DeAnn Grove
My book of choice was the “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, Walking the Buddhas ' Path,” by Bhante Gunaratana. He has four other published works on Buddhist teachings, and has authored an autobiography called, “Journey to Mindfulness.” Bhante Gunaratana became a Buddhist monk at the age of twelve and has an extensive educational, teaching, and even political background. He put forth a very well written, explanation of the Buddhas’ “Eight Fold” path, that was put forth, over 2,000 years ago. Bhante Gunaratana has written the “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness” in such a way that anyone who chooses to read it will be able to understand what the Buddha is trying to teach about happiness, and that through the art of mindful meditation, one can begin to create a connection with “ourselves.” Which is why he writes about the importance of understanding the art of …show more content…
He has written the paths into eight chapters: “skillful understanding”, “skillful thinking,” “skillful speech,” “skillful action,” “skillful livelihood,” “skillful effort,” “skillful mindfulness,” and lastly “skillful concentration.” It is virtually impossible to choose just one thing out of each chapter and attempt to explain what he trying to teach, as they all have an in depth meaning as a whole. I appreciated how Gunaratana lists key points at the end of each chapter that enables the reader to comprehend even easier the eight steps to happiness. By adding his own life lessons to each of the chapters, even with much humor, it allows the reader to connect with him on a more personal level to what we experience in our own daily lives. Each one of these chapters delves even deeper into how we can enrich our own lives, even those around us. He also manages to include insight, in “plain English,” into the “Four Noble Truths,” and even touches on the “Five
My book of choice was the “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, Walking the Buddhas ' Path,” by Bhante Gunaratana. He has four other published works on Buddhist teachings, and has authored an autobiography called, “Journey to Mindfulness.” Bhante Gunaratana became a Buddhist monk at the age of twelve and has an extensive educational, teaching, and even political background. He put forth a very well written, explanation of the Buddhas’ “Eight Fold” path, that was put forth, over 2,000 years ago. Bhante Gunaratana has written the “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness” in such a way that anyone who chooses to read it will be able to understand what the Buddha is trying to teach about happiness, and that through the art of mindful meditation, one can begin to create a connection with “ourselves.” Which is why he writes about the importance of understanding the art of …show more content…
He has written the paths into eight chapters: “skillful understanding”, “skillful thinking,” “skillful speech,” “skillful action,” “skillful livelihood,” “skillful effort,” “skillful mindfulness,” and lastly “skillful concentration.” It is virtually impossible to choose just one thing out of each chapter and attempt to explain what he trying to teach, as they all have an in depth meaning as a whole. I appreciated how Gunaratana lists key points at the end of each chapter that enables the reader to comprehend even easier the eight steps to happiness. By adding his own life lessons to each of the chapters, even with much humor, it allows the reader to connect with him on a more personal level to what we experience in our own daily lives. Each one of these chapters delves even deeper into how we can enrich our own lives, even those around us. He also manages to include insight, in “plain English,” into the “Four Noble Truths,” and even touches on the “Five