Collection
Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Shambhala (2004), 240 pages
Description
Larry Rosenberg, one of the most prominent Buddhist teachers in the West, shows readers how to cultivate tranquility and deep insight through the full awareness of breathing. He discusses how to use the breath to attain greater awareness of body, mind and feelings and how to bring awareness to daily life. He shows us how freedom from our dissatisfaction can be as near to us as our own breath.
User reviews
LibraryThing member robertf
An excellent introduction to meditation. It is very readable and enjoyable.
It is an extended commentary on the "Anapanasati Sutta" - a classic Theravadan Buddhist (Thailand / Sri Lanka)text.
The author makes the subject very readable and provides a lot of information of use to the meditation
It is an extended commentary on the "Anapanasati Sutta" - a classic Theravadan Buddhist (Thailand / Sri Lanka)text.
The author makes the subject very readable and provides a lot of information of use to the meditation
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practitioner. The book can be used as a guide to spiritual or psychological development for anyone prepared to put in the daily practice. I found it inspiring. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tobias.Bruell
This book is a summary of the authors lifelong practice of meditation using the core of the anapanasati sutta as a framework. It is eclectic in the sense that it gives room to the views of a variety of different traditions. Sometimes these traditions are somewhat at odds in which case pros and cons
While I had the feeling that an honest effort is made to share as much knowledge as possible there were also a lot of things that are only vaguely understandable or outright obscure. For example p. 88 talks about "[...] allow[ing] each breath to follow its own nature". I do not get how this is supposed to help me. Some will certainly argue that this vagueness/obscurity is due to the nature of the subject but I have doubts. Many buddhistic platitudes (that I also find vague/obscure) are repeated over and over, e.g., "be in the moment, here, now" or "don't breath, be the breath".
Finally, the author seems to share a certain despise for western technology/science that seems to be commonplace in buddhism. For example, on p. 186 it is asked if knowing that the world is round has made us any happier; that question is then answered "It hasn't, as a matter of fact." Personally, I could not agree less.
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for each view are given impartially. Often interesting (and occasionally funny) stories and experiences of the author are included that loosen up the exposition.While I had the feeling that an honest effort is made to share as much knowledge as possible there were also a lot of things that are only vaguely understandable or outright obscure. For example p. 88 talks about "[...] allow[ing] each breath to follow its own nature". I do not get how this is supposed to help me. Some will certainly argue that this vagueness/obscurity is due to the nature of the subject but I have doubts. Many buddhistic platitudes (that I also find vague/obscure) are repeated over and over, e.g., "be in the moment, here, now" or "don't breath, be the breath".
Finally, the author seems to share a certain despise for western technology/science that seems to be commonplace in buddhism. For example, on p. 186 it is asked if knowing that the world is round has made us any happier; that question is then answered "It hasn't, as a matter of fact." Personally, I could not agree less.
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LibraryThing member jyorns
Covers most of the bases as far as the practice's sanction by the teachings, viewpoints with which the westerner of varying degrees of familiarity with eastern philosophy and buddhism in particular can find values in the practice, and how the western view can impede success (see, I just did it).
Original publication date
1998
ISBN
1590301366 / 9781590301364
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The Heart of Buddhist Meditation: Satipatthna: A Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha's Way of Mindfulness by Nyanaponika Thera
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The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions) by Joseph Goldstein
The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha) by Maurice Walshe
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha) by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli
Call number
ROS-202