Mindfulness in Plain English by Venerable H. Gunaratana Mahathera
W. A. V. E. Publication, 185 pages
Category: Vipassana Bhavana, Insight meditation

This popular book is an indispensable tool for any beginner or advanced meditator keen on doing Theravada Buddhist meditation of Vipassana Bhavana.

“Mindfulness in Plain English” is a ‘How to', do-it-yourself practical guide to Insight meditation. This book is the result of a need for simplified instructions to the Buddhist style of meditation due to a lack of qualified teachers in the United States of America. Venerable Henepola Gunaratana's masterful command of both the English language and Vipassana meditation has resulted in a book that is a must-read, step-by-step manual for both the beginner and experienced meditator everywhere.

This slim volume consists of 16 Chapters that progressively motivate, dispel misconceptions, explain, guide, and teach the meditator. The book is written in plain colloquial English that leaves no room for ambiguity; instead it is clear and succinct throughout.

The first couple of chapters deal with the reason for meditating, providing the impetus to still and calm the mind, and dispelling numerous misconceptions. One common misconception is the need to build up one's morality before beginning meditation. This is “an unworkable strategy” according to Venerable H. Gunaratana. “Morality requires a certain degree of mental control…. So mental culture comes first.”

The subsequent chapter explains the concept of meditation in Judeo-Christian, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, what Vipassana Bhavana (Insight meditation) is about and briefly describes the salient points of Buddhist philosophy.

The core chapters of this book (Chapters 4 to 9) deal with maintaining the correct attitude, correct practice of watching the breath, correct body posture, correct mental culture, correct meditation structure of practice schedule, place, time and length of time to sit, and correct recitation exercises.

The next three chapters deal with common problems and distractions, and how to deal with them. The author emphasized that the “ability to cope with trouble depends upon your attitude”. The right attitude to adopt is to consider problems as “ invaluable opportunities for learning”. The author also stressed that, “The purpose of meditation is to achieve uninterrupted mindfulness” and distractions, if used correctly, become secondary objects of attention, the breath being the primary object of attention.

The book concluded by defining Mindfulness or Sati in Pali and stressing the importance of cultivating both Concentration and Mindfulness equally and in tandem. The essential message of the book is to direct the meditator to apply the meditation practice in everyday life. I quote, “Meditation is the cultivation of mindfulness and the application of that mindfulness once cultivated.”

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Bhante Gunaratana is currently the abbot of the Bhavana Society, a monastery and meditation retreat centre in West Virginia.