Bhikkhu Analayo - Introducing Mindfulness: Buddhist Background and Practical Exercises

Praise forIntroducing Mindfulness: Buddhist Background and Practical Exercises

Introducing Mindfulness is an important read for anyone looking to further their conceptual understanding, link it with practice, and in doing so deepen their wisdom. Seamlessly weaving together primary texts, memorable stories and practical practice tips ranging from eating to ethics, Anlayo brings a fresh pragmatism to a field easily waylaid by dogmatism. Judson Brewer, author of The Craving Mind

Although we often speak of mindfulness in the singular, it manifests in a variety of ways in contexts ranging from the simple act of eating a meal to the contemplation of the mind itself. Meticulously researched and written with striking lucidity, this book by a renowned scholar-practitioner guides us through the intricacies of mindfulness with explanations and exercises that, while remarkably accessible to those who are new to mindfulness, are at the same filled with keen insights relevant to even the most accomplished practitioners and researchers. Bhikkhu Anlayo examines fundamental questions, such as the way that key capacities of mindfulness can emerge from working with our reactivity to pain, and he does so by also tracing pivotal historical developments that explain how various traditions interpret mindfulness. Always returning to the concrete goal of actually cultivating mindfulness, this remarkable book dispels many misunderstandings such as the notion that it is somehow inauthentic to practice mindfulness for health reasons while offering a clear, practical and insightful account of how we can ourselves be more mindful. John D Dunne, Distinguished Professor of Contemplative Humanities, University of WisconsinMadison

In Introducing Mindfulness, Anlayo offers a wide-ranging survey of both the meaning and applications of mindfulness. It is a wise and helpful presentation of essential elements of the Buddhas teaching, and it will be of great value for those who wish to put these teachings into practice. A wonderful Dharma gift. Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

This monograph is a gold mine for anyone who is working in the broad field of mindfulness-based programs for addressing health and wellbeing in the face of suffering in any or all of its guises. It is a concise yet comprehensive high-resolution exegesis of the major pillars of classical dharma through the lens of mindfulness, offered by a highly respected scholar/practitioner monastic. It is an invaluable primer and reference text for anyone interested in the breadth and depth of mindfulness itself, its original Buddhist sources, its ethical foundation, its universal applicability, and its incontestable relevance in our world today. Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Meditation Is Not What You Think: Mindfulness and Why It Is So Important, and Falling Awake: How to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life

This is a timely book for understanding the Buddhist background of mindfulness and how to integrate its practice into our daily lives. Venerable Anlayo provides an extraordinarily clear and readable guide to mindfulness in accessible language that is informed by his scholarship in early Buddhism and grounded in his extensive personal meditation practice. For those who want to deepen their understanding of mindfulness, this book is a rare treat. It may well be the best scholarly yet practical introduction to the topic. Nirbhay N. Singh, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Mindfulness

INTRODUCING MINDFULNESS:

Also by Bhikkhu Anlayo:

Satipahna, The Direct Path to Realization

The Genesis of the Bodhisattva Ideal

A Comparative Study of the Majjhima-nikya

Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pli Discourses

Madhyama-gamaStudies

Perspectives on Satipahna

The Dawn of Abhidharma

Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation

Sayukta-gamaStudies

Ekottarika-gamaStudies

The Foundation History of the Nuns Order

Mindfully Facing Disease and Death

Buddhapada and the Bodhisattva Path

Early Buddhist Meditation Studies

Drgha-gamaStudies

Vinaya Studies

A Meditators Life of the Buddha

Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research

Satipahna Meditation: A Practice Guide

Bhikkhun Ordination from Ancient India to Contemporary Sri Lanka

Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide and Translations

Mindfully Facing Climate Change

Mindfulness in Early Buddhism: Characteristics and Functions

Bhikkhu Anlayo

INTRODUCING MINDFULNESS:

Buddhist Background and Practical Exercises

Windhorse Publications
17e Sturton Street
Cambridge
CB1 2SN
UK

windhorsepublications.com

Anlayo, 2020
Electronic edition 2020

The right of Anlayo to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

As an act of Dhammadna, Anlayo has waived royalty payments for this book.

The index was not compiled by the author.

Drawings by Dido Dolmen
(www.didodolmen.it)
Cover design by Dhammarati

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-911407-57-7
ebook ISBN: 978-1-911407-58-4

Limit of Liability: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book so as to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered, the advice and practices contained in it may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any damage.

Windhorse Publications would be pleased to hear about your reading experiences with this eBook at:

References to Internet web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor Windhorse Publications is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in 1962 in Germany, Bhikkhu Anlayo was ordained in 1995 in Sri Lanka, and completed a PhD on the Satipahna-sutta at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2000 published in 2003 by Windhorse Publications under the title Satipahna, The Direct Path to Realization.

Anlayo is a professor of Buddhist Studies; his main research area is early Buddhism and in particular the topics of the Chinese gama s, meditation, and women in Buddhism. Besides his academic pursuits, he regularly teaches meditation. He presently resides at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts, where he spends most of his time in silent retreat.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am indebted to Chris Burke, Bhikkhun Dhammadinn, Ann Dillon, Joseph Goldstein, Linda Grace, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Yuka Nakamura for commenting on a draft version of this book and to the staff, board members, and supporters of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies for providing me with the facilities needed to do my practice and writing.

PUBLISHERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Windhorse Publications wishes to gratefully acknowledge a grant from the Triratna European Chairs Assembly Fund and the Future Dharma Fund towards the production of this book.