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Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide
From the Buddhist meditator and scholar, Bhikkhu Anālayo, this is a thorough-going guide to the early Buddhist teachings on Satipatthana, the foundations of mindfulness, following on from his two best-selling books, Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization and Perspectives on Satipatthana. With mindfulness being so widely taught, there is a need for a clear-sighted and experience-based guide. Analayo provides it.
235 pages, Paperback
Published October 23, 2018
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270 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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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 14, 2019
Analayo's approach appeals to me greatly because he is both a scholar and a practitioner. As a scholar, he is precise in what he claims and clear where his claims come from (he hasn't for example mixed together all sorts of things about mindfulness simply because he finds them useful), so one can get an idea of what the Sutta's portrayed as theory and practice, as distinct from what the commentarial or later sectarian traditions did. As a practitioner, he comes full of useful advice that can only come from someone who has spent time applying the ideas. I had read his earlier 2004 book and it inspired me to try Satipatthana meditation. My son Tenzin, then 8, had been meditating as well (mainly the Thich Nhat Hanh material for children (very good), but also MBCT for children (also good)), and I wanted to develop a Satipatthana practice both for him and for me that stuck close to the sutta. But how does one actually practice? It seemed Analayo's 2004 book, as a thorough exposition of the sutta, should have everything in, especially coupled with his 2014 book on Satipatthana - yet I still found I had work to do. I immensely enjoyed doing that work, and document it here:
http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/...
So I was intrigued to see Analayo himself still thought there was work left - and presents it as the current book. He says he needed to find a way of fitting it all together: What makes the Satipatthanas cohere? Gotama was a great thinker; so there must be some reason he put things together in the way he did. There must be a simplicity underlying what seems at first sight complex. I found Analayo's book had many insightful takes on how one can see a coherent whole here.
Although the book is written very clearly and straightforwardly, I am not sure I would recommend it as a first book on mindfulness to someone completely unaware of the issues. Analayo's points can be about how issues were portrayed differently in the sutta's versus later developments, and someone with at least some exposure to different Buddhist ideas would understand why certain things are said. Having said that, anyone could read this book and gain an understanding of mindfulness as portrayed in the sutta's (or Chinese equivalent) in a way they could put into practice. And it is a fairly rich practice, with emphases and elements somewhat different from secular mindfulness practices (making both useful studies in their own right). For example, in the sutta's, rather than secular mindfulness, there is more an emphasis on eliminating sensual desire (do I want to?), facing death, and destroying the notion of a self (a me identical from moment to moment); and a more systematic analysis of how the mind works in creating suffering. Although personally I don't want to eliminate sensual desire, I find all these aspects of Satipatthana practice as things that stay with me, as practices I keep even if in the background. So if anyone asks why practice Satipatthana, I say follow this book, try what it says, and see if your curiosity about knowing your mind doesn't keep nudging you to keep it up. I have for two years now.
http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/...
So I was intrigued to see Analayo himself still thought there was work left - and presents it as the current book. He says he needed to find a way of fitting it all together: What makes the Satipatthanas cohere? Gotama was a great thinker; so there must be some reason he put things together in the way he did. There must be a simplicity underlying what seems at first sight complex. I found Analayo's book had many insightful takes on how one can see a coherent whole here.
Although the book is written very clearly and straightforwardly, I am not sure I would recommend it as a first book on mindfulness to someone completely unaware of the issues. Analayo's points can be about how issues were portrayed differently in the sutta's versus later developments, and someone with at least some exposure to different Buddhist ideas would understand why certain things are said. Having said that, anyone could read this book and gain an understanding of mindfulness as portrayed in the sutta's (or Chinese equivalent) in a way they could put into practice. And it is a fairly rich practice, with emphases and elements somewhat different from secular mindfulness practices (making both useful studies in their own right). For example, in the sutta's, rather than secular mindfulness, there is more an emphasis on eliminating sensual desire (do I want to?), facing death, and destroying the notion of a self (a me identical from moment to moment); and a more systematic analysis of how the mind works in creating suffering. Although personally I don't want to eliminate sensual desire, I find all these aspects of Satipatthana practice as things that stay with me, as practices I keep even if in the background. So if anyone asks why practice Satipatthana, I say follow this book, try what it says, and see if your curiosity about knowing your mind doesn't keep nudging you to keep it up. I have for two years now.
May 1, 2022
I am currently writing this review on the Uposatha day of the New Moon, having just concluded the final chapter in this book. Words cannot describe the wonder of this book. Bhikkhu Anālayo has previously written two books on mindfulness of breathing and satipaṭṭhāna with a more scholarly slant. Though this book, as Bhikkhu Anālayo describes it, is the cream of the crops of the books in this series. Unlike the previous two, this book is a practice guide written in plain language with practical advice on how to implement seven satipaṭṭhāna contemplations in both a continuous formal meditation sitting and in daily life in such a way as to gain embodied awareness of the body, feeling, and mind in the present moment and to be able to dwell secluded from craving and longing.
In the first two chapters of the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo describes what mindfulness really is (and what it is not), along with its complement of clearly knowing (what is going on in the present moment). Bhikkhu Anālayo describes mindfulness as soft, soothing, aware, receptive, taking in whatever may present itself to the senses without discrimination. It is firmly rooted in the present. Sticking with the pragmatic nature of the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo personifies mindfulness as a kind friend who you can always rely on and come back to when you've lost your attentiveness. Having such an image of mindfulness is conducive, as it prevents us from getting into the unyielding outlook of forcing oneself to be focused at all times, which is rather counterproductive in true development of mindfulness.
The next seven chapters are each dedicated to one of the seven selected satipaṭṭhāna contemplations. Each contemplation is given a brief textual analysis from the suttas, followed by an overview of how to get started with doing the practice, which is aided by diagram for certain more visual practices as well as helpful metaphors to bring to mind during contemplation. The main methods that Bhikkhu Anālayo gives for some of the contemplation revolves around body scans, which are rather helpful for maintaining attention and allow for the practices to be readily integrated into day to day life, since, no matter where we are or what we are doing, the body is always there. Various different ways of going about each of the contemplations is offered. Some ways may be more lengthy or comprehensive than others. Some may be entirely different ways of going about the practice, though they reach the same result. Significantly, Bhikkhu Anālayo skillfully takes note of a range of possible difficulties practitioners may run into with each of the contemplations and offers sympathy and advice on how to overcome that difficulty.
For example, for the contemplation of anatomical parts, on top of recognizing the body as being made of anatomical parts (e.g. eyes, hairs, sinews, etc.), one recognizes them to be unattractive. Some people, particularly those with body image issues, would be offput by the latter suggestion and following that suggestion would just exacerbate their relation with their body. For them, Bhikkhu Anālayo recommends simply recognizing the anatomical parts without the additional recognition of their unattractiveness, along with explaining how cultivation of the contemplation of the anatomical parts can allow one to be able to let go of aversion to the body. After all, it's all a bunch of parts. No need to fuss about how conventionally beautiful or ugly they may be.
This ties into the overarching theme of balance in the mindfulness practice that Bhikkhu Anālayo stresses. The practices he describes it not meant to be some rigid set of instructions to be followed to the tee during every meditation sitting. While each of the seven contemplations should be developed a sitting, the practitioner can according to the situation give different amounts of emphasis to each one, as well different amounts of emphasis to the different parts of any single contemplation. For example, if one may feel lust to be rather prominent at the moment, then they may give emphasis to the contemplation of anatomical parts. Further, in the contemplation of feelings, they may give emphasis to the impermanence of pleasant feelings, and in the contemplation of mind, they may give emphasis to the joy that the mind experiences in the absence of lust. Balance is essential to satipaṭṭhāna. Simply going on auto-pilot won't do. The practitioner has to actively monitor whether what they're doing is beneficial to cultivating mindfulness and liberative insight, which Bhikkhu Anālayo is keen to make known.
Each chapter comes with a very helpful and succinct summary at the end that goes over the main points of the subject contemplation, which again ties to the readability and ease of access of the book.
Bhikkhu Anālayo also gives instructions on how to progress through the book. His advice is to go through a chapter a week and focus on developing the covered satipaṭṭhāna contemplation for the duration of the week. I followed this advice and I'm glad that I did. Over the course of seven weeks going through the seven contemplations, I feel that the practices that Bhikkhu Anālayo describes have been well-integrated into my life. On top of the already helpful and comprehensive advice given in the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo also provides guided audio meditations for each of the contemplations on the publisher's website. I found them to be especially helpful with the first sitting for each of the contemplation.
This book has been transformative and just keeps on giving. I'm sure that I'll keep coming back to it, and I can't recommend it enough for others who may be interested in getting into mindfulness practice.
In the first two chapters of the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo describes what mindfulness really is (and what it is not), along with its complement of clearly knowing (what is going on in the present moment). Bhikkhu Anālayo describes mindfulness as soft, soothing, aware, receptive, taking in whatever may present itself to the senses without discrimination. It is firmly rooted in the present. Sticking with the pragmatic nature of the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo personifies mindfulness as a kind friend who you can always rely on and come back to when you've lost your attentiveness. Having such an image of mindfulness is conducive, as it prevents us from getting into the unyielding outlook of forcing oneself to be focused at all times, which is rather counterproductive in true development of mindfulness.
The next seven chapters are each dedicated to one of the seven selected satipaṭṭhāna contemplations. Each contemplation is given a brief textual analysis from the suttas, followed by an overview of how to get started with doing the practice, which is aided by diagram for certain more visual practices as well as helpful metaphors to bring to mind during contemplation. The main methods that Bhikkhu Anālayo gives for some of the contemplation revolves around body scans, which are rather helpful for maintaining attention and allow for the practices to be readily integrated into day to day life, since, no matter where we are or what we are doing, the body is always there. Various different ways of going about each of the contemplations is offered. Some ways may be more lengthy or comprehensive than others. Some may be entirely different ways of going about the practice, though they reach the same result. Significantly, Bhikkhu Anālayo skillfully takes note of a range of possible difficulties practitioners may run into with each of the contemplations and offers sympathy and advice on how to overcome that difficulty.
For example, for the contemplation of anatomical parts, on top of recognizing the body as being made of anatomical parts (e.g. eyes, hairs, sinews, etc.), one recognizes them to be unattractive. Some people, particularly those with body image issues, would be offput by the latter suggestion and following that suggestion would just exacerbate their relation with their body. For them, Bhikkhu Anālayo recommends simply recognizing the anatomical parts without the additional recognition of their unattractiveness, along with explaining how cultivation of the contemplation of the anatomical parts can allow one to be able to let go of aversion to the body. After all, it's all a bunch of parts. No need to fuss about how conventionally beautiful or ugly they may be.
This ties into the overarching theme of balance in the mindfulness practice that Bhikkhu Anālayo stresses. The practices he describes it not meant to be some rigid set of instructions to be followed to the tee during every meditation sitting. While each of the seven contemplations should be developed a sitting, the practitioner can according to the situation give different amounts of emphasis to each one, as well different amounts of emphasis to the different parts of any single contemplation. For example, if one may feel lust to be rather prominent at the moment, then they may give emphasis to the contemplation of anatomical parts. Further, in the contemplation of feelings, they may give emphasis to the impermanence of pleasant feelings, and in the contemplation of mind, they may give emphasis to the joy that the mind experiences in the absence of lust. Balance is essential to satipaṭṭhāna. Simply going on auto-pilot won't do. The practitioner has to actively monitor whether what they're doing is beneficial to cultivating mindfulness and liberative insight, which Bhikkhu Anālayo is keen to make known.
Each chapter comes with a very helpful and succinct summary at the end that goes over the main points of the subject contemplation, which again ties to the readability and ease of access of the book.
Bhikkhu Anālayo also gives instructions on how to progress through the book. His advice is to go through a chapter a week and focus on developing the covered satipaṭṭhāna contemplation for the duration of the week. I followed this advice and I'm glad that I did. Over the course of seven weeks going through the seven contemplations, I feel that the practices that Bhikkhu Anālayo describes have been well-integrated into my life. On top of the already helpful and comprehensive advice given in the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo also provides guided audio meditations for each of the contemplations on the publisher's website. I found them to be especially helpful with the first sitting for each of the contemplation.
This book has been transformative and just keeps on giving. I'm sure that I'll keep coming back to it, and I can't recommend it enough for others who may be interested in getting into mindfulness practice.
September 2, 2019
I found this book incredibly helpful in broadening my practice; both on and off the cushion. In this practical guide to Satipaṭṭhāna meditation, Bhikkhu Anālayo writes clearly and encouragingly. The “everyday life” instruction regarding mindfulness of the body (“there is a body”) is worth the price of admission alone.
October 20, 2022
I purchased this most excellent book as a companion to Bhikkhu Analayo's course on the Satipatthana Sutta and the foundations of mindfulness, offered through The Wisdom Experience (wisdomexperience.org). It has contributed profoundly to my limited understanding of mindfulness practices. Thank you, Bhikkhu Analayo!
March 21, 2023
Excellent practice guide on one of the earliest Buddhist meditation practices. Bikkhu Analayo does a great job breaking down the sutta and provides clear instructions on how to carry out each of the four satipatthanas. It's a complete practice in its own right on the path to awakening.
May 19, 2020
Reading this on Analayo's Satipatthana retreat through the Barre Center. For me, it's very much the guide, the way to realize the four noble truths, to see the eightfold path, and to directly experience impermanence, dukkha, and the emptiness of self. I'm finding the freedom from attachment (not to be confused with dissociation) to the body brings along with it greater love and appreciation for the body. Awareness of affect and its role in reactivity slows habitual thoughts and behaviors. This week, were observing the mind. If I remember, I'll come back here to add more about the mind, hindrances and liberation.
March 11, 2022
This is an exploration of a classic Buddhist text resulting in a pathway of meditations consisting of focus on the body, feeling states, the mind (hindrances) and awakening factors (dharma.) The author is a Buddhist monk and scholar. I have never wanted to base my life on classic texts from any religion. This is a fascinating scholarly inquiry and I respect the author. I am glad to have a better understanding of The Satipatthana.
January 5, 2021
Ampliando a visão e a prática
O texto realmente me ajudou a ampliar a minha visão sobre a prática da meditação ensinada por Buda e clareou o caminho. Assim posso entender mais o que e como faço a minha prática de meditação. Os resumos apresentados facilitaram muito a compreensão. Agradeço muito ao autor.
O texto realmente me ajudou a ampliar a minha visão sobre a prática da meditação ensinada por Buda e clareou o caminho. Assim posso entender mais o que e como faço a minha prática de meditação. Os resumos apresentados facilitaram muito a compreensão. Agradeço muito ao autor.
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October 8, 2018somebody needs to translate this into other languages.
June 21, 2024
This guide to the Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness is a practice manual by a longtime student of these particular teachings.
Bhikkhu Analayo, a German-born practitioner who was ordained in Sri Lanka in 1995 and who has spent his academic and monastic career studying and practicing the Satipatthana-sutta and related suttas of the Buddha, in this text has distilled all of his researches into a single system of meditation. He walks the meditator through a carefully worked-out approach that he visualizes as a seven-spoked "wheel" of practice, with the spokes divided among the Four Foundations:
Mindfulness of Body
Mindfulness of Feeling
Mindfulness of Mind
Mindfulness of Dharmas
The writing sometimes gets a bit cluttered and strained--no doubt echoing the author's history of academic writing--but overall the exposition is straightforward and thorough. He writes not as a realized master of these teachings, but rather as an experienced student of them, one who has spent much time reading, translating, and interpreting the underlying texts. There is a sense here of reading the notes of a fellow student, albeit one who is the top student in the class.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are a core practice in Buddhism, and this text offers the student in-depth instructions on how to go about them. I definitely recommend this book to all those doing Buddhist meditation.
Bhikkhu Analayo, a German-born practitioner who was ordained in Sri Lanka in 1995 and who has spent his academic and monastic career studying and practicing the Satipatthana-sutta and related suttas of the Buddha, in this text has distilled all of his researches into a single system of meditation. He walks the meditator through a carefully worked-out approach that he visualizes as a seven-spoked "wheel" of practice, with the spokes divided among the Four Foundations:
Mindfulness of Body
Mindfulness of Feeling
Mindfulness of Mind
Mindfulness of Dharmas
The writing sometimes gets a bit cluttered and strained--no doubt echoing the author's history of academic writing--but overall the exposition is straightforward and thorough. He writes not as a realized master of these teachings, but rather as an experienced student of them, one who has spent much time reading, translating, and interpreting the underlying texts. There is a sense here of reading the notes of a fellow student, albeit one who is the top student in the class.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are a core practice in Buddhism, and this text offers the student in-depth instructions on how to go about them. I definitely recommend this book to all those doing Buddhist meditation.
January 5, 2025
This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to deepen their meditation practice, especially within the framework of the Satipatthana Sutta. Analayo offers clear and practical instructions that make this foundational Buddhist text accessible to both beginners and experienced practitioners.
What I really appreciated is how the book balances theoretical understanding with hands-on guidance. Analayo’s explanations of mindfulness, body awareness, and the cultivation of concentration are detailed yet easy to follow. The step-by-step approach makes it feel like you have a teacher guiding you through the process.
The book does delve deeply into Buddhist terminology and philosophy, so it might feel a bit dense if you’re new to these concepts. But for anyone serious about meditation, this depth is incredibly valuable.
Overall, Satipatthana Meditation is a must-read for meditators looking to refine their practice or better understand the roots of mindfulness. It’s practical, insightful, and deeply rooted in the Buddha’s teachings—a truly inspiring guide for personal growth and spiritual exploration.
What I really appreciated is how the book balances theoretical understanding with hands-on guidance. Analayo’s explanations of mindfulness, body awareness, and the cultivation of concentration are detailed yet easy to follow. The step-by-step approach makes it feel like you have a teacher guiding you through the process.
The book does delve deeply into Buddhist terminology and philosophy, so it might feel a bit dense if you’re new to these concepts. But for anyone serious about meditation, this depth is incredibly valuable.
Overall, Satipatthana Meditation is a must-read for meditators looking to refine their practice or better understand the roots of mindfulness. It’s practical, insightful, and deeply rooted in the Buddha’s teachings—a truly inspiring guide for personal growth and spiritual exploration.
June 15, 2024
This book packs a lot of information, specifically detailed instructions on how to practice Satipatthana Meditation as interpreted by Venerable Analayo. I read this alongside Analayo's course on Satipatthana Meditation which also included group discussions, videos, guided meditations, and further instructions by teachers. I'm not convinced I would have grasped as much as I did simply by reading the book on my own; to be honest, there are still elements that remain unclear to me. It will undoubtedly require a second read to even begin to fully digest Analayo's guidance.
Even so, I found Analyo's writing clear. And he used numerous similes to help explain some of the more obtuse concepts which I found very helpful. I would summarize it as an advanced study guide, well written and well researched.
Even so, I found Analyo's writing clear. And he used numerous similes to help explain some of the more obtuse concepts which I found very helpful. I would summarize it as an advanced study guide, well written and well researched.
January 9, 2023
This book is nicely balanced: the rigor of text and scholarly study with accessible language, the emphasis on distinct prongs of this form of meditation with examples or similes that make them intuitive. I don’t know that I’d go telling everyone I know to read it (my own internal 5-star rating system) but for those curious to engage more with this form of Buddhist study and practice, it’s an incredibly useful read.
May 27, 2022
It's fine as a supplement to Analayo's other more scholarly works on the Satipatthana sutta. But these other works however also hint at meditation instructions along the way, as does the sutta itself.
August 11, 2025
It's a wonderful read and made many aspects of satipatthana practise much clearer to me.
I'd need to read this again and digest it further for my own practise. Will update this review again in detail.
I'd need to read this again and digest it further for my own practise. Will update this review again in detail.
April 17, 2020
Stunning
March 28, 2021
A highly recommend practice guide.
Probably best for the more advanced, but can certainly help anyone interested in meditation as actually taught by the Buddha.
Probably best for the more advanced, but can certainly help anyone interested in meditation as actually taught by the Buddha.
August 4, 2023
Excellent analysis of Satipatthana contemplations, highly practical advice for daily practice, must read n reflect for serious Satipatthana practitioners…
May 31, 2021
This book is an invaluable guide to working with the contemplations of the Satipatthana Sutta. I read another review that stated this book is for more advanced practitioners and I must disagree. Analayo would argue that the practice outlined in this book is the most preliminary of meditation practices, coming before even Anapanasati (mindfulness of breath).
Most notable in this particular book is Analayo's scholarly approach to whittling down the various versions of Satipatthana into a practice that he believes was likely in the original teachings. Thus, the body is met through contemplation of anatomical parts, the elements, and death. Feeling tone is met as is. Mind is met as is. And Dhammas are met through contemplation of hindrances and awakening factors. Four foundations of mindfulness, seven specific practices. This Satipatthana practice has no meditation instructions directed at the breath (though there is a tangential instruction for breath with regards to the death contemplation).
I should point out that this practice guide also has guided meditations that accompany it, which are available to listen to at the Windhorse website. If one takes up this book, I recommend reading it a chapter at a time and practicing as suggested for a minimum of one week with each contemplation (which actually how Analayo's course with this subject functions).
If you want to get a solid footing in Satipatthana practice, this is a great place to begin.
Guided meditations: https://www.windhorsepublications.com...
Most notable in this particular book is Analayo's scholarly approach to whittling down the various versions of Satipatthana into a practice that he believes was likely in the original teachings. Thus, the body is met through contemplation of anatomical parts, the elements, and death. Feeling tone is met as is. Mind is met as is. And Dhammas are met through contemplation of hindrances and awakening factors. Four foundations of mindfulness, seven specific practices. This Satipatthana practice has no meditation instructions directed at the breath (though there is a tangential instruction for breath with regards to the death contemplation).
I should point out that this practice guide also has guided meditations that accompany it, which are available to listen to at the Windhorse website. If one takes up this book, I recommend reading it a chapter at a time and practicing as suggested for a minimum of one week with each contemplation (which actually how Analayo's course with this subject functions).
If you want to get a solid footing in Satipatthana practice, this is a great place to begin.
Guided meditations: https://www.windhorsepublications.com...
May 8, 2019
Excellent - the "Buddhist bible" for those looking for a direct way to practice with the Satipatthana sutta. Analayo continues to amaze me - he's direct, but engaging, laying out clear, concise examples of how the early Buddhists understood and practiced via the instructions in the Satipatthana sutta. He has merged his scholarship with his own practice and created a detailed plan which can be used fully or partially. Even if you don't use any of the meditation plan he's layed out, the examples and way he clear defines and elaborates on the Buddha's teachings is invaluable. This is one "manual" which could be carried around for years to come by any serious practioner and I know I'll be re-reading this multiple times! With metta!
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November 27, 2022Recomendado en el Congreso Internacional Ciencias Contemplativas en Zaragoza 2022
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