Classic Bhante G stuff! It is extremely clear, and while it does place a bit more emphasis on morality compared to `Mindfulness in Plain English` (MIPA). If you are engaged in practicing seated meditations based on the MIPA book and have uncertainties, this book comes highly recommended. As has been stated, if simply observing your breath is all you do in the name of meditation, you won't gain a great deal. You require wisdom and understanding, which this book expounds upon at length.

Questions that might crop up are addressed in subsequent pages, sometimes a bit indirectly. For some reason, I felt it was a bit on the long side for approximately 250 pages. Just like `Mindfulness in Plain English`, I intend to re-read it again at some point!

A very lucid explanation of Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path is presented here, and it is meant to be like a user's manual (so to speak) for the path. While "Mindfulness In Plain English" was less specifically Buddhist, "EMSH" (presumably the work being referred to) definitely is.

Bhante writes with a gentle niceness that strongly reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh. His words have a soothing quality that makes the reading experience quite pleasant.

I initially read this in ebook form, but then I ordered a used paperback copy from Powells. This was done for easier reference as I can easily flip through the pages and also to fill it with sticky notes. Having a physical copy allows me to mark important passages and jot down my thoughts and reflections more conveniently. It's a great addition to my collection of books on Buddhism and spiritual growth.

Perhaps I have a rather neutral stance on this matter as I listened to it in the form of an audiobook. Maybe if I had read it physically, I would have felt that more meaningful learning had taken place. Nevertheless, I thought the beginning of the book was quite strong, and I relished the early steps that were laid out (such as skillful understanding, thinking, speech, livelihood, and effort). However, the later steps regarding meditation seemed very prescriptive to me. I do admit that the author undoubtedly has more experience than I do. But I also found that the prescriptive information about meditation was in direct contradiction to the earlier information in the book about how we shouldn't become too attached to ceremony.

I was especially troubled by one part where he describes knowing that a meditator at a retreat had dozed off because they were "rhythmically" swaying forward and backward. Then the author said that the meditator came out of the session and said how great it was, but he knew that they had fallen asleep. This bothered me because it made an assumption about whether or not the meditator was being truthful when they said that it was a positive session. Moreover, it bothered me because swaying is often a stim for neurodiverse people. Just because someone is stimming doesn't mean they aren't meditating. I'm reminded of a story a monk told once in a Dharma session about the Buddha advising someone who told the Buddha that they couldn't meditate without repetitively rubbing a piece of cloth and asking how to stop. The Buddha told them not to worry about stopping if it helped them meditate. This story seems to be in direct contrast to the one told by the author, and the Buddha's approach was more inclusive.

So, I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but the last half to third of it felt non-inclusive and overly prescriptive to me.

The historical Buddha's teachings were orally transmitted for several centuries after his demise. It was not until sects were formed that his talks were inscribed on palm leaves. Organizing information into lists was a crucial mnemonic device.

One of the most significant of these lists is "The Noble Eight Fold Path". This list encompasses eight areas of endeavors that a Buddhist endeavors to achieve in their life. These eight "action items" are also integral to the entirety of the historical Buddha's teachings. Typically, this list is translated as follows:

1. Right View

2. Right Intent

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

The author of this book, a lifelong Buddhist monk, chose the title "Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness".

The essence of the eight fold path is happiness.

Theravada is the oldest extant sect of Buddhism. It is the author's sect and the source of "vipassana meditation" and "mindfulness". It has an unintended reputation for being grim. I推测 this was the motivation behind the book's title, to remind people that it is about striving for happiness.

However, the happiness sought by Buddhists is one that is impervious to the vicissitudes of life. Given this, the vicissitudes of life are focused on to understand their nature and avoid the associated suffering.

The book begins with "Right View" (acknowledging that these vicissitudes exist for everyone) and a hint of the grim tone characteristic of Theravada Buddhism. Others may not perceive the tone as grim as I did. Nevertheless, I gleaned a wealth of knowledge from this book. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover numerous practical tips for both daily life and meditation.

In this regard, the book was a success, as the author intended to demonstrate to the reader how to apply Buddhist teachings to everyday life.

The author's first successful book was titled "Mindfulness In Plain English". I believe a more accurate title for this book would have been "The Noble Eight Fold Path In Plain English".

The author successfully conveyed practical Buddhism in ordinary, everyday, and easily understandable language.

This is the closest you will get to a technical manual for meditation and mindfulness.

It provides detailed information and guidance on how to practice meditation and cultivate mindfulness. However, it might be repetitive at times, and the author does seem to talk in circles.

Some readers may find this aspect a bit frustrating, as it can make it difficult to follow the main points.

Nevertheless, if you are willing to overlook the repetitiveness and patiently work through the text, you can still gain valuable insights and techniques for your meditation and mindfulness practice.

It is important to approach this manual with an open mind and a willingness to learn, as it can offer a wealth of knowledge and practical advice.

So, despite its flaws, it can still be a useful resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of meditation and mindfulness.

Love it!

I have a small collection of books on the eightfold path, and this particular one is truly one of my favorites. The eightfold path is such a profound and enlightening concept, and this book delves into it with great depth and clarity. It offers valuable insights and practical guidance on how to apply the principles of the eightfold path in our daily lives. The author's writing style is engaging and easy to understand, making it accessible to readers of all levels of spiritual understanding. Each chapter presents a different aspect of the eightfold path, exploring its significance and how it can help us achieve inner peace, wisdom, and compassion. I find myself constantly referring back to this book whenever I need inspiration or guidance on my spiritual journey. It has truly become a cherished part of my collection and a source of great inspiration and learning.

A fine primer and practice guide on the Noble Eightfold Path is presented here.

Gunaratana provides a lucid and distinct articulation of the path. He elaborates on the numerous entry points that one can take to embark on this journey. Additionally, he delves into all the interconnected components that make up the Noble Eightfold Path.

However, it should be noted that there is a slight hint of dogmatism in the text, which might detract a little from the overall experience. Nevertheless, the overwhelming helpfulness and value of the rest of the content more than make up for this minor shortcoming.

Overall, this work serves as an excellent resource for those seeking to understand and practice the Noble Eightfold Path, offering valuable insights and practical guidance along the way.

Mindfulness in Plain English is a rather good book.

It does an excellent job of explicating the eightfold path, which lies at the very heart of Buddhist practice.

The author has managed to present this complex and profound concept in a way that is easy to understand and follow.

However, I must admit that for my personal taste, Bhante G. can sometimes come across as a bit too moralistic.

While I understand the importance of moral teachings in Buddhism, I feel that there could have been a more balanced approach.

Nevertheless, overall, the book is still a valuable resource for those interested in exploring mindfulness and Buddhist practice.

It provides a solid foundation and offers many practical insights and techniques that can be applied in daily life.

I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to deepen their understanding of mindfulness and its application in the context of Buddhist teachings.

Some useful ideas came to me while reading, and there is one VERY important meditation concept that wasn't covered in "Mindfulness in Plain English". That is the distinction between concentration and mindfulness during vipassana meditation. However, I'm much more interested in the "try and see" focus of that other book rather than sets of principles and such. If these things are truly universal truths, I will discover them for myself.

I understand that these concepts are intended to be tools until you progress far along the path. Even though they are not essential for enlightenment, they can relieve suffering in the present and assist you in identifying your experiences at different stages. And it was useful, but there are other Buddhist writings and speakers that I've found to be a lot more substantial, like the talks of S.N. Goenka and Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

From another perspective, as an introduction to the eightfold path, I personally found that its style and organization made it difficult to remember the steps and concepts. They all sort of got jumbled in my mind into a messy ball of "compassion impermanence doubt something something."

Nevertheless, I give it four stars because it was still legitimate, clear writing with the purpose of helping one become a more contented and kind person, without any nonsense.

I asked a woman I know what book she would recommend to someone who wanted to learn about Buddhism.

She recommended this book, and I'm truly glad she did. I have been reading it off and on for a couple of months now. It's been such an enlightening experience that I plan on rereading it again, in bits and pieces, as I progress forward in my exploration.

I've never before felt this level of enlightenment from a book. It has opened my eyes to so many new perspectives and ideas about Buddhism.

Now, I'm thinking that I need to go back and find the book that Bhante Henepola Gunaratana wrote before this one. I'm sure it will also be a valuable read.

If you are at all curious about Buddhism, I highly recommend that you read this book. It will surely provide you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of this wonderful religion.

The original article is not provided. Please share the article you want me to rewrite and expand so that I can assist you further.

The original article seems a bit dry, yet it is still accessible.

This means that although the content might lack some excitement or vividness, it is still understandable and can be grasped by the reader.

Perhaps the language used is rather plain or the ideas are presented in a straightforward manner.

However, being accessible is an important quality, as it allows a wide range of people to engage with the information.

It may be that the author intended to convey the facts clearly and simply, without adding unnecessary frills or distractions.

While the dryness might make it a less engaging read, it also means that the key points are easy to identify and remember.

Overall, despite its lack of sparkle, the article's accessibility makes it a useful resource for those seeking information on the topic.