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Especially good for self critical American Buddhists

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mack paul

June 1, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It has been my habit for the past 25 years to read a few pages of a spiritual book before sleep. As meditation practice has grown in the west the quality of the writing has become more incisive and direct. This is needed because people want to romanticize meditation as a way to enter a transcendent space beyond human suffering.

Ajahn Sumedho has been informed by his life as a Buddhist monk and, perhaps even more importantly, his observations of Thai culture. He notes that Western students are idealistic, striving for perfection by subjecting themselves to harsh discipline and self criticism. Thai culture is much more accepting of human weakness. He encourages the reader to practice meditation in a very relaxed way. When we don't strive for an idealized state of enlightenment we are more likely to notice a natural nonverbal awareness that allows us to gracefully experience the full range of human emotion.

This book really resonates with my personal experience.

tells us we just aren't noticing it. He states the simple truth quite simply.

14 people found this helpful

One of the Best Buddhism books

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Spongebob

June 7, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of the best best books in Buddhism that I have read.
It is simple, and Sumedho encourages intuitive awareness, which is something we can find in ourselves.
He shared his experience, his observations and journey from a lay person to, novice monk, and abbot.
In my opinion, the best take away in the book, is : To reach the deathless, the conditionless, nirvana, we actually do not need any conditions. People are attached to conditions (such as quietness) to have peace. But do we really need conditions to reach the conditionless?
We often hear the core teaching "impermanence, suffering and no-self" and imposed them on our experience without wisdom, without understanding. Sumedho emphasizes that it should be used as a way for reflection.

There are some other excellent books which I want to share in the below URL, especially the Anthology Volume 1 to 5, which is the collected teachings from Sumedho.
http://forestsanghapublications.org/viewAuthor.php?id=9

9 people found this helpful

This is an open door to Buddhism. Sumedhho is ...

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Halbert Thomas

July 18, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is an open door to Buddhism. Sumedhho is a gifted explainer who makes even the complicated understandable. He is concrete, specific and pragmatic and offers a view of Buddhism not as something just to read about and puzzle about but as a set of beneficial practices to bring into daily life. His focus is on the most immediate and accessible aspects of human experience. He doesn't ask the reader to have faith in texts or the experiences of historical figures or acclaimed contemporary leaders. He invites the reader to simply do these things with openness and persistence and see what happens. Less suffering? Yes or no.

4 people found this helpful

It's to read again & again

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An ordinary being

February 27, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The 1st time I read Ajahn Sumedho's "Don't Take your Life..." I liked it, but felt it could've/should've been edited. Two months later, I've picked it up again, and am now approaching the end of my 2nd time to read it from cover to cover: What changed? me. I could see my games better when I went back to this book.
Thank goodness for Sumedho's bare-bones honesty about the workings of his own mind and thanks for his main meditation instruction: "Be with what's happening, now." (But do so kindly, without effort, etc.)
The classical sutras/scriptures in Tibetan Buddhism don't address the Western mind and our low-self esteem issues (no matter if that comes out by our being highly competitively, depressed and/or everything in the middle.) That's because beating up on one's self historically wasn't part of the Tibetan's world view. Sumedho's book integrates observing yourself/your thoughts and every day life in a way you might find helpful, no matter if you're a Buddhist or not.

10 people found this helpful

Very helpful and useful. Really enjoyed reading it

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Most recent customer reviews

Reader

Very helpful and useful.
Really enjoyed reading it.

Published 4 months ago

Douglas Lowe

Mindfulness

Great read in a compact form. A lot of good points to take away and practice in everyday life. It helps you to think of different ways of mindfulness

Published 9 months ago

moonsuneyes

a booka to read slowly

good book, reeada echa pace pacefulllly

Published 10 months ago

Robert Castro

Direct, Succinct and Readable this book is a little ...

Direct,Succinct and Readable this book is a little gem!!!

Published 11 months ago

Enduring Fragrance of the Koi Pond

What a terrific book! As soon as I finished it - ...

What a terrific book! As soon as I finished it - I enjoyed a deep breath - and then reread it. Ajahn Sumedho IS an Arahat

For those trying to find an escape from turmoil this is a centering read.

Charles O'connor

Five Stars

Great book! Deep insights

Albert A. Dalia

Great book! Deep insights, I give it my highest recommendation.

How to write a review ? That who will write s a fiction. That which is truth is a witness. Who will write what and about whom ?

Amazon Customer

Person is a lie

Ajahn Sumedho makes Buddhism understandable to followers who have wrestled with the concepts of the belief system.

Ronald L. Koch

Five Stars

Only halfway through but I love this book!

Mari Marie

Love it!