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Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization
“Surely destined to become the classic commentary on the Satipatthana” —Christopher Titmuss Now in its second printing!
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2004
208 people are currently reading
1435 people want to read
About the author
Anālayo
35 books112 followersVen. Anālayo, born in 1962, was ordained a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka in 1995, completing his Ph.D. on satipaṭṭhāna at the University of Peradeniya in 2000. He is a contributor to the Encyclopaedia of Buddhism.
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October 10, 2013
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Buddhist meditation or philosophy. First of all, it is a faithful dissection of the original sutta, which reveals many new facets of understanding. Meditators can re-read it as they progress in practice, and each time it will reveal new facets of practice, or remind them of facets of practice they have missed. Secondly, Ven. Analayo's careful explication of Pali terms helps students of the Dhamma to understand the teachings better. Finally and most importantly, this book shows us how we can all develop an accurate, fresh and independent approach to and understanding of the suttas and the Dhamma, one that is rooted in study, practice and reflection.
The Buddha's instructions in the Satipatthana Sutta can seem at once cryptic and repetitive, covering as it does a seeming variety of meditation subjects which are, apparently, to be approached in much the same way. Understanding is often further hampered by inadequate or inaccurate translations of the Pali terms. This book reveals the inner meanings encoded in the words of the sutta and their association, and in the sutta's structure and patterns of repetition and progression, elements which are usually overlooked or left out by other translators and commentators, but which have an inner meaning that is significant for practice. By carefully paying attention to each of the Buddha's original words, their arrangement and their associations, the pithy instructions suddenly become revealed in all their startling power. There are many stories recorded of the Buddha giving pithily-worded instructions to people, like in the story of Bahiya which is recounted in this book, and the person gains immediate realization. The secret is in the attention we pay to the Buddha's words. If we really, fully understand the words of the Buddha in the Satipathana Sutta and practice accordingly, we will, as the Buddha states confidently at the closing of the sutta, achieve realization within 7 years maximum, or even within 7 days. This book unlocks the precise meaning of each of the the Buddha's original words, so that we can experience and harness their incredible power. It is as if we had inherited a powerful spacecraft, but couldn't quite figure out the instruction booklet and so couldn't engage some of its gears, and the inventor is gone so we can't ask him directly. But suddenly, someone decodes some of the key instructions, and the spacecraft becomes once again this instrument that is capable of taking us to the furthest reaches of outer space. At least, this is what this book did for me, and it was both inspiring and empowering.
Those who find the 277-pages of detailed discussion too daunting to plow through can take heart: they need not try to read it in sequence from first page to last to benefit. Like the Satipatthana subjects that they cover, the chapters of this book can actually be read in ANY order. You can read the chapter on Mindfulness, on the Hindrances, on Realization, on ANY of the topics, as you feel the need to understand these topics more because of your own meditative experiences. Read this way, the entire book is very easily consumed and digested. You will be hungry to apply to your practice what you have read, and want to read even more to help you understand or deal with your practical experience. This way of reading fulfills the wish and intention of the author that scholarship should support practice.
This book does not do away with the necessity of seeking instructions and guidance for meditation from an experienced Samatha-Vipassana teacher. What it does do is to supplement, contextualize and also clarify such instructions and guidance, once the student has progressed in meditation, and wishes to go further in their study and practice. For such purpose, this book will be indispensable.
The Buddha's instructions in the Satipatthana Sutta can seem at once cryptic and repetitive, covering as it does a seeming variety of meditation subjects which are, apparently, to be approached in much the same way. Understanding is often further hampered by inadequate or inaccurate translations of the Pali terms. This book reveals the inner meanings encoded in the words of the sutta and their association, and in the sutta's structure and patterns of repetition and progression, elements which are usually overlooked or left out by other translators and commentators, but which have an inner meaning that is significant for practice. By carefully paying attention to each of the Buddha's original words, their arrangement and their associations, the pithy instructions suddenly become revealed in all their startling power. There are many stories recorded of the Buddha giving pithily-worded instructions to people, like in the story of Bahiya which is recounted in this book, and the person gains immediate realization. The secret is in the attention we pay to the Buddha's words. If we really, fully understand the words of the Buddha in the Satipathana Sutta and practice accordingly, we will, as the Buddha states confidently at the closing of the sutta, achieve realization within 7 years maximum, or even within 7 days. This book unlocks the precise meaning of each of the the Buddha's original words, so that we can experience and harness their incredible power. It is as if we had inherited a powerful spacecraft, but couldn't quite figure out the instruction booklet and so couldn't engage some of its gears, and the inventor is gone so we can't ask him directly. But suddenly, someone decodes some of the key instructions, and the spacecraft becomes once again this instrument that is capable of taking us to the furthest reaches of outer space. At least, this is what this book did for me, and it was both inspiring and empowering.
Those who find the 277-pages of detailed discussion too daunting to plow through can take heart: they need not try to read it in sequence from first page to last to benefit. Like the Satipatthana subjects that they cover, the chapters of this book can actually be read in ANY order. You can read the chapter on Mindfulness, on the Hindrances, on Realization, on ANY of the topics, as you feel the need to understand these topics more because of your own meditative experiences. Read this way, the entire book is very easily consumed and digested. You will be hungry to apply to your practice what you have read, and want to read even more to help you understand or deal with your practical experience. This way of reading fulfills the wish and intention of the author that scholarship should support practice.
This book does not do away with the necessity of seeking instructions and guidance for meditation from an experienced Samatha-Vipassana teacher. What it does do is to supplement, contextualize and also clarify such instructions and guidance, once the student has progressed in meditation, and wishes to go further in their study and practice. For such purpose, this book will be indispensable.
June 26, 2015
The Buddha himself said he could answer questions about satipatthana without repeating himself or exhausting his answers for a whole century straight. Could the path unto the ineffable be expected to yield an explication any easier? In lieu of a Buddha and 100 years to question him/her, we have Gotama’s 25 century-old instructions and millennia of their inter- and misinter-pretation.
Fortunately, the practice itself is the best teacher, and those who have found it and thus been taught, can help illuminate the ingress for those who follow. To my limited knowledge, Analayo’s work is a new high-water mark in this effort. Drawing on an obvious wealth of study and personal practice, he gives the reader all the insight that language can provide this, the heart of the Buddha’s message. Indeed Analayo’s work not only elucidates the Buddha’s message but reveals how forthright and inclusive the Buddha’s own words are.
That said, coming to this work without having already established a serious practice of one’s own will likely only provide an opportunity to dismiss this penetrative analysis and the vital purpose it serves as mere work of scholarship or philosophical theory. Go find a vipassana course and then read this book.
“the conditional sequence of the average perceptual process leads from contact via feeling and cognition to thought, which can in turn stimulate conceptual proliferation. Such conceptual proliferations tend to give rise to further concoctions of proliferations and cognitions, which lead from the originally perceived sense data to all kinds of associations concerning past, present, and future. ...the last stage of this perceptual process is an event of which one is the passive experiencer. Once the conditioned sequence of the perceptual process has reached the state conceptual proliferation one becomes, as it were, a victim of one’s own associations and thoughts. The thought process proliferates, weaving a net built from thoughts, projections, and associations of which the ‘thinker’ has become almost a helpless prey.”
“the task of mindfulness is to remain receptively aware by clearly recognizing the state of mind that underlies a particular train of thoughts or reactions. Such uninvolved receptivity is required because of one’s instinctive tendency to ignore whatever contradicts or threatens one’s sense of importance and personal integrity. The habit of employing self-deception to maintain one’s self esteem has often become so ingrained that the first step to developing accurate self-awareness is honest acknowledgment of the existence of hidden emotions, motives, and tendencies in the mind, without immediately suppressing them. Maintaining non-reactive awareness in this way counters the impulse towards either reaction or suppression contained in unwholesome states of mind, and thereby deactivates their emotional and attentional pull.”
“This technique of simple recognition constitutes an ingenious way of turning obstacles to meditation into meditation objects. Practiced in this way, bare awareness of a hindrance becomes a middle path between suppression and indulgence. ...the tempter Mara, who often acts as a personification of the five hindrances, loses his powers as soon as he is recognized.”
“As a mental quality, sati represents the deliberate cultivation and a qualitative improvement of the receptive awareness that characterizes the initial stages of the perceptual process. Important aspects of sati are bare and equanimous receptivity, combined with an alert, broad, and open state of mind. One of the central tasks of sati is the de-automatization of habitual reactions and perceptual evaluations. Sati thereby leads to a progressive restructuring of perceptual appraisal, and culminates in an undistorted vision of reality ‘as it is’.”
Fortunately, the practice itself is the best teacher, and those who have found it and thus been taught, can help illuminate the ingress for those who follow. To my limited knowledge, Analayo’s work is a new high-water mark in this effort. Drawing on an obvious wealth of study and personal practice, he gives the reader all the insight that language can provide this, the heart of the Buddha’s message. Indeed Analayo’s work not only elucidates the Buddha’s message but reveals how forthright and inclusive the Buddha’s own words are.
That said, coming to this work without having already established a serious practice of one’s own will likely only provide an opportunity to dismiss this penetrative analysis and the vital purpose it serves as mere work of scholarship or philosophical theory. Go find a vipassana course and then read this book.
“the conditional sequence of the average perceptual process leads from contact via feeling and cognition to thought, which can in turn stimulate conceptual proliferation. Such conceptual proliferations tend to give rise to further concoctions of proliferations and cognitions, which lead from the originally perceived sense data to all kinds of associations concerning past, present, and future. ...the last stage of this perceptual process is an event of which one is the passive experiencer. Once the conditioned sequence of the perceptual process has reached the state conceptual proliferation one becomes, as it were, a victim of one’s own associations and thoughts. The thought process proliferates, weaving a net built from thoughts, projections, and associations of which the ‘thinker’ has become almost a helpless prey.”
“the task of mindfulness is to remain receptively aware by clearly recognizing the state of mind that underlies a particular train of thoughts or reactions. Such uninvolved receptivity is required because of one’s instinctive tendency to ignore whatever contradicts or threatens one’s sense of importance and personal integrity. The habit of employing self-deception to maintain one’s self esteem has often become so ingrained that the first step to developing accurate self-awareness is honest acknowledgment of the existence of hidden emotions, motives, and tendencies in the mind, without immediately suppressing them. Maintaining non-reactive awareness in this way counters the impulse towards either reaction or suppression contained in unwholesome states of mind, and thereby deactivates their emotional and attentional pull.”
“This technique of simple recognition constitutes an ingenious way of turning obstacles to meditation into meditation objects. Practiced in this way, bare awareness of a hindrance becomes a middle path between suppression and indulgence. ...the tempter Mara, who often acts as a personification of the five hindrances, loses his powers as soon as he is recognized.”
“As a mental quality, sati represents the deliberate cultivation and a qualitative improvement of the receptive awareness that characterizes the initial stages of the perceptual process. Important aspects of sati are bare and equanimous receptivity, combined with an alert, broad, and open state of mind. One of the central tasks of sati is the de-automatization of habitual reactions and perceptual evaluations. Sati thereby leads to a progressive restructuring of perceptual appraisal, and culminates in an undistorted vision of reality ‘as it is’.”
July 25, 2016
I found this at random in a local used bookstore which I do not frequent, and it seemed like one of those "buy now or never see again" opportunities. I am extremely glad I listened to that inner voice.
This book is the most comprehensive, thorough, and unbiased overview of the satipaṭṭhāna practices of meditation I have ever encountered, and I rather doubt that anyone will be able to do better. The author takes as his sources not only his traditions translation of the Satipaṭṭhānasutta itself, but various redactions such as the Tibetan and those recently recovered from Tung-huang, along with ancient and modern commentarial literature of many traditions and schools. The bibliography alone runs 21 pages.
All of this information is synthesized and analyzed in the context of the teachings of contemporary Buddhists as well as the suttapiṭaka as a whole, using the Buddha's other teachings to elucidate elements of the Sanskrit & Pali "originals" where the translation has become confused or controversial over the millennia since they were committed to writing. As the fruit of the author's Ph.D. research, it is suitably academic for those inclined to that view, without becoming bogged down with unnecessary detail in the text itself, reserving technical asides for the footnotes. My only complaint is that the pagination of the notes is somewhat odd, perhaps reflecting a European or Indo-Asian styleguide rather than the American & British conventions with which I am more familiar.
Both the outline and depth of coverage have proved extremely useful to my own practice, as well as directly informing several meditation classes I have taught since. It is, in my opinion, an indispensable guide. Which, for my friends, sadly means "no, you cannot borrow it."
This book is the most comprehensive, thorough, and unbiased overview of the satipaṭṭhāna practices of meditation I have ever encountered, and I rather doubt that anyone will be able to do better. The author takes as his sources not only his traditions translation of the Satipaṭṭhānasutta itself, but various redactions such as the Tibetan and those recently recovered from Tung-huang, along with ancient and modern commentarial literature of many traditions and schools. The bibliography alone runs 21 pages.
All of this information is synthesized and analyzed in the context of the teachings of contemporary Buddhists as well as the suttapiṭaka as a whole, using the Buddha's other teachings to elucidate elements of the Sanskrit & Pali "originals" where the translation has become confused or controversial over the millennia since they were committed to writing. As the fruit of the author's Ph.D. research, it is suitably academic for those inclined to that view, without becoming bogged down with unnecessary detail in the text itself, reserving technical asides for the footnotes. My only complaint is that the pagination of the notes is somewhat odd, perhaps reflecting a European or Indo-Asian styleguide rather than the American & British conventions with which I am more familiar.
Both the outline and depth of coverage have proved extremely useful to my own practice, as well as directly informing several meditation classes I have taught since. It is, in my opinion, an indispensable guide. Which, for my friends, sadly means "no, you cannot borrow it."
Read
March 24, 2025And he abides independent, not clinging to anything in the world.
This is a heavy, academic interpretation of the central Early Buddhist Text on meditational practice. Nonetheless, there's a lot here for meditation practitioners who want to deepen their practice. I came out of this with a good basic understanding of the Satipatthāna method, as well as some ashubha meditations which may be incorporated within the general practice as and when the particular need for them arises. I also enjoyed the biographical discussions of Gautama Buddha's emphasis on meditation and silence even after attaining nirvāna, simply because that's just how an enlightened person enjoys spending their remaining life.
According to the Buddha's survey of wrong views in the Brahmajāla Sutta, misinterpretations of reality can often be based on meditative experiences, not only on theoretical speculation.
But then how do you verify spiritual experiences at all? Shouldn't a spiritual experience be self-validating? If meditative experiences are not trustworthy - what is?
Anālayo conceives Gautama Buddha as the psychologist of past philosophers - this makes Nietzsche's comparison of himself with Shākyamuni all that more interesting:
In ancient India, the Buddha's analytical approach to views formed a striking contrast to the prevalent philosophical speculations. He dealt with views by examining their affective underpinnings. For the Buddha, the crucial issue was to uncover the psychological attitude underlying the holding of any view, since he clearly saw that holding a particular view is often a manifestation of desire and attachment.
Also importantly highlights (from a Theravāda perspective) that the goal of Buddhist realisation is not "oneness", but the unconditioned nirvāna which is not a "transcendental" (read: Vedāntic) experience, but one where the enlightened being realises dependent origination of everything, including such experiences:
Experiences of oneness were actually not unknown to the early Buddhist community, but even their most refined forms...were not considered to be the final goal...he [the Buddha] admonished his disciples to go beyond and transcend such "transcendental" experiences.
This is a heavy, academic interpretation of the central Early Buddhist Text on meditational practice. Nonetheless, there's a lot here for meditation practitioners who want to deepen their practice. I came out of this with a good basic understanding of the Satipatthāna method, as well as some ashubha meditations which may be incorporated within the general practice as and when the particular need for them arises. I also enjoyed the biographical discussions of Gautama Buddha's emphasis on meditation and silence even after attaining nirvāna, simply because that's just how an enlightened person enjoys spending their remaining life.
According to the Buddha's survey of wrong views in the Brahmajāla Sutta, misinterpretations of reality can often be based on meditative experiences, not only on theoretical speculation.
But then how do you verify spiritual experiences at all? Shouldn't a spiritual experience be self-validating? If meditative experiences are not trustworthy - what is?
Anālayo conceives Gautama Buddha as the psychologist of past philosophers - this makes Nietzsche's comparison of himself with Shākyamuni all that more interesting:
In ancient India, the Buddha's analytical approach to views formed a striking contrast to the prevalent philosophical speculations. He dealt with views by examining their affective underpinnings. For the Buddha, the crucial issue was to uncover the psychological attitude underlying the holding of any view, since he clearly saw that holding a particular view is often a manifestation of desire and attachment.
Also importantly highlights (from a Theravāda perspective) that the goal of Buddhist realisation is not "oneness", but the unconditioned nirvāna which is not a "transcendental" (read: Vedāntic) experience, but one where the enlightened being realises dependent origination of everything, including such experiences:
Experiences of oneness were actually not unknown to the early Buddhist community, but even their most refined forms...were not considered to be the final goal...he [the Buddha] admonished his disciples to go beyond and transcend such "transcendental" experiences.
November 8, 2010
The Satipatthana Sutta is the Buddha’s core teaching on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Analayo takes you through the teachings step-by-step. He offers alternative understandings of the Four Foundations and beautifully connects them all, thereby revealing the beautiful architecture of the Buddha’s approach to meditation.
October 25, 2018
Finally finished rereading this masterpiece again. This needs to be reread regularly by any Buddhist practitioners.
Read
July 5, 2016Intense book which I will have to reread. You can get a free copy online.
June 30, 2013
If you only read one book on meditation in Buddhism, this is the one. It is Analayo's dissertation, so it isn't a quick read, but it is thorough, informative, and all you need to know. Not for the beginner.
November 8, 2017
The Buddha's seminal discourse on the establishing of awareness and the clearing out of craving and dissolution of ego is my vote for being the most important utterances in the history of humanity.
If the importance of this work is ever superseded, I will be astonished — and delighted :)
If the importance of this work is ever superseded, I will be astonished — and delighted :)
August 10, 2016
Hands down best practical and theoretical commentary on the Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
August 20, 2024
If I can give this 10 stars, I would.
During this period of my life, I'm trying to practise meditation regularly and diligently. While I'm grateful for the meditation practises I've been exposed to in yoga and yoga teachers' training, I'm focused now on my practise with Buddhist goals and principles in mind. So who to go to but to the Buddha himself! He had given meditation directions in his discourses with his disciples, with the exhortation to meditate regularly to realise the conditioned reality of existence, otherwise we will regret that we've wasted our time and our life.
I was attending Bhikku Bodhi's online lesson on the Satipatthana Sutta, and at the start of the lesson he recommended that we read this book. He said that it is an excellent book, of excellent scholarship and is extremely "erudite". So I went out and bought the book immediately. And now that I finish reading it, I am immensely grateful for this recommendation because it has opened my eyes on a very important topic in this spiritual path.
I will not be able to give justice to this book because the depth and breath of coverage is so good. Not on this first reading anyway. Suffice to say for now, that I have a clearer understanding of the structure and goals of the four satipatthana practises, and how they relate to each other. Traditionally, the four satipatthanaa are known as the four foundations of mindfulness, but more accurately known as the four establishments/applications of mindfulness.
I am going to start reading this again from the first page, now taking time to read the footnotes and references, and also applying what I have learned to my meditation practise.
When you have found a treasure, you'd be so filled with gladness and joy. This is how I feel about my encounter with Buddhist teachings, with good teachers, and peaceful conditions in my country do be able to practise. It includes the good fortune to hear about this book, and the blessing to be able to have access copy and to be able to read it.
Will update more the next time.
During this period of my life, I'm trying to practise meditation regularly and diligently. While I'm grateful for the meditation practises I've been exposed to in yoga and yoga teachers' training, I'm focused now on my practise with Buddhist goals and principles in mind. So who to go to but to the Buddha himself! He had given meditation directions in his discourses with his disciples, with the exhortation to meditate regularly to realise the conditioned reality of existence, otherwise we will regret that we've wasted our time and our life.
I was attending Bhikku Bodhi's online lesson on the Satipatthana Sutta, and at the start of the lesson he recommended that we read this book. He said that it is an excellent book, of excellent scholarship and is extremely "erudite". So I went out and bought the book immediately. And now that I finish reading it, I am immensely grateful for this recommendation because it has opened my eyes on a very important topic in this spiritual path.
I will not be able to give justice to this book because the depth and breath of coverage is so good. Not on this first reading anyway. Suffice to say for now, that I have a clearer understanding of the structure and goals of the four satipatthana practises, and how they relate to each other. Traditionally, the four satipatthanaa are known as the four foundations of mindfulness, but more accurately known as the four establishments/applications of mindfulness.
I am going to start reading this again from the first page, now taking time to read the footnotes and references, and also applying what I have learned to my meditation practise.
When you have found a treasure, you'd be so filled with gladness and joy. This is how I feel about my encounter with Buddhist teachings, with good teachers, and peaceful conditions in my country do be able to practise. It includes the good fortune to hear about this book, and the blessing to be able to have access copy and to be able to read it.
Will update more the next time.
January 5, 2025
A Masterpiece on Mindfulness and Insight Meditation
This book is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, widely regarded as one of the foundational texts on mindfulness and insight meditation. Analayo’s scholarship is exceptional, offering both an in-depth analysis of the text and practical insights for meditators.
What stands out is how thorough and clear the explanations are. Analayo breaks down the teachings in a way that makes them accessible without losing their depth. He combines academic rigor with practical advice, making this book a valuable resource for both meditation practitioners and those interested in Buddhist studies.
At times, the book can feel dense due to the level of detail, especially if you’re not already familiar with Buddhist terminology. However, the effort is well worth it, as the insights and guidance it provides are profound and transformative.
If you’re serious about mindfulness or insight meditation, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization is an essential read. It’s not a light introduction, but for those willing to dive deep, it offers an unparalleled understanding of this core Buddhist teaching. Highly recommended for dedicated meditators and anyone exploring the depths of mindfulness practice.
This book is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, widely regarded as one of the foundational texts on mindfulness and insight meditation. Analayo’s scholarship is exceptional, offering both an in-depth analysis of the text and practical insights for meditators.
What stands out is how thorough and clear the explanations are. Analayo breaks down the teachings in a way that makes them accessible without losing their depth. He combines academic rigor with practical advice, making this book a valuable resource for both meditation practitioners and those interested in Buddhist studies.
At times, the book can feel dense due to the level of detail, especially if you’re not already familiar with Buddhist terminology. However, the effort is well worth it, as the insights and guidance it provides are profound and transformative.
If you’re serious about mindfulness or insight meditation, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization is an essential read. It’s not a light introduction, but for those willing to dive deep, it offers an unparalleled understanding of this core Buddhist teaching. Highly recommended for dedicated meditators and anyone exploring the depths of mindfulness practice.
September 12, 2019
A phenomenal book. Be prepared though, it's footnotes are as voluminous as the primary text and should most probably be referred to. Unless you're really up on Buddhist scholarship you'll need the footnotes to get the best interpretation of the meaning of the text. It does make the reading rough because the reading flow is frequently disturbed. That's my biggest gripe with the book. Besides that, you will learn a lot about satipatthana. It's goes beyond simple meditation instruction by giving the philosophical underpinnings of the satipatthana teaching. Again and again, Analayo references what the Buddha said to his disciples or to ascetics who wanted to debate the wisdom of the teaching. I felt I got a sense for the humanity of the Buddha. For it's coherence, relatability and universality, I am more impressed with Buddhism now than I ever was before.
April 10, 2020
Es un libro muy clavado para quienes quieren entrarle denso a la meditación de conciencia plena (mindfulness). Analayo es un bhikku (monje ordenado del budismo) que hizo su tesis de doctorado sobre el Sattipatthana, el sutra donde se establecen los principios para la meditación. Este libro es esa tesis. Explica muy detalladamente cada parte del sutra, a veces incluso palabra por palabra.
Yo leí este libro como parte de mis estudios de meditación, por lo que tuve un maestro y muchos compañeros que durante tres meses lo llevamos como "libro de texto", analizándolo, haciendo resúmenes y cuadros sinópticos, tarjetas de estudio, y meditaciones. Creo que de haberlo leído yo sola, no habría avanzado ni al segundo capítulo.
Yo leí este libro como parte de mis estudios de meditación, por lo que tuve un maestro y muchos compañeros que durante tres meses lo llevamos como "libro de texto", analizándolo, haciendo resúmenes y cuadros sinópticos, tarjetas de estudio, y meditaciones. Creo que de haberlo leído yo sola, no habría avanzado ni al segundo capítulo.
October 1, 2023
Hands down one of the best books regarding the Satipatthana Sutta and in conducting a thorout analysis of the wording and material related in that sutta. This will be mainly of interest to those who are studying and practicing Buddhist based mindfulness or insight meditation. The author looks as different meanings and the way the words are used in the sutta, and how different teachers have applied those words and practice instructions. It also looks at the definitions and use of different words that are common today but may have different meanings within this sutta and thus in one's mindfulness practice (such as 'mind', 'dharma objects', etc.). Overall, highly recommended if you are into the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, or Buddhist mindfulness practice.
November 10, 2025
I am humbled to write anything about this treasure of knowledge and wisdom. This is an important contribution to Buddhist literature.
From the conclusion we read the statement: "If the topic of Satipatthana could not be exhausted by the Buddha, then clearly the present work can at best attempt only to offer a starting point for further discussion and exploration." This is such an understatement. I doubt that anyone in the next century will approach the thoroughness and accessibility accomplished by Analayo.
Having said that, this book is not a light undertaking. Apply compassion to yourself as you struggle to absorb the understanding of and exposition of Satipatthana. I want to reread this book. And then again.
From the conclusion we read the statement: "If the topic of Satipatthana could not be exhausted by the Buddha, then clearly the present work can at best attempt only to offer a starting point for further discussion and exploration." This is such an understatement. I doubt that anyone in the next century will approach the thoroughness and accessibility accomplished by Analayo.
Having said that, this book is not a light undertaking. Apply compassion to yourself as you struggle to absorb the understanding of and exposition of Satipatthana. I want to reread this book. And then again.
Read
February 10, 2022It took me a year to read this book. The footnotes alone may have caused slight blindness. It was an incredible education in the practice of meditation, and gives an thorough lesson in Early Buddhism. Anälyo is gifted in being able to take extremely complex thoughts developed 2,500 years ago and give them new life in contemporary language.
May 27, 2022
I think it makes sense to read Anālayo's works chronologically as his body of work is exploratory in nature and will take you through various domains of early buddhism as his own knowledge broadens over the years. Always having the contemplative practice as the core, this is a great work to start with.
April 29, 2023
"with cessation of feeling, craving, with cessation of craving, clinging, with cessation of clinging, existence, with cessation of existence, birth, with cessation of birth, aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure and despair cease." to be free is to be free of all external, internal and both external and internal factors. to be free is to simply be.
October 18, 2018
Essential reading for Buddhists and mediators
Establishes a broad foundation for Satipatthana practice and helps place it in a dynamic day to day context. Includes helpful visual conceptualisations of the main ideas. Highly recommended.
Establishes a broad foundation for Satipatthana practice and helps place it in a dynamic day to day context. Includes helpful visual conceptualisations of the main ideas. Highly recommended.
June 14, 2024
As recommended: read the text without the footnotes, will re-read the text and the footnotes next. Also, finished listening to Ajahn Amaro's Winter Retreat podcast of the complete reading of the book, with explanations, Q&A etc.
October 28, 2025
this classroom is never empty
nor does it ever eject a single contemplative inquiry unto such as this...such does not have nor requires any prerequisite as such is a true one-size-fits-all scenario... thereis know pre-prep just take your contemplative seat
nor does it ever eject a single contemplative inquiry unto such as this...such does not have nor requires any prerequisite as such is a true one-size-fits-all scenario... thereis know pre-prep just take your contemplative seat
July 15, 2017
This book strikes a masterful balance: it is scholarly and thoughtful, yet personal and engaging. Analayo's passion for the Satipatthana Sutta is inspiring.
November 27, 2018
Very thorough!
December 16, 2018
Can be difficult in places but a very good discourse on a key sutta.
September 26, 2020
This is really a direct path to realization. Thorough explanation of the satipatthana sutta. Highly recommended for those who want to move forward in practice after vipassana.
May 7, 2021
a scholarly masterpiece, and a goldmine of practical information for serious and dedicated practitioners. highly recommended!
April 6, 2022
Incredible elucidating book/PhD on a central Buddhist text if you have some foundational understanding of Buddhism.
Want to read
November 27, 2022Recomendado en CICC Zaragoza 2022.
El segundo libro es Anapanasati
El segundo libro es Anapanasati
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2023
was interesting and accessibly written, but I didn't get through the entire book
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