Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

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Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby bodom » Sat May 19, 2012 3:42 pm

Great news! A new book from Bhante G. coming this August:

In simple and straightforward language, Bhante Gunaratana shares what the Buddha said about mindfulness in his instructional talks and how we can use these principles to improve our daily lives, deepen our mindfulness, and move closer to our spiritual goals. While this book is based on a classic text, the Satipatthana Sutta, its presentation is thoroughly modern in Bhante’s trademark “Plain English” style.

Based around one of the Buddha's most succinct yet rich explanations of meditation, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English can be read as a stand-alone volume either before or after the bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English. Newcomers will find it lays strong groundwork for mindfulness practice and gives them all they need to get started right away, and old hands will find rich subtleties and insights that will help consolidate and clarify what they may have started to see for themselves.


http://www.wisdompubs.org
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby David N. Snyder » Sat May 19, 2012 7:07 pm

:thumbsup:

Glad to hear that; Bhante does an excellent job of explaining important things like mindfulness, jhanas, and other important teachings in plain English.
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby marc108 » Sat May 19, 2012 7:18 pm

Wow, I'm excited for this. Bhante G is the best! How lucky we are to have someone so deeply practiced, with a genius level intellect AND can explain things so simply and effectively! :)
“The unawakened mind tends to make war against the way things are. To follow a path with heart, we must understand the whole process of making war within ourselves and without, how it begins and how it ends."
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby polarbuddha101 » Sun May 20, 2012 5:24 am

How funny, I've had that book on my amazon account waiting to ship list for a month now and I just cancelled it off my list yesterday because I already have Analayo's book The Direct Path to Realization and The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika.

Any of you guys think I should still get Gunaratana's book to hear another interpretation or do you think it would be excessive?
"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby tiltbillings » Sun May 20, 2012 6:30 am

polarbuddha101 wrote:How funny, I've had that book on my amazon account waiting to ship list for a month now and I just cancelled it off my list yesterday because I already have Analayo's book The Direct Path to Realization and The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika.

Any of you guys think I should still get Gunaratana's book to hear another interpretation or do you think it would be excessive?
It is likely worth reading, and it is always of value to hear differing takes on the same thing from experienced and good teachers.


Also, Joseph Goldstein, an excellent long time practitioner, well grounded in the suttas, has done an extensive series of talks on the Satipatthana Sutta from standpoint of actual practice. The talks can be found here.

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/

What is the use of his knowledge
pertaining to the number of insects in the whole world?
Rather, inquire into his knowledge of
that which is to be practised by us

-- Dharmakirti

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond.
SN I, 38.

Níl sa saol seo ach ceo
There is naught in this life but mist
Is ní bheimid beo ach seal beag gearr.
And we will not be alive but a short hard time.
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby cooran » Sun May 20, 2012 6:35 am

Tilt said: The talks can be found here.


Where?

with metta
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby tiltbillings » Sun May 20, 2012 6:36 am

cooran wrote:
Tilt said: The talks can be found here.


Where?

with metta
Chris
Oooops.

Here

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/

What is the use of his knowledge
pertaining to the number of insects in the whole world?
Rather, inquire into his knowledge of
that which is to be practised by us

-- Dharmakirti

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond.
SN I, 38.

Níl sa saol seo ach ceo
There is naught in this life but mist
Is ní bheimid beo ach seal beag gearr.
And we will not be alive but a short hard time.
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby polarbuddha101 » Sun May 20, 2012 9:30 am

Thanks for the input Tilt. I actually found another thread you posted on with a link to Goldstein's lectures a few weeks ago and have been listening to them almost everyday since, so thanks for that as well

:namaste:
"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby Ben » Sun May 20, 2012 9:32 am

Great news, indeed!
Thank you for sharing, Bodom!
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby tiltbillings » Sun May 20, 2012 9:37 am

polarbuddha101 wrote:Thanks for the input Tilt. I actually found another thread you posted on with a link to Goldstein's lectures a few weeks ago and have been listening to them almost everyday since, so thanks for that as well

:namaste:
Good on you and you are welcome.

What is the use of his knowledge
pertaining to the number of insects in the whole world?
Rather, inquire into his knowledge of
that which is to be practised by us

-- Dharmakirti

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond.
SN I, 38.

Níl sa saol seo ach ceo
There is naught in this life but mist
Is ní bheimid beo ach seal beag gearr.
And we will not be alive but a short hard time.
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby piotr » Sun May 20, 2012 9:50 am

Hi,

You can find fairly new recordings of Bhante Guṇaratana talks on satipaṭṭhānas here. I suppose that content of upcoming book might be quite similar.
Bhagavaṃmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā...
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby marc108 » Mon May 21, 2012 4:57 am

as a triple fyi... Bhavana Society offers, on a Dana basis, a CD with 25's worth of discourse by Bhante G on Satipatthana. http://www.bhavanasociety.org/resource/ ... _sutta_cd/
“The unawakened mind tends to make war against the way things are. To follow a path with heart, we must understand the whole process of making war within ourselves and without, how it begins and how it ends."
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby bodom » Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:49 pm

I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

:anjali:
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby Cittasanto » Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:51 pm

bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

:anjali:

I have gone through his PHd thesis which was turned into a book and goes by a couple of names (although both escape me now). it is a fascinating read although not a practice manual like Mindfulness in plain English, but well worth the read also. I have a feeling Mindfulness in Plain English is a scaled down version in many respects.

Have a look in the Biblography for it!

and just realised this is off topic to the book being refered to :juggling:
anyway, do with as you see fit :p
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby David N. Snyder » Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:21 pm

bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!


Thanks for that report. I just ordered a copy. I think I have all of his books now (or will have when this arrives) and yes, he is a great writer / teacher.
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby bodom » Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:35 pm

David N. Snyder wrote:
bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!


Thanks for that report. I just ordered a copy. I think I have all of his books now (or will have when this arrives) and yes, he is a great writer / teacher.


Glad to hear David you wont be dissapointed!

:anjali:
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby bodom » Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Cittasanto wrote:I have gone through his PHd thesis which was turned into a book and goes by a couple of names (although both escape me now). it is a fascinating read although not a practice manual like Mindfulness in plain English, but well worth the read also. I have a feeling Mindfulness in Plain English is a scaled down version in many respects.

Have a look in the Biblography for it!

and just realised this is off topic to the book being refered to :juggling:
anyway, do with as you see fit :p


I believe you are referring to his book on the jhanas The path to serenity and insight and yes it is a great work!

:anjali:
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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby Ytrog » Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:19 am

Ven. G's books are well written. I look forward to this one. :anjali:
Suffering is asking from life what it can never give you.


mindfulness, bliss and beyond (page 8) wrote:Do not linger on the past. Do not keep carrying around coffins full of dead moments


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Re: Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English

Postby Alobha » Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:46 am

Never read any of Bhante G's books but since literally everyone regards him so highly, I guess I'll better check some of his books out..
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