Since 1973 he has been buddhist chaplin at The American University counselingstudents interested in Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. He is now president of theBhavana Society in West Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, about 100 miles fromWashington, D.C. teaching meditation and conducting meditation retreats.
Preface
In my experience I found that the most effective way to express something in order tomake others understand is to use the simplest language. Also I learned from teachingthat the more rigid the language the less effective it is. People to not respond to verystern and rigid language especially when we try to teach something which normallypeople don't engage in during their daily life. Meditation appears to them assomething that they cannot always do. As more people turn to meditation, they needmore simplified instructions so they can practice by themselves without a teacheraround. This book is the result of requests made by many meditators who need a verysimple book written in ordinary colloquial language.In preparing this book I have been helped by many of my friends. I am deeply gratefulto all of them. Especially I would like to express my deepest appreciation and sinceregratitude to John Patticord, Daniel J. Olmsted, Matthew Flickstein, Carol Flickstein,Patrick Hamilton, Genny Hamilton, Bill Mayne, Bhikkhu Dang Pham Jotika andBhikkhu Sona for their most valuable suggestions, comments and criticisms of numerous points in preparing this book. Also thanks to Reverend Sister Sama andChris O'Keefe for their support in production efforts.H. Gunaratana MahatheraBhavana SocietyRt. 1 Box 218-3High View, WV 26808December 7, 1990INTRODUCTION:
American Buddhism
The subject of this book is Vipassana meditation practice. Repeat, practice. This is ameditation manual, a nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step guide to Insight meditation. It ismeant to be practical. It is meant for use.There are already many comprehensive books on Buddhism as a philosophy, and onthe theoretical aspects of Buddhist meditation. If you are interested in that material weurge you to read those books. Many of them are excellent. This book is a 'How to.' Itis written for those who actually want to meditate and especially for those who wantto start now. There are very few qualified teachers of the Buddhist style of meditationin the United States of America. It is our intention to give you the basic data you needto get off to a flying start. Only those who follow the instructions given here can say
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