutra has been studied, practiced, and handed down with special care from generation to generation for 2,500 years. In these commentaries, Thich Nhat Hanh guides the reader to an understanding of the fundamental basis of the Buddhist practice and encourages application in daily life. The book describes the four methods of mindfulness: mindfulness of the body, the feelings, the mind, and the object of mind. It teaches how to deal with anger and jealousy; to nurture the best qualities in our children, spouse, and friends; and to greet death with compassion and equanimity. Three versions of the Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness are presented here, along with Thich Nhat Hanh’s insightful commentary, his discussion of breathing techniques, and 23 exercises — or contemplations — to aid in the daily practice of mindfulness. Accessible to novice Buddhists as well as more advanced practitioners, this second edition features a new introduction by the author.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Vietnamese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Parallax Press; 2nd edition (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888375620
• ISBN-13: 978-1888375626
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, a renowned Zen master, a poet, and a peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967, and is the author of many books, including the best-selling The Miracle of Mindfulness.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guidance on mindfulness, February 17, 2002

By 

Richard Harrold (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Paperback)

Thich Nhat Hanh's structure of how he presents and reviews the suttas of the Pali cannon is very easy to follow and broken down into manageable portions. For a novice Buddhist like myself, I find this format very helpful. So many other discussions on the suttas make my head spin!

In this text, as in others, the sutta in its entirety is presented in the Therevada translation. He then follows this with a section by section explanation of what the sutta means and how to apply it. The last sections of the book include other translations of the sutta, which are quite interesting because you see how these translations change sometimes the meaning of the sutta.

This book is very helpful for beginning meditators as well because it gives you the basics of breathing and how to use your breathing for meditation and contemplation. Once you master one step, the sutta provides you with the next step to take. I am so happy I have found this and the other books by Thich Nhat Hanh. My life is already the better for it.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, to the point, well written. Exactly what you want., July 18, 2006

By 

Steven J. Bissell (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Paperback)

This is the author's presentation of the Satipatthana Sutra, the basic sutra on mindfullness. As in all of his works he does the work of a good Dharma teacher very well. He keeps his own personality and teaching idiosyncrasies out of the way so that the student's understanding can arise naturally. There are more elaborate and academic descriptions of the Sutra available and more detailed descriptions of how to use the Sutra in meditation. But this is good basic information presented in a good manner with no frills or personal quirks. The author gives a good commentary on the Sutra and explains why he translates certain passages, but he also gives the alternate interpretations.

This is a fine basic introduction to the central issue in Vapassana meditation. Highly recommended.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No one does it better, August 13, 2006

By 

Douglas H. Eckhoff "Dharma Bum" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Paperback)

No one explains the essential elements of Buddhism bettter Thich Nhat Hanh. Here he continues to examine the basic teachings of meditation as taught by the Buddha and handed down through the Pali Canon. A perfect companion to his book, Breathe! You Are Alive, this work carefully explains for both the novice and more experienced pratitioner the nuances of deeper mediatation techniques as laid out in the Satipatthana Sutta. Thich Nhat Hanh writes with clarity and and makes the joy of meditation accessable to everyone with the desire find true happiness.