In the same engaging style that has endeared him to readers ofhis bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratanadelves deeply into each step of the Buddha's most profound teachingon bringing an end to suffering: the noble eightfold path. Withgenerous and specific advice, Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness — aForeword magazine Book of the Year Awards finalist — offersskillful ways to handle anger, find right livelihood, and cultivateloving-friendliness in relationships with parents, children, andpartners. It also offers tools to overcome all the mentalhindrances that prevent happiness. Whether you are an experiencedmeditator or someone who's only just beginning to practicemindfulness, this gentle and down-to-earth guide will help youbring the heart of the Buddha's teachings into every aspect of yourlife.
In what is both a radical approach to the Bible , and afundamental return to its narrative prose, Robert Alter reads theOld Testament with new eyesthe eyes of a literary critic. Altertakes the old yet simple step of reading the Bible as a literarycreation.
Every meditation tradition explains that there are two aspectsto any effective meditation practice: insight and concentration. InMindfulness in Plain English, author Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, amonk from Sri Lanka and venerated teacher of Buddhism, offeredbasic instruction on the meaning of insight (or vipassana)meditation through concepts that could be applied to any tradition.In Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English, he presents the levels ofconcentration with the same simplicity and humor that made theprevious book so successful. The focus here is on the Jhanas, thosemeditative states of profound stillness and concentration in whichthe mind becomes fully immersed and absorbed in the chosen objectof attention. Using the Jhanas to guide readers along the path tojoy, happiness, equanimity, and one-pointedness, the authorprovides all of the instruction necessary to utilize meditation asa tool for building a more fulfilling life
