Life is Meditation - Meditation is Life: The Practice of Meditation As Explained From the Earliest Buddhist Suttas

by Bhante Vimalaramsi

A practical guide and map to the Anapanasati Sutta and Loving-Kindness Meditation (the Brahmaviharas). A new look at the practice of Mindfulness as it is taught only from the sutta texts of the Majjhima Nikaya. Bhante Vimalaramsi has found a step in the practice that has been left out. After 20 years of meditation practice with teachers in Burma, not satisfied, Bhante went to a cave and spent three months, with a cobra for company, and studied the original texts and practiced. Amazing and very different results arose for him. He was stunned to go deeper faster than he had ever experienced. Awakening was real. All aspects of breath and metta meditation are covered as what suttas are used as references. A lot of time is spent going through the Anapanasati Sutta to show that the Buddha defined Mindfulness as how mind's attention moved - not focusing on sensations or even the breath. It is a purely observation of mind's activity, relaxing and tension and tightness that arose that drew you out of the present moment.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation

334 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2014

Reviews

[Chetan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadhu! I am eternally grateful to this author for giving me a gift I didn't know I needed.

What's so special about Bhante Vimalaramsi and is his works is that they included a small puzzle piece to my meditation that I didn't know I was missing. As someone who has practiced meditation for over half a decade now. Reading something that would change my view on its head is something I didn't expect was possible.

It was Bhante Vimalaramsi's 6 step-method of getting rid of craving (the nivaranas), especially the steps of relaxing and re-smiling. The first time I read them I had a eureka moment, I had to sit down for meditation almost immediately. The 6Rs helped me quickly progress through the rupa jhanas and beyond in a fairly short time. This has done wonders for my understanding of dhamma, Bhante's method is so wonderful. This went so fast I was compelled to book myself a retreat with him just to learn more and get to the deepest end of this dhamma.

[Benjamin Babeshkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear guide for people interested in Buddhist meditation. Using the 6R's as described in this book during meditation, and your everyday life, the meditator can expect to improve their mindfulness, and quickly progress through the jhanas.

The energy put into being mindful through the day will pay off as the person does sitting meditation.

[Ádám Büte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bhante's writing feels like a guy at the pub talking to you about his insights on religion. It doesn't feel trustworthy and also rambles at times.

"A Guide to TWIM" has the same ideas, but is much better written and edited.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

So hard to follow and extremely pedantic and repetitive at times. Maybe it would’ve made more sense in a print version. Listening to it on Audible was almost comical.

[Vismay Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the author emphasized on effortless focusing with relaxed mind rather than forceful concentration practices. I can relate with the jhanas one obtain using such relaxed mode of focus, but I can't confirm for every jhana described in the book.

I'm skeptical of the claim that knowledge of dependent origination is necessary condition for liberation. Moreover, this book has so much repeated content. The author kept saying 6R, I was like, "I understand, please move forward". The author could have written the book precisely.

Nonetheless, it was a great read. The claims in the book created so much confusion in my mind that now I would read suttas myself and try to comprehend what's going on...

[Jon Højlund Arnfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give the technique detailed in this book 5 stars. For anyone struggling with their insight practice, this is a pleasant way forward. But I give 2 star for the writing and lack of structure to this book. A lot of repetition.