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In This Very Life
A clear guide to meditation leading to complete freedom from suffering, as described by the Buddha.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 13, 2023
Một quyển sách rất thiết thực, hữu dụng, và rõ ràng dành cho người quan tâm tới thiền vipassana (thiền minh sát), đặc biệt là vipassana theo phương pháp Mahasi. Thầy U Pandita là học trò chính thức của thiền sư Mahasi, một trong hai người có công đưa thiền vipassana rộng rãi ra thế giới. Trong quyển sách này, thầy U Pandita hướng dẫn cách hành thiền vipassana một cách cặn kẽ, các yếu tố giúp phát triển việc hành thiền, các phương pháp giúp hỗ trợ cho việc chánh niệm, tập trung, diệt trừ các triền cái vv. Sách còn đề cập ngắn tới Dharma therapy, và giải thích tại sao việc thanh lọc tâm trí có thể hỗ trợ làm giảm nhẹ hoặc giải quyết các vấn đề của cơ thể. Nội dung sách có hơi lặp lại, và trong sách có đề cập tới một số đặc điểm của Phật giáo Nam tông vốn vẫn bị phê phán bởi bên ngoài hoặc cả những người theo Nam tông. Nhưng nói chung, vẫn là một quyển sách rất đáng đọc cho người thực hành thiền vipassana.
May 7, 2013
A collection of talks by Sayadaw U Pandita from a retreat early in the 2000's. Initially it reads like pretty standard Mahasi based teachings, but there is a depth here that soon makes itself known. The sections on the Vipassana Jhanas are a pretty unique take on absorption solely through Vipassana (and khanika samadhi). The chapter on Nibbana is also pretty brilliant. One might argue that it is somewhat fanciful, but let us not forget that Buddhism as a practice encompasses the devotional as well as the secular.
We might tend to focus too much on "Buddhism as a philosophy," in western Dharma practice, but there is 2500+ years of practice in all manner of faith and devotion that should be recognized.
I would recommend this book to serious practitioners who would like a deeper look at practice in the Burmese tradition, in particular that which issued forth from Mahasi Sayadaw.
We might tend to focus too much on "Buddhism as a philosophy," in western Dharma practice, but there is 2500+ years of practice in all manner of faith and devotion that should be recognized.
I would recommend this book to serious practitioners who would like a deeper look at practice in the Burmese tradition, in particular that which issued forth from Mahasi Sayadaw.
March 23, 2014
Great book. It gives the perspective of a Burmese meditation master. I liked his description of mindfulness, which he said has been watered down in the West. Mindfulness should "leap forward on to the object [for example, breath], covering it completely, penetrating into it, not missing any part of it." He prefers the word "observing power." One must meet the object head on, face to face, with courage.
I also was fascinated by his thoughts on the pains that come from sitting still for long meditations: "when pain arises the first strategy is to send your attention straight toward it, right to the center of it. You try to penetrate its core. Seeing pain as pain, note it persistently, trying to get under its surface so that you do not react." You can also "play with it" and "ignore it." He recommends using these strategies before shifting your position to gain comfort. Over time you will not need to shift the body nearly so much, and so you can sit with more tranquility and ease.
I skimmed over the many sections about re-birth because I don't believe in that.
I also was fascinated by his thoughts on the pains that come from sitting still for long meditations: "when pain arises the first strategy is to send your attention straight toward it, right to the center of it. You try to penetrate its core. Seeing pain as pain, note it persistently, trying to get under its surface so that you do not react." You can also "play with it" and "ignore it." He recommends using these strategies before shifting your position to gain comfort. Over time you will not need to shift the body nearly so much, and so you can sit with more tranquility and ease.
I skimmed over the many sections about re-birth because I don't believe in that.
March 10, 2020
Highly recommend to meditators! Very insightful and definitely, reading it again.
July 22, 2026
"Although it may feel very youthful right now, our body becomes completely useless when we die. What use can one make of a corpse? The body is like a very fragile container that can be used as long as it is intact, but the moment it drops on the floor, it is of no further help to us. While we are alive and in reasonably good health, we have the good fortune to be able to practice. Let us try to extract the precious essence from our bodies before it is too late, before our bodies become useless corpses!"
Here, here! Put those future corpses to work! There are some truly profound, erudite, and concise passages of wisdom in this narrative. It is filled with aphorisms that one could print on a poster, share on social media, or even get a tattoo of as a sacred reminder of deeply held truths. If only we could live these truths every day? Is it ever possible to do so? Can a dedicated committment to a meditative practice lead to eternal peace, contentment, serenity...even enlightenment?
When you start reading Buddhist text, you find a lot of overlap. As there should be, since the teachings are allegedly from the mouth of the Buddha himself. There are many interchangeable ideas and parallel conclusions. This book is largely about the importance and details of Vipassana meditation, which is the silent retreat kind. But, like others, it also covers the general philosophical and religious territory of Buddhism.
"Not a single person on earth can guarantee our wishes regarding growth, health, or immortality. People refuse to accept these facts. The old try to look young. Scientists develop all manner of cures and contraptions to delay the process of human decay. They even try to revive the dead! When we are sick we take medicines to feel better. But even if we get well, we will get sick again. Nature cannot be deceived. We cannot escape old age and death."
Nature cannot be deceived. And neither can our inner nature, our biological hardwiring, and our culturally mores. We are trapped in Samsara, it is said. In this realm, our actions, thoughts, and desires are driven by an endless insatiability. The first Noble Truth is that of dukkha: life inherently involves suffering, dissatisfaction, and stress. Only through extinguishing our cravings and attachments, only when we truly see with a clear mind, only when we spiritually evolve will we have the hope of attaining liberation. This can only be done through a devoted practice of meditation.
"All of us our slaves of craving. It is ignoble, but it is true. Desire is insatiable. As soon as we get something, we find it is not as satisfying as we thought it would be, and we try something else. It is the nature of life, like trying to scoop up water in a butterfly net. Beings cannot become contented by following the dictates of desire, chasing after objects. Desire can never satisfy desire. If we understand this truth correctly, we will not seek satifaction in this self-defeating way. This is why the Buddha said that contentment is the greatest wealth."
Perhaps this is an oversimplification of life. The author offers that none of this can be intellectualized; that enlightenment itself cannot be intellectualized. One cannot sit there and "think" ones way through all of life's complexities. Discovering the truth about our disappointing nature also does not reveal the answers to questions of origin or purpose. We could be perfectly at peace with our existence and still have no clue why the fuck we are here. But that is one of the interesting cruxes of Buddhism: it's about peace and mental liberation, not salvation. You essentially get endless lives to make an attempt to reach enlightenment. As a human, we are supposedly closer to it than ever before, than in any other life. And your karma will determine whether you go up or down from here in the animal kingdom, which seems like a vestige of Buddhism's Hindu origins, the hierarchy of life.
But, dang nabbit, there really is something to it all. Humans do generally seem pretty dissatisfied and prone to suffering. And we are indeed mortal and our loved ones will die and we will get sick and we will get old and so on and so on...we are probably better off facing these realities than burying our heads in the cosmic sand, denying reality.
Meditation is simultaneously impractical and pragmatic. It can bring you astonishing levels of mental freedom, peace, and calm; mindfulness; thoughfulness; loving kindness; learning to love your enemy; learning to truly accept yourself; a sunset is more beautiful; an understanding and appreciation of our collective suffering and shared humanity. It can be so monumentally wonderful! But it is a great challenge that the odds are so intensely stacked against us; the insatiability; the craving; the wanting; the dissapointment and disatisfaction; our inner need to dominate, to be an alpha, to cater to our genes, to fight for our tribe, to covet what others have, to win "the game" of life. It's quite exhausting.
The goal of meditation: the eternal happiness of non-experience. Isn't that what happens after death? Rest in peace, we say. No more experience, no more suffering. There is no self. There is no spoon. This is another great challenge: to deny ourselves any sense-based pleasures in the name of non-experience. That's a doozy to accept for many.
But if you can find peace...ever...at anytime...that is a treasure. If you can learn to be eternally grateful for all the beautful gifts in your life...to be able to get out of bed, and breathe air, and smell the roses, and feel appreciative for the "luck" of being alive? Then you've gotten something, that's for sure.
Here, here! Put those future corpses to work! There are some truly profound, erudite, and concise passages of wisdom in this narrative. It is filled with aphorisms that one could print on a poster, share on social media, or even get a tattoo of as a sacred reminder of deeply held truths. If only we could live these truths every day? Is it ever possible to do so? Can a dedicated committment to a meditative practice lead to eternal peace, contentment, serenity...even enlightenment?
When you start reading Buddhist text, you find a lot of overlap. As there should be, since the teachings are allegedly from the mouth of the Buddha himself. There are many interchangeable ideas and parallel conclusions. This book is largely about the importance and details of Vipassana meditation, which is the silent retreat kind. But, like others, it also covers the general philosophical and religious territory of Buddhism.
"Not a single person on earth can guarantee our wishes regarding growth, health, or immortality. People refuse to accept these facts. The old try to look young. Scientists develop all manner of cures and contraptions to delay the process of human decay. They even try to revive the dead! When we are sick we take medicines to feel better. But even if we get well, we will get sick again. Nature cannot be deceived. We cannot escape old age and death."
Nature cannot be deceived. And neither can our inner nature, our biological hardwiring, and our culturally mores. We are trapped in Samsara, it is said. In this realm, our actions, thoughts, and desires are driven by an endless insatiability. The first Noble Truth is that of dukkha: life inherently involves suffering, dissatisfaction, and stress. Only through extinguishing our cravings and attachments, only when we truly see with a clear mind, only when we spiritually evolve will we have the hope of attaining liberation. This can only be done through a devoted practice of meditation.
"All of us our slaves of craving. It is ignoble, but it is true. Desire is insatiable. As soon as we get something, we find it is not as satisfying as we thought it would be, and we try something else. It is the nature of life, like trying to scoop up water in a butterfly net. Beings cannot become contented by following the dictates of desire, chasing after objects. Desire can never satisfy desire. If we understand this truth correctly, we will not seek satifaction in this self-defeating way. This is why the Buddha said that contentment is the greatest wealth."
Perhaps this is an oversimplification of life. The author offers that none of this can be intellectualized; that enlightenment itself cannot be intellectualized. One cannot sit there and "think" ones way through all of life's complexities. Discovering the truth about our disappointing nature also does not reveal the answers to questions of origin or purpose. We could be perfectly at peace with our existence and still have no clue why the fuck we are here. But that is one of the interesting cruxes of Buddhism: it's about peace and mental liberation, not salvation. You essentially get endless lives to make an attempt to reach enlightenment. As a human, we are supposedly closer to it than ever before, than in any other life. And your karma will determine whether you go up or down from here in the animal kingdom, which seems like a vestige of Buddhism's Hindu origins, the hierarchy of life.
But, dang nabbit, there really is something to it all. Humans do generally seem pretty dissatisfied and prone to suffering. And we are indeed mortal and our loved ones will die and we will get sick and we will get old and so on and so on...we are probably better off facing these realities than burying our heads in the cosmic sand, denying reality.
Meditation is simultaneously impractical and pragmatic. It can bring you astonishing levels of mental freedom, peace, and calm; mindfulness; thoughfulness; loving kindness; learning to love your enemy; learning to truly accept yourself; a sunset is more beautiful; an understanding and appreciation of our collective suffering and shared humanity. It can be so monumentally wonderful! But it is a great challenge that the odds are so intensely stacked against us; the insatiability; the craving; the wanting; the dissapointment and disatisfaction; our inner need to dominate, to be an alpha, to cater to our genes, to fight for our tribe, to covet what others have, to win "the game" of life. It's quite exhausting.
The goal of meditation: the eternal happiness of non-experience. Isn't that what happens after death? Rest in peace, we say. No more experience, no more suffering. There is no self. There is no spoon. This is another great challenge: to deny ourselves any sense-based pleasures in the name of non-experience. That's a doozy to accept for many.
But if you can find peace...ever...at anytime...that is a treasure. If you can learn to be eternally grateful for all the beautful gifts in your life...to be able to get out of bed, and breathe air, and smell the roses, and feel appreciative for the "luck" of being alive? Then you've gotten something, that's for sure.
January 31, 2018
Quyển sách viết bài bản lớp lan, đốt đuốc soi đường cho thiền sinh hành thiền minh sát. Việc thiền tập được hướng dẫn chi tiết, bóc tách lớp lan với khó khăn và phương pháp đối trị. Đây là quyển sách để pháp hành và sách tấn, thích hợp cho người hành thiền Tứ Niệm Xứ để trải nghiệp trực tiếp đặc tính vô thường, khổ và vô ngã. Hãy đọc sách và đăng ký ít nhất 10 ngày thiền tập tích cực ở Panditarama Forest Retreat để nhìn thấy chính mình. Khóa thiền hoàn toàn miễn phí và cúng dường tùy tâm.
Want to Read
March 12, 2012I was drawn to this book because I want to learn more about vipassana meditation and about Buddhism in general. It seemed like it would be an accessible read since it is taken from some talks that were given by a Buddhist teacher.
June 8, 2020
Useful if you are going to a retreat at Panditarama, the late author’s retreat center.
Neither a comprehensive meditation manual nor intro to Buddhist thought.
There were a few gems in there though.
Neither a comprehensive meditation manual nor intro to Buddhist thought.
There were a few gems in there though.
May 17, 2024
A very genuine insight into the methodologies of meditating discourses. Author has well documented.
The book is inclined slightly towards academics. However, I could feel the sprinkles of inner wisdom throughout the book where one could grasp the author’s pitch. Definitely a good read.
The book is inclined slightly towards academics. However, I could feel the sprinkles of inner wisdom throughout the book where one could grasp the author’s pitch. Definitely a good read.
May 2, 2021
one of the best meditation manuals for mahasi vipassana, in depth, but simple, clear and to the point. this books deservs multiple readings, and serious practice afterwards. the results are well worth it!
September 12, 2017
The Best book on Buddhism I've read yet. I look forward to reading it again.
February 26, 2018
It is a good meditation book but I feel like it does not offer any teachings which are not covered better by books such as The Mind Illuminated or Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha...
March 13, 2018
One of the best books on meditations ever! Not only the language is very accessible but also the concepts are explained in an easy for a Western mind way.
November 17, 2020
best book ...clear things about spirituality ..loved it!
February 8, 2025
Driest book I’ve ever read
Sorry if you’re seeing this davyd
Sorry if you’re seeing this davyd
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews