Transformation and Healing

Book excerpt: The teachings contained in this The Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness are fundamental to the practice of meditation, and constitute the foundation of all mindfulness practice. The Sutra has been studied, practiced and handed down with special care from generation to generation for 2,500 years. In his commentaries Thich Nhat Hanh guides the reader to an understanding of the fundamental basis of the Buddhist practice and encourages application in daily life. It describes the four methods of mindfulness: mindfulness of the body, the feelings, the mind, and the object of mind. It teaches how to deal with anger and jealousy, to nurture the best qualities in our children, spouse, and friends, and to greet death with compassion and equanimity. Three versions of the Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness are presented here, along with Thich Nhat Hanh's insightful commentary and twenty-three exercises-or contemplations-to aid in the practice of mindfulness in daily life. Thich Nhat Hanh's presentation of the sutra is easy to follow making it accessible for novice Buddhist as well as more advanced practitioners. It gives you the basics of breathing and how to use your breathing for meditation and contemplation. With a new introduction by Thich Nhat Hanh.