---
product_id: 1562930
title: "Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition"
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---

# Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition

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## Description

“A masterpiece.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, is one of the bestselling — and most influential — books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why. Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases Bhante’s trademark clarity and wit as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work. This book is: A best-selling introduction to mindfulness Full of practical advice on developing a meditation practice Written in approachable, clear language Containing chapters on loving-kindness and concentration The reader can gain deeper understanding, inner peace, and clarity through meditation practice with the thoughtful guidance of this classic book. Written for those without any meditation background, but also an essential handbook for established students, Mindfulness in Plain English is a must-have for anyone exploring the benefits of Buddhist meditation. This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life. “The ‘you’ that goes in one side of the meditation experience is not the same ‘you’ that comes out the other side.” —Bhante Gunaratana in Mindfulness in Plain English

Review: One of the best "How-to" books ever written explaining mindfulness and Buddhist meditation, written in an engaging style - Mindfulness in Plain English is one the very best books written as an introduction to mindfulness and Buddhist meditation. It is far more than simply in introduction to meditation. It is a masterfully explained “how to” handbook, a nuts and bolts kind of map, that walks you through how to meditate and deal with the many typical obstacles which virtually all people deal with as they begin and progress. What sets this book apart from other leading books in this category, is that Bhante Gunaratana is from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, classicly trained and ordained in the form of practice he calls Vipassana, which places great emphasis on mindfulness. He explains, “Vipassana is the oldest of Buddhist meditation practices. The method comes directly from the Satipatthana Sutta, a discouorse attributed to the Buddha himself.” Bhante Gunaratana writes with a very engaging and relaxed style, which makes the book easy to follow and even humorous at times. He speaks with candor and right from the beginning he emphasizes that, “Meditation is not easy. It takes time and energy. It also takes grit, determination and discipline.” But, then he goes on to emphasize that meditation should be rejuvenating and liberating, and in fact, that most seasoned practitioners have a good sense of humor, because the practice creates a calmness and relaxed perspective about life. The author’s explanations about key concepts is stated in a fresh manner, for instance explaining that the word “suffering” in Buddhism needs to be thoroughly understood to realize that in the original Pali language it does not just mean agony of the body, but that it also means a sense of dissatisfaction that is typical of what all people deal with on a daily basis. He also emphasizes that Vipassana, unlike some other Buddhist traditions, ranks mindfulness and awareness right up beside concentration as a means to liberation. Thus a great part of the focus of meditation is a combination of concentration and mindfulness. The author takes the time to explain differences in approach between Vipassana Buddhism and other forms, such as classic Mahayana sects like Zen Buddhism and Tibetan traditions. The other key element to this book is the great detail he goes into to explain precisely how to meditate, breaking it down regarding not using any mental recitations at all to help your focus, (which is something some other forms suggest you do). He explains multiple ways to help you focus through counting your breaths in different manners, emphasizing that different ways work for different people. And always, he emphasizes to be gentle with yourself and stay calm and patient as you experiment and practice. This last point is something he emphasizes again and again, making sure we understand that if our practice is causing suffering then we are clearly not practicing correctly. He addresses how to plan your practices and how to deal with common things such as your legs falling asleep, boredom, distractions, discouragement, drowsiness and inability to concentrate.
Review: A great read for all people - not just meditators - We hear news reports and studies about how meditation and mindfulness improve health, reduce stress, build focus, and increase longevity, all for free. But how does one go about incorporating these activities in our lives? H. Gunaratana provides the information we need in simple, understandable English. This is not a step-by-step "Meditation for Dummies" book that simply tells us to sit and stare. Rather, the book provides a gentle introduction into the entire mindset involved. You can see that from the very first chapter - "Meditation: Why Bother?" The book takes a down to earth approach. It's like sitting down with a good friend over tea and having a relaxed talk about everything. Meditation isn't just staring at a wall. It's not necessarily easy! It takes some perseverance - but the rewards are well worth it. He explains that it's not about one particular pose. The poses are simply ones many people find can help them - but if your body doesn't allow one, that's fine! Use a pose that works well for you. We are all different. Be patient, observe, and relax. Your mind is going to swirl - that's ok. Gently release those swirls and let your mind settle again. When those normal distractions come up, use them to help you build your skills. The book provides great advice on dealing with these and with the tiny aches that might come along. These practices help you immensely in daily life, too! And that's one of the benefits of meditation - learning to handle all those ups and downs that life is all about. I enjoy this book immensely and actively recommend it to friends. Yes, it provides great information on "how" to meditate. But it goes so much deeper into why meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in each life. It helps us take stock of this life we're in, realize how impermanent our life is, and to appreciate what we have each day. Everything is always changing. Nothing stays the same. To cling to the way things are is an exercise in futility. The more we can breathe in what we have, and look forward to what comes next, the better our health, well being, and life. Well recommended.

## Features

- Mindfulness in Plain English

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #22,191 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Theravada Buddhism (Books) #7 in Buddhist Rituals & Practice (Books) #127 in Meditation (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,147 Reviews |

## Images

![Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71JXXfZWFqL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the best "How-to" books ever written explaining mindfulness and Buddhist meditation, written in an engaging style
*by M***H on October 7, 2016*

Mindfulness in Plain English is one the very best books written as an introduction to mindfulness and Buddhist meditation. It is far more than simply in introduction to meditation. It is a masterfully explained “how to” handbook, a nuts and bolts kind of map, that walks you through how to meditate and deal with the many typical obstacles which virtually all people deal with as they begin and progress. What sets this book apart from other leading books in this category, is that Bhante Gunaratana is from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, classicly trained and ordained in the form of practice he calls Vipassana, which places great emphasis on mindfulness. He explains, “Vipassana is the oldest of Buddhist meditation practices. The method comes directly from the Satipatthana Sutta, a discouorse attributed to the Buddha himself.” Bhante Gunaratana writes with a very engaging and relaxed style, which makes the book easy to follow and even humorous at times. He speaks with candor and right from the beginning he emphasizes that, “Meditation is not easy. It takes time and energy. It also takes grit, determination and discipline.” But, then he goes on to emphasize that meditation should be rejuvenating and liberating, and in fact, that most seasoned practitioners have a good sense of humor, because the practice creates a calmness and relaxed perspective about life. The author’s explanations about key concepts is stated in a fresh manner, for instance explaining that the word “suffering” in Buddhism needs to be thoroughly understood to realize that in the original Pali language it does not just mean agony of the body, but that it also means a sense of dissatisfaction that is typical of what all people deal with on a daily basis. He also emphasizes that Vipassana, unlike some other Buddhist traditions, ranks mindfulness and awareness right up beside concentration as a means to liberation. Thus a great part of the focus of meditation is a combination of concentration and mindfulness. The author takes the time to explain differences in approach between Vipassana Buddhism and other forms, such as classic Mahayana sects like Zen Buddhism and Tibetan traditions. The other key element to this book is the great detail he goes into to explain precisely how to meditate, breaking it down regarding not using any mental recitations at all to help your focus, (which is something some other forms suggest you do). He explains multiple ways to help you focus through counting your breaths in different manners, emphasizing that different ways work for different people. And always, he emphasizes to be gentle with yourself and stay calm and patient as you experiment and practice. This last point is something he emphasizes again and again, making sure we understand that if our practice is causing suffering then we are clearly not practicing correctly. He addresses how to plan your practices and how to deal with common things such as your legs falling asleep, boredom, distractions, discouragement, drowsiness and inability to concentrate.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great read for all people - not just meditators
*by L***A on December 11, 2014*

We hear news reports and studies about how meditation and mindfulness improve health, reduce stress, build focus, and increase longevity, all for free. But how does one go about incorporating these activities in our lives? H. Gunaratana provides the information we need in simple, understandable English. This is not a step-by-step "Meditation for Dummies" book that simply tells us to sit and stare. Rather, the book provides a gentle introduction into the entire mindset involved. You can see that from the very first chapter - "Meditation: Why Bother?" The book takes a down to earth approach. It's like sitting down with a good friend over tea and having a relaxed talk about everything. Meditation isn't just staring at a wall. It's not necessarily easy! It takes some perseverance - but the rewards are well worth it. He explains that it's not about one particular pose. The poses are simply ones many people find can help them - but if your body doesn't allow one, that's fine! Use a pose that works well for you. We are all different. Be patient, observe, and relax. Your mind is going to swirl - that's ok. Gently release those swirls and let your mind settle again. When those normal distractions come up, use them to help you build your skills. The book provides great advice on dealing with these and with the tiny aches that might come along. These practices help you immensely in daily life, too! And that's one of the benefits of meditation - learning to handle all those ups and downs that life is all about. I enjoy this book immensely and actively recommend it to friends. Yes, it provides great information on "how" to meditate. But it goes so much deeper into why meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in each life. It helps us take stock of this life we're in, realize how impermanent our life is, and to appreciate what we have each day. Everything is always changing. Nothing stays the same. To cling to the way things are is an exercise in futility. The more we can breathe in what we have, and look forward to what comes next, the better our health, well being, and life. Well recommended.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Classic Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation
*by C***B on November 14, 2011*

This beautiful book is an introduction to Vipassana (or Insight) meditation. As such, it may be the best book of this genre available today. The language is clear, simple, and precise. The first chapter is certainly a superb overview of meditation and mindfulness; chapter 14 on the interrelated roles of concentration and mindfulness in meditation was extremely helpful; and the Afterward on Loving Kindness was a timely addition to the original text. There are phrases and passages within this book that stand as some of the most compelling statements of fundamental principles of Buddhism that I have ever read. Bhante G has made an enormous contribution to the western literature on Buddhism, particularly that literature directed toward those new to the practice of meditation. This volume has become a classic and will remain as such for many decades, if not centuries, to come. So, why four stars? Why not five? Why not six? The reservations I have about this book are highly personal and I doubt that many others would even notice, let alone share, these concerns. So, buy the book. Download it to your Kindle or iPad. And consider the following rantings as those of a cranky old man. First, I found Chapter 2, describing what meditation is not, to be a little disconcerting. It is sad that Bhante G (or his editors) felt it necessary to explain that the purpose of meditation is not to become a psychic, that it is not dangerous, that it is practiced by ordinary people and not just ascetics, that it is not a great way to get high, and that it will not solve all of your problems in a few short weeks. There must be people somewhere who think of meditation in these ways. That is a very scary thought. If you are not one of those people do yourself a favor and skip this chapter. Throughout the book Bhante G uses language like "see things as they really are". When he, or other Buddhist authors, use this kind of language it makes me want to scream! First, it is not necessary; he uses more descriptive and less provocative language to describe similar phenomena in other parts of his book. This promotes clarity and credibility while wild eyed claims about Reality and Truth do just the opposite. Secondly, anyone who has spent any time at all studying philosophy and science know that claims about Reality must be taken with a grain of salt. At one point in chapter 5 Bhante G does clarify what he means when he uses this language and his explanation makes sense. Unfortunately, this explanation is little more than a brief footnote and most readers, I fear, will continue to attribute the common, ordinary meaning to this language and thus misunderstand what he is saying. At another point Bhante G discusses the goal of meditation as "The perfection of all noble and wholesome qualities latent in the subconscious mind". At other points he describes the task confronting the novice practitioner in such arduous terms that one wonders why anyone would begin the journey. All of this is true, I just wish Bhante G would tone down his language a little. Also, striving for goals is antithetical to the fundamental process of meditation which is focused on the present moment and surrendering to one's immediate experiences. If there is a goal, it would be much more modest, something like gently returning your attention to your breath when you notice that it has wandered away. Bhante G devotes considerable space to meditation posture, as he should in a manual such as this. He also indicates that it is fine to sit in a chair if that works for you. At a latter point he discusses subtle mental techniques to deal with the pain that most who are new to meditation will experience with traditional postures. I used a traditional posture (Burmese) for some time, and it worked well for normal meditation session of 45 minutes or less. However, during retreats and longer periods of meditation I experienced the pain that is so common with traditional positions. At one point I realized that this pain was unnecessary and did not help my practice. So, I switched to a chair. For those who experience little or no pain during prolonged sitting and those who find the pain tolerable, or even helpful, then they should opt for a traditional position. Everyone else should opt for a chair. During his discussion of pain caused by the traditional postures Bhante G does not even mention the obvious solution, i.e. sit in a chair. This is like describing in detail how to deal with the pain in your head and neglecting to mention that you could just stop banging your head against the wall. It is assumed that if you are serious about meditation you will adopt a traditional posture, which is nonsense, particularly for beginners. Being more explicit about your options regarding posture would improve this section significantly. In Chapter 9 Bhante G provides advice regarding "set up" exercises prior to beginning a meditation session. The first (I am about to tread the very same path that has been walked by the Buddha and his great and holy disciples...) should be enough to intimidate any novice. It is a wonderful set for serious meditation, I just am not sure that it belongs in a manual for beginners. Secondly, the recitation on Loving Kindness is particularly beautiful, as anyone who has experienced it can attest. The problem is its length, almost five (admittedly short) pages on my iPad. This recitation can constitute an entire meditation session in itself. Lay practitioners must schedule meditation session(s) into their very busy days and adding this recitation may require them to substantially shorten the time for meditation proper. It would have been helpful if Bhante G had offered an alternate form of this recitation that was shorter and less time consuming. Finally, and this is a purely philosophical note, Bhate G repeatedly reminds us that Buddhism sees an extremely close, even intimate relationship between our mind and our body. At one point I believe he goes further and refers to this relationship as one of unity. This second statement is more consistent with our current understanding based on recent develments neuroscience and philosophy of mind. These disciplines are converging and a concensus (though certainly not unanimous agreement) is developing regarding the basic model of materialistic monism. Our mind and our brain are not two distinct entities, they are one. Our experience and our consciousness are not caused by or intimately related to our brain. Our experiences and our consciousness are brain states. This is a difficult concept to get your head around, but so are quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. As Buddhism grows in the west it is important that it has intellectual credibility. To achieve this, its language be adapted to that of modern science and philosophy. This will entail an emphasis on the unity of mind and body and the abandonment of language that suggests that the are different entities. In this respect, some of Bhante G's language could use a tune-up. All of these criticisms should be placed in the basic context that I established at the beginning of this review, i.e. this is a really great book, a classic, that will be treasured for decades. As an introduction to mindfulness and insight meditation this may be the best book ever written.

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