Mindfulness With Breathing : A Manual for Serious Beginners (Paperback)

by Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (Author), Phra Thepwisutthimethi (Author), Santikaro Bhikkhu (Author), Larry Rosenberg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Any practitioner, after meditating for some time, inevitably wonders what meditation method the historical Buddha Shakyamuni himself used while beneath the Bodhi Tree. Many people understand that prior to his realization, Shakyamuni Buddha studied with many of great yogis of his time, but most do not know what method he ultimately found leads most directly to Nirvana. In Ajhan Buddhadasa Bhikku's book, Mindfulness With Breathing, the Thai meditation master provides practitioners with penetrating insights into the Anapanasati Sutta, the sacred canonical text which many believe is the most direct transmission of Shakyamuni Buddha's breath meditation methods. Combined with a concise translation of the Sutta itself, Mindfulness With Breathing is one of the best guides to Buddhist meditation practice available in the English language.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications; Revised edition (November 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861711114
• ISBN-13: 978-0861711116
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #366,762 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Model Textbook!, January 5, 2000

By	John D. Daniels (Reno, Nevada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Anapanasati Sutta is a system of exercises and experiments in breathing and awareness applied to the body, feelings, mind, and spirit. It is presumed that by employing this method, the Buddha achieved enlightenment. It is difficult to imagine a more powerful exposition of these steps than that given by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (Ajan Buddhadasa). Buddhadasa Bhikkhu was perhaps the most influential teacher of Buddhism in the history of Thailand. Although he did not have much formal education, he was honored by many doctoral degrees. The translator, Santikaro Bhikkhu, after serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand, returned in l985 to become the translator for Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and today is the abbot of a monostery. From the translator's faithfulness to his task, the personality of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu emerges: clear, practical and posssessing gentle,good humor. Both Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and Santikaro Bhikkhu felt that many Pali terms did not translate easily into English. Consequently their inclusion was necessary. The reader is given three ways to grasp these terms; 1). A glossary, 2). In-text definitions and, 3). Grasping the terms in context through reading and study of the text. Through the Pali terms and the clear presentation of the core ideas of Buddhism, the reader if not enlightened, will at least be well-educated. The reader is taken gently and closely through every step of the way, starting with suggestions for reading the text. Always the reader is encouraged to do his/her best with what is available, which is exactly how Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and Santikaro Bhikkhu prepared this model of what a text book should be. The lectures this book were based on, were originally given to Westerners, consequently the reasoning behind ideas is emphasized. For instance, it is pointed out that any body process, not only breathing, can be used for this type of study. Should the reader not be prepared to undertake the path of "serious beginner" at this time, other less rigorous methods are described.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for serious beginners or more advanced students, March 18, 2006

By	Patrick D. Goonan "www.meaningful-life.us" (Pleasanton, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book is a deep exploration of Insight Meditation based on the Anapanasati Sutra. It is very detailed and contains quite a few Pali terms, but it goes beyond most popular books in depth. It was translated from Thai and is not the smoothest book in the world to read. However, it covers lots of ground in a short space and is a good supplment to other texts such as Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg.

Larry Rosenberg's book covers a lot of the same material, but is geared more toward a Western audience and doesn't get as deeply into the Pali terminology, the underlying philosophy, etc. I see the two books as useful and complimentary. Together they constitute a good comprehensive introduction to Insight Meditation.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to learn Pali !, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

As a newcomer to Buddhism and meditation I found this book rather difficult to get through due to the extensive use of Pali terms. There is a glossary which gets much use as one reads along going ,"now what did this word mean again?" It makes for very choppy reading and understanding , the concepts do not flow when you have to learn foreign terms every sentence. It is a very thorough explanation of the anapanasati sutta.