Buddhist Book Reviews

Buddhist Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Meditator’s Atlas

Written by Buddhist Books

The Meditator’s Atlas by Matthew Flickstein is, as its subtitle suggests, ‘a roadmap of the inner world’ which provides an immensely useful overview of the Path of Purification, as originally described in the Visuddhimagga. As those of you who have studied the Visuddhimagga will know, it is a superbly detailed text which systematises the teachings of the Buddha like no other, but it is not the most accessible volume by any means. The Meditator’s Atlas serves as a guide to that same path, but in a way that can be understood and followed by almost anyone.

This remarkable book opens with a Foreword by Bhante Henelopa Gunaratana, author of Mindfulness in Plain English, followed by a Preface from the author. In his opening words, Flickstein starts as he intends to go on, by presenting his aim for the book in a wonderfully direct and succinct manner. ‘The Meditator’s Atlas: A Roadmap of the Inner World clearly describes the Buddha’s path of purification. One of the most profound and practical maps of the spiritual dimension of life.’ He closes the preface by saying, ‘The ultimate goal of this book is to enable you, the reader, to follow this road map of the inner world to the first-hand experience of spiritual freedom.’

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With that orientation having been established, the author then presents us with his guide to the path itself. The first chapter provides a broad overview of the path, and identifies the seven stages of purification, as well as the main practices which are used to realise each of them. The following seven chapters then discuss each stage of purification in more detail, from the Purification of Virtue to the Purification by Knowledge and Wisdom.

Each chapter serves as very real guide to its given stage of the path, presenting methods of practice, insights and markers that you will encounter along the way. In clear, straightforward language, the author describes ideas and concepts which have long confused many, so if you are someone who would like more clarity about the jhanas, counterpart signs, the relationship between serenity meditation (samatha) and insight meditation (vipassana), the hindrances and similar topics, this book will provide the information you need in a wonderfully lucid manner.

The final chapter of this book explains that The Path Goes Nowhere, and that ‘the greatest freedom is freedom from the illusion that we are not already free.’ By following the path of purification, as instructed, you will eventually get to where you are right now, but with a very different view of where that is and what it means.

In summary, The Meditator’s Atlas: A Roadmap of the Inner World is a superbly accessible guide to the path of purification which will be of immense value to everyone who is travelling that path. As is the case with any other atlas, this book won’t actually make your journey for you, but it will serve as a reliable reference to help you get to your intended destination as efficiently and comfortably as possible.

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The Mindfulness in Plain English Collection

Written by Buddhist Books

The Mindfulness in Plain English Collection is a stunning hardback volume which brings together three classic titles on mindfulness by Bhante Gunaratana. Those titles are: Mindfulness in Plain English, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English, and Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English.

This collector’s edition from Wisdom Publications runs to 640 pages and provides the reader with comprehensive instruction on the practice of mindfulness, from beginner to advanced. It lays the groundwork with Mindfulness in Plain English, which we have reviewed previously. First published in 1994, this title guides the reader step-by-step to developing greater levels of mindfulness by practicing vipassana meditation.

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The Four Foundations of Mindfulness comes next, and that title is based on the Satipatthana Sutta, which teaches mindfulness of the body, of feelings, of mind and of Dhamma. In this book, Bhante presents the teachings in his trademark plain-English style, clarifying and expounding points for a modern western audience.

The third book in this collection is Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English, which Joseph Goldstein described as ‘a straightforward and pragmatic guide to deepening levels of concentration and insight.’ As the title suggests, in this book Bhante goes beyond mindfulness to discuss the ‘jhanas’. These are states of meditation that really have to be experienced to be fully appreciated, but which are often discussed in terms of being joyous, powerful and incredibly calm.

Having all three of these classic Bhante Guaranta titles together in a beautiful single-volume collection is a real privilege, and The Mindfulness in Plain English Collection should serve as an inspirational and indispensable guide for everyone who embarks on the path of mindfulness.

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The Miracle of Mindfulness

Written by Buddhist Books

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh is a classic book – now available in a superb hardback gift edition – that can help anyone to develop the mindfulness skills that are necessary to slow down and start living life in present moment.

Originally written in Vietnamese as a long letter of teaching and encouragement in 1974, The Miracle of Mindfulness is as applicable to a general audience today as it was to its very first recipients. The pace of life in the 21st century is more urgent than ever, and most of us know what it feels like to rush headlong from dawn to dusk, pressured by to-do lists, schedules, deadlines and even by stressors that are created wholly by our own Monkey Minds. The good news for anyone who experiences these types of pressures is that The Miracle of Mindfulness really can help you to get to a place that is calm, peaceful and as free from stress as we’d like it to be.

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That ‘place’ is right now. Whilst most people strive to find happiness and peace by relentlessly pursuing careers, relationships, bumper pay days, vacations and the recognition of their peers, none of those things help an individual to connect with the present moment. On the contrary, constantly focusing on the future – or at the other extreme, constantly dwelling on the past – makes it extremely difficult for anyone to experience the kind of peace that is only ever available in the moment at hand.

The Miracle of Mindfulness presents a superb range of precise techniques and teachings that you can use to help ground yourself in the here-and-now and enjoy the freedom and spaciousness that is already right under your nose. Of course, you don’t have to stop pursuing your career, relationships or anything else that is a worthwhile part of 21st century life, but you can learn to live each moment mindfully, and Thich Nhat Hanh will show you how.

This book is beautifully written, and if you want to get the most benefit out of it we would strongly recommend that you take your time. Each of the seven chapters contains more wisdom-per-page than you would ever be able to absorb by reading casually, so pay attention, go slow and be sure to put the principles into practice. If you do this then you will emerge from the experience with mindfulness skills that you can use all day long, every day of the week, and even ‘mundane’ tasks such as making a cup of tea, washing dishes, paying the bills or driving the kids to school can become incredibly rewarding. And therein lies the miracle….

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A Path With Heart

Written by Buddhist Books

A Path With Heart by Jack Kornfield was first published in 1993 and today the book (which has been reprinted numerous times) is widely regarded as a classic and timeless guide to meditation and living an authentic spiritual life.

Jack Kornfield was ordained as a monk in the 1960’s at the Thai Forest monastery at Wat Ba Pong, and studied under a variety of noted masters, including Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw. He started teaching Buddhism to Westerners in 1974 and, along with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein, co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachussets. He also became a founding teacher at the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, and that is where he currently teaches, almost five decades after discovering the Buddhist path for himself.

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A lot more information about Jack’s life and journey are provided in A Path With Heart, but we wanted to paint a thumbnail sketch of the author’s background to try and convey some of the length and depth of his experience. What we can’t convey here is how good he is at teaching those of us who want to follow the Buddhist path in the West, but fortunately anyone who picks up a copy of A Path With Heart will soon find that out for themselves.

This is a weighty book which covers every aspect of the spiritual life from a Buddhist perspective, and it will be of immense value to anyone who wants to make progress at any stage along the path. Whether you want to learn how to meditate from scratch or deepen an existing practice that will benefit every area of your life, this book presents the information you need in a practical, down-to-earth manner. Even when the author is discussing potentially confusing topics such as altered states, absorption, and access concentration, the text is always precise and illuminating. Chapter titles are as follows:

Chapter 1 – Did I Love Well?
Chapter 2 – Stopping the War
Chapter 3 – Taking the One Seat
Chapter 4 – Necessary Healing
Chapter 5 – Training the Puppy: Mindfulness of Breathing
Chapter 6 – Turning Straw into Gold
Chapter 7 – Naming the Demons
Chapter 8 – Difficult Problems and Insistent Visitors
Chapter 9 – The Spiritual Roller Coaster: Kundalini and Other Side Effects
Chapter 10 – Expanding and Dissolving the Self: Dark Night and Rebirth
Chapter 11 – Searching for the Buddha: A Lamp Unto Ourselves
Chapter 12 – Accepting the Cycles of Spiritual Life
Chapter 13 – No Boundaries to the Sacred
Chapter 14 – No Self or True Self?
Chapter 15 – Generosity, Codependence and Fearless Compassion
Chapter 16 – You Can’t Do It Alone: Finding and Working with a Teacher
Chapter 17 – Psychotherapy and Meditation
Chapter 18 – The Emperor’s New Clothes: Problems with Teachers
Chapter 19 – Karma: The Heart Is Our Garden
Chapter 20 – Expanding Our Circle: An Undivided Heart
Chapter 21 – Spiritual Maturity
Chapter 22 – The Great Song
Chapter 23 – Enlightenment Is Intimacy with All Things

As you can see, this isn’t a book that you will want to speed through, but one that you will want to savour at a measured pace. Whether you are simply curious about Buddhist meditation and life or you are already established on the path, this book will serve as an extremely valuable guide that you will want to refer to again and again.

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Insight Meditation

Written by Buddhist Books

Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom by Joseph Goldstein is a collection of teachings, dharma stories and answers to questions that are commonly asked by students at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. Goldsmith co-founded the IMS in 1975, and has over thirty years’ experience leading Buddhist meditation retreats. This is a fact that shines through on every page of this book, and whether you are merely curious about vipassana, have attended a retreat or two or have been practicing extensively for years, you will find it very useful to have a copy of Insight Meditation by your side.

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There are seven sections in this book, each containing up to fourteen mini-chapters. The section titles are fairly self-explanatory (What Is the Path?, How to Practice, Freeing the Mind, Psychology and Dharma, Selflessness, Karma and Practice in the World) but each mini-chapter has its own title which enables you to find exactly the topic you are looking for via the page of Contents.

The book can be approached in one of two ways. You can either read through the sections and mini-chapters in the order that they are presented (and if you take this approach we suggest that you proceed slowly so that you can fully digest the content rather than rushing headlong from beginning to end) or you can dip into whatever part you like as and when you wish. We here at Buddhist Book Reviews think that both approaches can be employed quite effectively, with the reader progressing through the title as it is presented the first time and then dipping into sections for second (and third, and fourth) readings in the future.

Goldstein has a superb talent for being able to get right to the point and convey even potentially tricky ideas in a way that makes them instantly relevant to the reader. This is fantastic as far as ease of reading is concerned, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because Insight Meditation is easy to read means that it is also light on content, because it isn’t. There is plenty of solid material here that could be of great use to your practice for years, so be mindful of that whilst reading if you want to reap the full benefit of this book.

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