Introducing Mindfulness: Buddhist Background and Practical Exercises

by Anālayo

Buddhist meditator and scholar Bhikkhu Anālayo introduces the Buddhist background to mindfulness practice, from mindful eating to its formal cultivation as satipaṭṭhāna (the foundations of mindfulness). As well as providing an accessible guide, Anālayo gives a succinct historical survey of the development of mindfulness in Buddhism, and practical exercises on how to develop it. The orally transmitted early teachings he examines provide a range of perspectives on mindfulness. Anālayo draws out a clear focus on the role of mindfulness in the path to ‘awakening; an understanding of reality as it is. He shows how mindfulness is a central tool for recognizing the influence of greed, anger and delusion, and how to emerge from these to progress on the path to liberation. Mindfulness fosters a gradual freeing of the mind from these influences and brings about a clear vision of reality, enabling us to be more fully in touch with what is taking place and remain in the present.

Genres: Buddhism

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2020

About the author

Ven. 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.

Reviews

[David Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good yet difficult

Enjoyed this book. A little too technical. Once I got in to the book things seemed to smooth out. I would recommend it though to those making an inquiry into Buddhism.

[Carolynn]

As always, :)

[WayChuang Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Bhante Analayo's work rather dry and hard to digest. Perhaps, those who are more academically inclined may find pleasure in reading his work.