Top positive review
24 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsMore than a Manual
ByInner Traveleron June 8, 2016
I believe that Mahasi Sayadaw's text is a major contribution to the serious student of the Theravada Tradition of Buddhism. It looks and feels like a manual, but the reading has the type of personal tone to it that one would find if the teacher was within reach. Manual of Insight captures, arranges, and develops the ancient teachings of the Buddha in a way that the reader can grasp and retain and apply. It takes a skillful teacher to convey material for his/her students in this fashion. Mahasi Sayadaw does just that! While I do not think this text is for beginners, I do think that at some point he or she should make the manual an important resource for learning and memorizing. And the Index and other materials at the back of the book will further support such a cause.
Top critical review
7 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsNot for beginners
ByHerbivoron August 30, 2016
This is a pretty intense book. I've been meditating daily for about a year and a half and have become interested in Buddhism recently, but not so much that I would consider myself a Buddhist. This book is written for those that are devout Buddhist and have been practicing for awhile both the religion and meditation. You need to be familiar with some of the Pali terms in Buddhism. It's not suitable for beginners to the religion or to meditation. But for those that consider themselves true Buddhists, this book is an essential companion. For those people I would give it 5 stars. For the rest of us more secular Westerners interested in the Buddhist psychology or deepening meditation practice, I think there are more accessible books, easier to read. This one reads like a college text book, great for monastic Buddhist scholars but a bit hard to get through for average folks. I did find much inspiration and good instruction from the "Practical Instructions" section so for that and the beauty of the book, it was a worthy purchase.
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ByInner Traveleron June 8, 2016
I believe that Mahasi Sayadaw's text is a major contribution to the serious student of the Theravada Tradition of Buddhism. It looks and feels like a manual, but the reading has the type of personal tone to it that one would find if the teacher was within reach. Manual of Insight captures, arranges, and develops the ancient teachings of the Buddha in a way that the reader can grasp and retain and apply. It takes a skillful teacher to convey material for his/her students in this fashion. Mahasi Sayadaw does just that! While I do not think this text is for beginners, I do think that at some point he or she should make the manual an important resource for learning and memorizing. And the Index and other materials at the back of the book will further support such a cause.
24 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 starsThis insight technique is probably one of the few that a person could have good success without having access to a meditation te
Bybob's opinionon May 27, 2016
I've bought many books on different techniques of insight meditation. This one is epic and what a bargain at $25. I would not have hesitated to pay full price for it either. Even if a person didn't want to practice this technique the first 260 pages have invaluable information. This insight technique is probably one of the few that a person could have good success without having access to a meditation teacher or meditation center.
This is one of the best books available for serious students of Mindfulness, IMHO.
The Manual has credibility: Mahasi Sayadaw's methods helped train many prominent Western Buddhist practice leaders, and even today many Burmese meditation schools are respected as possibly the most serious Vipassana schools. The book begins with a deceptively easy style -- simply noting and attending to the simple act of breathing -- but before you know it, you are investigating some of the most subtle activities of the mind.
The Manual suggests remembering to be aware during the day, and cultivating a persistent habit of observing one's reactions and choices, and I thought it helped me do just that. The Manual also suggests one does not need to be "Enlightened" to experience glimpses of Nibbana. I first read this book during an on-line class from Wisdom, with a trained instructor familiar with Burmese Vipassana. I suggest using this method if it is still available, both because of the book's depth and because the organization is not always easy to assimilate. If you don't use this manual in conjunction with someone who knows something about the method, don't be discouraged if you find yourself sort of lost.
I would suggest scanning a chapter, and then a section, before you read more attentively, so you will have a better appreciation of the overall direction of the section you are reading, and not get too bogged down in detail.
May this help your studies go well.
The Manual has credibility: Mahasi Sayadaw's methods helped train many prominent Western Buddhist practice leaders, and even today many Burmese meditation schools are respected as possibly the most serious Vipassana schools. The book begins with a deceptively easy style -- simply noting and attending to the simple act of breathing -- but before you know it, you are investigating some of the most subtle activities of the mind.
The Manual suggests remembering to be aware during the day, and cultivating a persistent habit of observing one's reactions and choices, and I thought it helped me do just that. The Manual also suggests one does not need to be "Enlightened" to experience glimpses of Nibbana. I first read this book during an on-line class from Wisdom, with a trained instructor familiar with Burmese Vipassana. I suggest using this method if it is still available, both because of the book's depth and because the organization is not always easy to assimilate. If you don't use this manual in conjunction with someone who knows something about the method, don't be discouraged if you find yourself sort of lost.
I would suggest scanning a chapter, and then a section, before you read more attentively, so you will have a better appreciation of the overall direction of the section you are reading, and not get too bogged down in detail.
May this help your studies go well.
ByBook Drawnon August 11, 2016
“Although mindfulness in its secular applications has tremendous benefits, it’s helpful to remember that the original teachings of the Buddha are about liberation ….”(Introduction to the text at xvii). And it’s helpful knowing that’s the goal of this 710 page missive. Here’s a master’s approach to a path for the practitioner who wants to closely follow the original teachings of the Buddha. The Burmese monk Mahasi Sayadaw is legendary in the Theravada tradition. To have this foundational work available in English is an extraordinary opportunity for anyone wanting a serious spiritual practice. At a time when much of today’s Buddhist literature comes from sources from the second and third turning of the wheel, Mahasi Sayadaw draws directly from the original Suttas taken as the words of the Buddha.
How has Mahasi Sayadaw laid out the path? It begins with conduct. It stands to reason: You can’t be poisoning the ground while planting seeds. It’s difficult to make progress when your day to day conduct conflicts with the beliefs you are trying to implement. After that it’s about wisdom and means, meditation. After the initial discussion about purification of the mind and reality, the text turns to meditation as means, encompassing the four foundations of mindfulness, mindfulness of breathing and insight meditation, all based on key suttas from the days of the Buddha. These are supplemented with information packed appendixes with inserted folio. There’s an amazing English-Pali, Pali-English Glossary that follows.
It’s always great to see a book published as a sturdy hardback fit for the ages. It’s a text to be read and pondered over time, a text to be kept close and turned to again and again. If Buddhists started leaving books in hotel rooms this would likely be the book, a Theravadan Bible for a practice leading to awakening.
How has Mahasi Sayadaw laid out the path? It begins with conduct. It stands to reason: You can’t be poisoning the ground while planting seeds. It’s difficult to make progress when your day to day conduct conflicts with the beliefs you are trying to implement. After that it’s about wisdom and means, meditation. After the initial discussion about purification of the mind and reality, the text turns to meditation as means, encompassing the four foundations of mindfulness, mindfulness of breathing and insight meditation, all based on key suttas from the days of the Buddha. These are supplemented with information packed appendixes with inserted folio. There’s an amazing English-Pali, Pali-English Glossary that follows.
It’s always great to see a book published as a sturdy hardback fit for the ages. It’s a text to be read and pondered over time, a text to be kept close and turned to again and again. If Buddhists started leaving books in hotel rooms this would likely be the book, a Theravadan Bible for a practice leading to awakening.
ByStefanon November 23, 2016
It's a jewel of a book, but absolutely not suited for beginners to meditation. It's technical, not easily accessible, and not exactly easy to read either. I would recommend several years of practice before you try reading it. The book gives an overview of a particular style of meditation, and the various stages of progress, culminating in enlightenment. It's essentially a roadmap and 'how to' guide for experienced meditators. The author was a Burmese monk and his particular style of teaching has strongly influenced many Western Vipassana/Insight Meditation teachers, in particular those at Spirit Rock and IMS. It's likely one of the best books on (a sub-strand of) Theravada Buddhism. Next to the Pali canon itself, I'd consider it 'essential' reading for experienced practitioners.
ByK. Douglas Andersonon September 2, 2016
Brilliant and thorough book on meditation in the Theravada tradition. A great reference book to be returned to over and over for exhaustive explication of Buddhist practice. It is occasionally quaint -- for example the description of Buddhist Hells. That section in particular seems intended to scare young monks,, and for the adult reader seems to have its tongue very far in cheek. A very valuable guide for the serious practitioner.
ByCUZon April 29, 2018
This book is the perfect mix of scholarly and practical knowledge. It takes you from the beginning, practicing the foundation of morality - to the goal, Nibanna. All information contained within is cross-referenced with the original Pali texts. A beautiful book, inside and out.
5.0 out of 5 starsThese are the instructions for Liberation, if you can follow them, you reward will be immeasurable.
Bytrippinjohnon July 21, 2018
I bought this book because my teachers were behind getting it translated and Mahasi Saydow is the "grandfather" of the tradition I practice in. I expected it to be very heady and a difficult read, but just the opposite is true. Sayadow composed these instructions for lay people in Burma, people who generally had very little education. The result is a very clear and easy to understand teaching style (understanding is one thing, but putting the instructions into practice "successfully" is something completely different). If you can do what he says in this book, you will have lived the Holy life and your journey through samsara will be complete, may your practice be fruitful!
ByPeter Stuckingson October 29, 2016
Possibly the most important meditation book ever published. And that's saying a lot since there are so many great titles out there. Of course, this is an advanced text and would require a lot of fundamentals before it will yield much of benefit to the reader. It would most suit those who have done a retreat in the Mahasi technique and want to advance their practice. Highly recommended!
ByM. Krugeron October 22, 2016
Sayadaw is as original as Ajaan Chah, but with a somewhat more 'stringent' tone to his writing (NOT in his practice!). This is a wonderful tome, nonetheless...
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