Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Buddhims)

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Paperback, 1993

Collection

Status

Available

Call number

HAN-053

Publication

Rider & Co (1993), Edition: New Ed, 192 pages

Description

The teachings contained in this The Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness are fundamental to the practice of mediation, and constitute the foundation of all mindfulness practice. The Sutra has been studied, practiced and handed down with special care from generation to generation for 2,500 years. In his commentaries Thich Nhat Hanh guides the reader to an understanding of the fundamental basis of the Buddhist practice and encourages application in daily life. It describes the four methods of mindfulness- mindfulness of the body, the feelings, the mind, and the object of mind. It teaches how to deal with anger and jealousy, to nurture the best qualities in our children, spouse, and friends, and to greet death with compassion and equanimity. Three versions of the Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness are presented here, along with Thich Nhat Hanh's insightful commentary and twenty-three exercises-or contemplations-to aid in the practice of mindfulness in daily life. Thich Nhat Hanh's presentation of the sutra is easy to follow making it accessible for novice Buddhist as well as more advanced practitioners. It gives you the basics of breathing and how to use your breathing for meditation and contemplation. With a new introduction by Thich Nhat Hanh.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member ofthehands.com
I read this faster than I really should have. This is more a book about spiritual practice and I read through much of it today. Obviously, I should have approached it with a greater patience--and oh, there's some irony there--but I needed to get it back to the library before heading out of town.One
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part that struck me, though, was when Hanh talked about how neutral feelings and sensations can become pleasurable sensations when given the proper consideration. I'll quote:"If we don't know how to deal with or manage our neutral feeling, it will turn into an unpleasant feeling. . . . Every neutral feeling, when held in mindfulness, will become a pleasant feeling."He gives the example of having the unpleasant feeling of a toothache, and that the absence of that unpleasant feeling, when following soon after the presence of it, becomes a pleasant sensation. But that absence of feeling, far removed from your last toothache, will simply be a neutral feeling.This isn't an earth shattering concept, but it is one that's often hard to remember. Neutral can be positive or it can be negative, depending on how you approach it. Good to keep in mind.
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LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
A very important sutra which teaches the practitioner to be firmly grounded in and mindful of her body, feelings, mind, and objects of mind. (Read more to find out what the heck THOSE are!) Thay is a clear and gentle and insightful teacher. Wonderful book.

Original publication date

1990

ISBN

0712657320 / 9780712657327

Similar in this library

Call number

HAN-053

Rating

(17 ratings; 4.2)

Pages

192
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