The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation

I wrongly thought this book teaches the techniques and ended up fascinated about the many things one is supposed to know before kicking off. Really enjoyed to learn precisely what Buddha discovered which was set apart from the common religious thoughts of his times.

I would like a more detailed explanation of how to do the Vipassana Meditation . It is a good book but it does not have the main thing, how to practice it . It is a pity only in the retreat the details are explained!

Very attractive and persuasive narrative, but it doesn't tackle any of the severe criticism launched against the actual practice of the 10-day process, easily accessed on the web. Difficult to assess the practice as a result. Take your chances.

I bought this book along with Discourse Summaries by Goenka. Both are very useful to read and understand before your first Vipassana meditation retreat. Gives a very good understanding of the underlying philosophy of Vipassana. I'm reading/studying both books prior to my first 10-day retreat in about 6 weeks. I expect I will get much more out of retreat by having understood both books.
Very well satisfied with book condition - like new. Hugh

The book itself is a good read. The seller on the other hand, I was told and paid for a new book, I received an old book, obviously used and it was the 1984 printing not the 2004 printing as advertised. None of which effect the content of the material, I just wish it were represented truthfully.
Thank you,
Robin Jarvis

Okay book, interesting read I suppose (I like how it is broken down into the 10 days). But I'm not a fan of the method and his rambling. The short stories with each chapter are much more enjoyable than his teaching.

Would not give or recommend to a friend, many better books out there in my opinion.

I utilize Vipassana as one of my primary spiritual practices, having sat and served a number of courses in Southern California. I do not do an hour in the morning and evening as recommended, but it has become very nicely integrated in my spiritual practice as well as my public life. I provide this level of detail to make it clear that I very much appreciate the Vipassana system as taught by SN Goenka, but I am far from one of the Vipassana sycophants who adhere to nothing but Vipassana.

While serving a course in December 2013, I came across this book in the library. It's shorter than most books in this category, and I have seldom gotten much of value reading about meditation, so I did not have very high expectations. The author does a very good job of composing a summary of Vipassana while staying very close to Goenka's method and style. I would not have been surprised if the book had been penned by Goenka himself, the author did that good of a job.

I would suspect this would be a great book for someone new to the Vipassana system. But the value for a regular practitioner is having a concise book that accurately describes a system that is somewhat mysterious to the outside world. Now we have something to hand to our bosses or our spouses or our best friends that can intelligently explain why we are drawn to this form of personal growth and discovery. Therefore, I would recommend this book to newbies and hard core sitters alike.

The late S.N. Goenka should be commended for providing free ten-day meditation retreats – and he should be criticized for teaching reductive, de-esotericized Buddhist meditation.

While neophytes may be impressed with the simple, practical Vipassana meditation taught by Goenka, anyone who has studied the Buddha’s Sattipatthana Sutta, become a Stream-winner, and experienced the Jhanas, will dismiss his teachings as dumbed-down Buddhadharma.

There can be no En-Light-enment, no attainment of Nirvana, without becoming a Stream-winner and experiencing the Jhanas, the profound samadhis (states of contemplative absorption) described by the Buddha. But Goenka has nothing to say about this in this book. Moreover, there can be no real Vipassana (Clear Seeing) without awakening to the Stream; hence the so-called Vipassana that Goenka teaches is not real Vipassana. The Buddha did not teach Vipassana meditation (let alone the version of it taught by Goenka); he taught Sattipatthana (Foundational, or Integral, Mindfulness), which includes and transcends both Vipassana and Samatha (the one-pointed attentional practice taught by many contemporary Buddhist meditation teachers).

The spiritual cognoscenti laugh hard as they read the deluded Theravada Buddhist meditation teachers who all drink at the same Fountain of Ignorance. Like Goenka, they mistakenly conflate the term “concentration” with “samadhi,” and they misrepresent the Buddha’s Anatta teaching, wrongly insisting that it negates the reality of the Self.

The Buddha did not deny the reality of the Self, the true, transcendental ‘I.’ He simply taught that no Self could be found in the Five Skandhas (Grasping Groups). When Goenka writes, “Having explored body and mind to the deepest level, one sees that there is no immutable core, no essence that remains independent of the processes, the laws of impermanence,” he displays his spiritual ignorance. A Stream-winner who seeks (and finds) wherefrom ‘I’ thoughts arise will find the real ‘I,” the Self (or Buddha, or Christ).

What of the free ten-day meditation retreats offered by Goenka Vipassana Meditation? Check out the reviews online – critical and laudatory -- and draw your own conclusion.

To sum, Goenka teaches a reductive body-scan method of mindfulness meditation that beginners may find useful, but those who are serious about Buddhist meditation will need to look elsewhere for more integral and advanced mindfulness teachings.

"The Art of Living..." is the study of Vipassana Meditation which is the technique of exploring the subtle inner reality. The two primary exercises to this end is the focus on respiration and the observation of sensation. Both these exercises are designed to gain right awareness and to show the practitioner that there is no permanent "self" or "ego". The "self" is explained as a delusion that is formed by the combination of mental and physical processes that are in constant flux and movement. The practical side of Vipassana Meditation is the freedom of suffering and full liberation. The author further states that there is an experience, "Nibbana", that is beyond the field of mind and matter, that is unconditional, beyond death and is the ultimate reality. The question is how can the delusional "self" shed light on the unconditional nature of the ultimate reality. If, indeed, there is the dissolution of the "self," who or what is It that knows? Vipassana Meditation is taught in courses of ten days for those interested in learning the technique. The reviews of this course are mixed and this course appears to be very challenging. I would, however highly recommend this book.

William Hart has done an excellent job explaining SN Goenka's secular approach to the bare essentials of Gotama Buddha's teachings. Stripped to the bone, free from all the accretions of superstition, gods, rituals, rites et al. Gotama said we must not accept accept the words of any teacher or scripture but test the truth & reality for yourself before accepting, even that which he taught and then you will have to walk the path yourself - no one else can.

This book explains why the simple Noble Eightfold Path works as well as how Vipassana meditation works, in fact a guide book to the art of living.

Read it & if you get a chance do go to a Vipassana retreat at one of the many centers . They don't take payment for your attendance as they believe a teacher cannot accept payment for teaching the Dhamma. I can't recommend it highly enough. Dhamma.org

All this while we have been accustomed to looking at the reality outside, we would have seldom explored the reality within. While looking within, one instantly becomes aware that they cannot keep their minds focused in a place even for a few seconds. It then dawns on us that we are not even the masters of our own minds, how can we really be the masters of our destiny.
Vipassana is a Pali (ancient language of India) word meaning to 'see with wisdom' or 'insight'. Vipassana is an extraordinarily simple technique as taught by Gautam Buddha before the advent of Buddhism, 2500 years ago, it has been preserved for unknown generations in its purest form. It is non-religious, non-sectarian, non-dogmatic and non-ritualistic in teaching as well as practice. Buddha' s teaching are based on Dhamma, which means the Law Of Nature. Just as misery, happiness, love etc. are universal and it does not discriminate whether a person is rich or poor, or to whichever religion they might belong to, similarly Buddha said, ‘the path to liberation also has to be universal’. Vipassana gives benefits here and now, as Buddha said, ‘one step in the path of liberation is one step less in misery’.
The purpose of life is to be happy and it is experienced only in the absence of misery. Here is a technique that shows you that path, not only intellectually, but also by directly experiencing the truth within the framework of our mind and body through the practice of meditation. The whole focus of this journey to liberation stems from the practice, so it is depends upon one’s effort and not their intellect or knowledge.
This book is unique in the sense that it can be read without one having practiced Vipassana meditation. It is of immense value to both, the prospective meditator as well as a person who has done the Vipassana course. After having attended a few Vipassana courses in the last three years I am re-reading this book and relating to the subtle truths that I have experienced while meditating.
This journey is ours alone, others will benefit being in the company of a happy person, but the biggest recipient is oneself. Learning the Art Of Living, you will see a new reality unfolding that will make life more meaningful and worth living.

This book is a very good book. When I read it, I thought it was the best one I had read on Buddhism and I decided to take a 10 days course. The experience was challenging but the big disappointment came afterwards when I applied for a second course and was told that hypnotherapists were prohibited by Goenka to take more than one course. I would have to give up my profession as well as my Zen meditation practice to carry on. In other words, there is a big discrepancy between what is written here and what is really practiced. I now think that this Vipassana group is just a cult around the person of Goenka, his prejudices and his hypnotic chanting, which has in fact little relevance to the teaching of the Buddha. Real Vipassana meditation described in the sutra is not hypnotic at all and much more complicated than the all body sweeping meditation, with eyes closed in a dark room which is presented as the only authentic practice.

William Hart has done an excellent job explaining SN Goenka's secular approach to the bare essentials of Gotama Buddha's teachings. Stripped to the bone, free from all the accretions of superstition, gods, rituals, rites et al. Gotama said we must not accept accept the words of any teacher or scripture but test the truth & reality for yourself before accepting, even that which he taught and then you will have to walk the path yourself - no one else can.

This book explains why the simple Noble Eightfold Path works as well as how Vipassana meditation works, in fact a guide book to the art of living.

Read it & if you get a chance do go to a Vipassana retreat at one of the many centers . They don't take payment for your attendance as they believe a teacher cannot accept payment for teaching the Dhamma. I can't recommend it highly enough. Dhamma.org

All this while we have been accustomed to looking at the reality outside, we would have seldom explored the reality within. While looking within, one instantly becomes aware that they cannot keep their minds focused in a place even for a few seconds. It then dawns on us that we are not even the masters of our own minds, how can we really be the masters of our destiny.
Vipassana is a Pali (ancient language of India) word meaning to 'see with wisdom' or 'insight'. Vipassana is an extraordinarily simple technique as taught by Gautam Buddha before the advent of Buddhism, 2500 years ago, it has been preserved for unknown generations in its purest form. It is non-religious, non-sectarian, non-dogmatic and non-ritualistic in teaching as well as practice. Buddha' s teaching are based on Dhamma, which means the Law Of Nature. Just as misery, happiness, love etc. are universal and it does not discriminate whether a person is rich or poor, or to whichever religion they might belong to, similarly Buddha said, ‘the path to liberation also has to be universal’. Vipassana gives benefits here and now, as Buddha said, ‘one step in the path of liberation is one step less in misery’.
The purpose of life is to be happy and it is experienced only in the absence of misery. Here is a technique that shows you that path, not only intellectually, but also by directly experiencing the truth within the framework of our mind and body through the practice of meditation. The whole focus of this journey to liberation stems from the practice, so it is depends upon one’s effort and not their intellect or knowledge.
This book is unique in the sense that it can be read without one having practiced Vipassana meditation. It is of immense value to both, the prospective meditator as well as a person who has done the Vipassana course. After having attended a few Vipassana courses in the last three years I am re-reading this book and relating to the subtle truths that I have experienced while meditating.
This journey is ours alone, others will benefit being in the company of a happy person, but the biggest recipient is oneself. Learning the Art Of Living, you will see a new reality unfolding that will make life more meaningful and worth living.

This book is a very good book. When I read it, I thought it was the best one I had read on Buddhism and I decided to take a 10 days course. The experience was challenging but the big disappointment came afterwards when I applied for a second course and was told that hypnotherapists were prohibited by Goenka to take more than one course. I would have to give up my profession as well as my Zen meditation practice to carry on. In other words, there is a big discrepancy between what is written here and what is really practiced. I now think that this Vipassana group is just a cult around the person of Goenka, his prejudices and his hypnotic chanting, which has in fact little relevance to the teaching of the Buddha. Real Vipassana meditation described in the sutra is not hypnotic at all and much more complicated than the all body sweeping meditation, with eyes closed in a dark room which is presented as the only authentic practice.

I utilize Vipassana as one of my primary spiritual practices, having sat and served a number of courses in Southern California. I do not do an hour in the morning and evening as recommended, but it has become very nicely integrated in my spiritual practice as well as my public life. I provide this level of detail to make it clear that I very much appreciate the Vipassana system as taught by SN Goenka, but I am far from one of the Vipassana sycophants who adhere to nothing but Vipassana.

While serving a course in December 2013, I came across this book in the library. It's shorter than most books in this category, and I have seldom gotten much of value reading about meditation, so I did not have very high expectations. The author does a very good job of composing a summary of Vipassana while staying very close to Goenka's method and style. I would not have been surprised if the book had been penned by Goenka himself, the author did that good of a job.

I would suspect this would be a great book for someone new to the Vipassana system. But the value for a regular practitioner is having a concise book that accurately describes a system that is somewhat mysterious to the outside world. Now we have something to hand to our bosses or our spouses or our best friends that can intelligently explain why we are drawn to this form of personal growth and discovery. Therefore, I would recommend this book to newbies and hard core sitters alike.

If you are interested in Vipassana meditation or want to know more about meditation in general then this book is better than a great start. It does not just cover the basics, but gets into an advanced study of Vipassana. William Hart does a great job in explaining the science of meditation and the Eastern framework of mind for us to assimilate and apply to our lives. If you are considering trying a ten day Vipassana course then it would be highly beneficial if you read this book first. It will give you a great framework to take off from. Yet this book is for everybody who is sincere in their search for the nature of reality.

Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living. This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.
This technique changed my life-for good and years after my first 10-day course(when I was just 19) I came across this book and it's an awesome one but when you understand Vipassana at an experiential level then it's a whole different experience. Don't just believe what this book has to say, attend a 10-day course and see it for yourself.
"Between the 2 poles of expression and suppression, lies a third option - Mere Observation" experience for yourself!

This book is an excellent resource for those who have taken, or for those who are considering taking, a Vipassana course as taught by S. N. Goenka. Writing and reading are not permitted when you "sit" the meditation courses and so having some of the teachings, techniques and stories written down is beneficial. The author, William Hart, is obviously a masterful practitioner of this Vipassana practice and his writings follow closely what is presented during the courses.

If you are not a student and/or practitioner of this Vipassana practice, or don't plan to be, this book is not likely to be of specific benefit to you. The information in this book is not unique and much of the general content can be found in other books on mediation and Dharma, and if you have never read anything on meditation or never practiced, perhaps this in not the place to start.

May all beings be happy!

Currently, I am a free-lance writer. But for twenty years, I taught Buddhist and Hindu Art and Religion at various universities and colleges. During those decades I read related books on symbolism, mythology and aesthetics. I also voraciously read books that would help me learn how to incorporate the teachings and ideals of these religions in my life. Eventually, I collected some gems. One of those is "The Art of LIving: Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka." I read it and reread it. When I read it the third time, I highlighted selected parts with a yellow marker so that in future I could easily savor my favorite passages.

Several years ago I purchased two copies of the book, one for my husband and the other for our older daughter. This copy is for our younger daughter.

If you want to take serious look at your life so that the rest of it is 20% happier and healthier, (who doesn't?) read this book! If you have never read a book about Buddhism you may find this book a bit difficult to understand. But at the second reading it will become clear. Besides, this book will point you to other related works. Don't hesitate to read those as well!
Hope this book brings you as much peace and joy as it has brought to our family!

I wish I had read this book before taking the 10day course so that I could understand what I need to do in the 10day course.
Since then, I've re-read it at least 10x each time getting a better "aha" moments. I think this is what they mean by having "wisdom" to see things.
I'm not Budhist, religious, or into religion. I wanted something practical that I could apply to modern day living.
I highly recommend reading the book before the 10 day course. Both go hand in hand.
During the 10day course, I kept wondering why one has to go through the practice, but going through the suffering, finding out about yourself is invaluable. It's like learning martial arts from a book. You've got to go through the practice, the bruises, the suffering to get it.
Sometimes the book is boring when I'm not fully concentrating, but most of the time, I re-read as it helps keep me disciplined and practicing.
Best wishes to you all in your path to happiness and peace.

I have done the Vipassana course twice. Only recently I started doing the Vipassana practice regularly after many years gap. I found that my intellectual understanding of the practice was a bit shallow. I bought this book to deepen the understanding. This book did not disappoint me. The brief summary of the discourses followed by Q&A were very helpful to me. And the return to basics of Impermanence and Equanimity were worth the effort of reading this book. I would recommend it highly for beginning practitioners of Vipassana who would want to be reminded about the theory behind the great practice.

Very simple, concise, straight to the point. Easy to read and understand. Well-structured book as well. I finished the entire book once, and perhaps I'm going to go through it again. "Perhaps" here is because I mainly read the book to get hands-on experience so that I can do and practice myself, so I don't remember much some of the terminologies being used in the book. So if someone asks me what it is inside the book that is compelling, I could only say two things which I found are more practical:

1. Anapanasati (fright awareness of your breath)
There's an explanation of why the breath is the object of focus here and not the others,and it makes sense to me.
2. Attachment (mental habit of reaction)
Due to ignorance, we generate reactions of "craving" and "aversion". There are things that we like, not like, or hate; and this either creates craving or aversion. Generally, that is called attachment. Your attachment to things makes you suffer as the result will either make you happy or unhappy. Ex: dumped by your girlfriend, lost a ping pong competition, not yet achieve what you want or dream about, get a present, pass the exam, win a competition.... This subsequently creates a chain of reactions and feelings, and before long, they will become you (go into your subconscious mind and reside there for good) if repeated periodically and with intensity.
In short, be in a neutral state whether you succeed or fail to get something, smile and say one thing to yourself "I will try again" if you fail, and remain calm (although feeling happy) (but not overexcited or too emotional).

Overrall, a must-have book in your personal development collection. Cheers.

Except for the author, I bet I've read and reread The Art of Living more than anyone else alive. Here's why:

Before learning the meditation technique taught by the Indian-Burmese meditation master S. N. Goenka, I'd practiced in other traditions for more than 15 years and completed many long meditation retreats. I only attended a Goenka course because the 10-day retreat was offered for free and I'm a frugal sort of guy. But half way through the first course, I was wowed by this meditation method: my body and mind spontaneously dissolved into energy and then "disappeared," my heart opened, and I felt more peaceful and happier than I had in a long time. Here was truly a better way to meditate! Soon after leaving that course, I was determined to figure out why it works so well, and spent most of the next three years writing and researching a book, which Tuttle published as Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole-Body Vipassana Meditation (more on it at the end).

So back to The Art of Living; to talk about this book, you really need to talk about Goenka's 10-day course. But first note that it's a little misleading to call it a "Goenka course" since Goenka didn't invent this type of meditation. He learned it in Burma, where it is believed that over the millennia Burmese monks and meditation teachers have preserved the exact method the Buddha himself used.

Spread almost solely through word of mouth, Goenka's courses have spread across the globe. According to the independent Buddhist magazine Buddhadharma, each year an estimated 100,000 people take a Goenka course. This means he has probably taught more people Buddhist meditation than anyone in history--including the Buddha himself! (Admittedly, this comparison is a bit silly since the Buddha wasn't able to offer retreats via audio and videotape.)

It's worth noting, that although a layman, Mr. Goenka, who is independently wealthy, has never made any money from teaching Buddhism. As already noted, his famous ten-day meditation courses are offered for free. After finishing a course, students may give a donation (to the nonprofit foundation that takes care of the expenses of running a meditation center), but contributions are totally voluntary and there is never any pressure to give.

Goenkaji, as his students call him, has a beautiful voice, a delightful accent, a grandfatherly warmth, and a terrific sense of humor. These qualities work well to balance his passion and seriousness of purpose. During a course, he gives a clear and accessible framework for understanding Buddhism and how to do this type of meditation. Through collaboration with the assistant teacher Bill Hart, The Art of Living faithfully presents Goenka's teachings from his 10-day course--minus the meditation instructions and, naturally, the sound of his lyrical voice.

The book's strength's are those of Mr. Goenka's: clarity and accessibility. Most of his explanations are illustrated with a traditional Buddhist parable or with a story from his extensive teaching experiences. The book's weakness is that Mr. Goenka's charisma is diminished in print. Like any great teacher or storyteller, the book can't recreate his uncanny sense of timing and his animated voices. Perhaps this weakness isn't apparent to those who read the book before taking a course (I took a course before reading the book). Calling this a "weakness," though, is not to dis' The Art of Living, which is a valuable resource in its own right. It is helpful to have Mr. Goenka's presentation written down and the book includes some Q & A not presented during a course (Mr. Goenka, who was born in 1924, and is now in poor health has retired from active teaching).

The Art of Living is generally read by two types: someone who has recently finished a ten-day Goenka retreat or by someone considering taking a course. For the first group or "old students", the book is a great refresher and offers details you may have missed on the video or audio tape. For the total newcomer, the book will give you a sense of what to expect at a course, but it may diminish the impact hearing Goenka "live." Since I took my first course before reading the book and had a powerful experience, that's what I'd recommend. But if you haven't decided to definitely take a course, then by all means read the book first. The important thing is to get yourself to a course (yes, I know 10-days is a long time-except if you try to remember what you did over the last week and a half and it seems to have gone by in a flash).

Now here comes the immodest part (though, honest-promise!), since I'm recommending the book I wrote: Beyond the Breath (Tuttle Publishing). While the book stands on it's own, in many ways it complements The Art of Living. To help explain why this meditation method works so well, Beyond the Breath is much more apt to refer to scientific research than a traditional parable. For instance, Beyond the Breath explains why Goenka and the Buddha's advice to live a moral life makes so much sense based on what we now know about evolutionary psychology; it also explains an essential aspect of Buddhist practice on an easily understood biochemical basis. So while The Art of Living offers wonderful stories and great homespun analogies that make good common sense, Beyond the Breath, will be especially helpful for those who want to know WHY this method (and Buddhist practice in general) works so well. Such insight isn't just an intellectual exercise; greater understanding leads to greater confidence in actually doing the practice. I'm confident anyone who's taken or considering a Goenka course, or just interested in meditation or Buddhism will find it valuable.

But whether or not you read either book, again, I encourage you to take a course. To check out more about Goenka's courses: [...]
Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole-Body Vipassana Meditation

This meditation can free you from migraine, as the teacher S.N. Goenka's own experience proves the happiness one may benefit from the meditation practise. It encourages you to attend a practical 10 day course which is well organised and charges no amount from the student. A spirit motivated by conviction in dhamma and an international academy in bombay establishes itself to be a professional body in offering courses in vipassana and dhamma. If one visits the main centre in bombay, one can meet the principal teacher S.N. Goenka and see that his work is really commentable. One can sense his compassion and sincerity in his efforts to help people, and you can feel immeasurable happiness in seeing how he helps immates , prisoners who suffers so much mental agony by introducing meditation and how they are transformed after the noble dhamma is taught and practised. They return to society to become good people The art of living mindfully, by focusing on one's breathing and comtemplation of feeling are just some of the foundation of mindfulness so much exphasized in ancient buddhist texts. It is not a book written to just impress the general reader of any of its organised theory, but one of direct experience and aim at to encourage practical aspects of meditation. This book has no sectarism and it brings you to realise the nature of your own physical and mental structure, by observing ones bodily sensations. It is said that one can understand the emotional aspects of human and attain wisdom and compassion when one penetrates the true nature of ones aggregates, through mindful introspection . For example, a meditator contemplating of the sensations of his body experiences pain, happy and neutral sensations. In understanding this, he realises all beings by nature experience this and would not cause pain to any beings, such as pouring hot water to a rat or beating animals, hurting people etc. Finally, in the world of today, this book introduces one to its courses which teaches the practise of loving kindness meditation, such more in need of demand in midst of the samsaric conditionings of the world such as war, poverity and disaster, may all beings practise insight meditation and reach to true happiness, true liberation. May you read this book and attend a 10 days course taught by s.n. goenka or his assistants and derive benefit. Your in the truth Asoka lai hoe peng singapore feb 1998

over the years I've been practicing meditation,both here in America and also in Asia, I've had the opportunity to read hundreds of books on the subject.
this book i wish i had read years earlier. I haven't found a better introduction to the practice of Vipassana than this. i can't recommend it enough. clear, concise, and down to earth. there is no heavy use of jargon, or an author that likes to toot his own horn. each chapter explains a different aspect of the practice, then has a Q&A, (which is very helpful since a lot of these questions are practical)then wraps up with a story that explains the subject in a more poetic way. this really reinforces the message of each chapter and lets it sink in. If you're interested in the practice of vipassana this is a must read.

S.N. Goenka was a businessman who suffered from migraine headaches. He turned to meditation as taught by the Buddhist community in Burma. He relieved his symptoms and embarked on the journey to share the successful technique of Vipassana meditation with others. What a magnaninous gift! Basically, this book, written by one of his students, teaches one how to be "aware" and track the thoughts which arise and ultimately are the root cause of one's negative feelings, i.e. suffering. Since all thoughts arise and diminish, it is a matter of *not* forcing or trying to change things as they are ... but instead to *observe*, witness what is truly happening. In and of itself, sounds simple enough ... but anyone who knows what sitting still and quieting the mind is like ... will tell you ... *not* so simple or as easy as it sounds. The book concerns itself with "ultimate reality" which we all share. It concerns itself with the part we play in this world and where our happiness resides ... To quote the Buddha: "If with a pure heart you speak or act, then happiness follows you as a shadow that never departs." [p. 37, Harper SanFrancisco, c. 1987]
William Hart the author covers basic Buddhist concepts of the cause of suffering, training of moral conduct, right behavior, training of concentration, training of wisdom, training of equanimity, right thought, right understanding, eradicating old conditioning, and penetrating ultimate truth ... He does a superb job of clearly articulating basic principles of the Buddhist viewpoint. He provides techniques for developing awareness and thereby more happiness in one's life. In conclusion, another quote from the Budda (who said it best) ..."When faced with all the ups and downs of life, still the mind remains unshaken, not lamenting, not generating defilements, always feeling secure, that is the greatest happiness". [p. 125, Harper San Francisco, c. 1987 from Sutta Nipata II. Maha-Magala Sutta] This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking a technique to enrich one's life. Erika Borsos {erikab93}

THE ART OF LIVING introduced me to S. N. Goenka's Vipassana Meditation courses and motivated me to sit in the Vipassana ten-day silent retreat. Even though no text or lecture replace actual experience (the word "water" does not quench thirst), this book provides a good flavor of what meditation is. It also gives sufficient rationale on why you should meditate and on how to end suffering following the teachings of the Buddha. Goenka and Hart refer to happiness as the absence of suffering. I do not like the term "happiness" because it means a different thing to each person. I prefer "harmony" (everybody agrees on its meaning) and, in consequence, the Buddha's goal is the elimination of "disharmony" or, in other words, the purification of the mind. Anyway whatever we have to do to reach happiness or harmony and, most important, why the practice of the eightfold path works properly are both very well explained in THE ART OF LIVING.

Great read and some great stories to illustrate what Goenka is teaching. Well illustrated by the words "Progress is measured according to whether you develop equanimity. You have no other real choice but equanimity, because you cannot change sensations, you cannot create sensations....You are breaking the old mental habit of reaction." He is teaching us about owning our reactions exploring them and understanding why we have them and then letting them go. There is nothing else to do!! Again another way to grow and learn to be on a path that is leading you to a more satisfying way of life.
Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

If you're looking for a book on "how to meditate" you should look elsewhere. This book is not about Vipassana meditation technique, it's more about the philosophy that underlies it. So the title may mislead, depending on what you're looking for. However, having said that I found the discussions that are contained in the book to be extremely good and very useful from the point of view of Vipassana as an approach to life in general. So if you think of LIFE as an extended meditation, then perhaps the book really is about Vipassana meditation. Anyway, as long as you're not expecting a book on meditation technique, I highly recommend this one. Good stuff.

This book was a great overview of Vipassana Meditation and what its about. It doesn't teach you how one should meditate but it does give you a better way to live your life. It's a simple, enjoyable, interesting, and mind-opening read. If you're interested in learning about what this practice is about, give it a read. If you're looking for how to engage yourself in this type of meditation, I recommend reading this book for insight and then take a 10 day retreat!

The book describes a very precise method of quieting the mind. After reading this book I practiced the breath observation meditation technique and achieved very good results, clearer thinking, better sleep, ability to cope with very stressfull situations. A must for anyone interested in meditation and the core teachings of Buddha.

It amazes me that C. Belmont,in the review below, describes how after coming home from the 10 day course that he was still not feeling normal and was still not in touch with his old feelings. Did he not go to the course because he was not satisfied with his old ways of thinking and feeling about his life experiences? Then as soon as he gets back he wants to start thinking and feeling exactly the way he did before he went to the course. What was the point of going?

Do you really want to change your life? This is a very much harder question to answer than most people think. They feel some disatisfaction with their lives and they feel that they need to change things and that something is wrong but they are not exactly sure what the problem is and what they need to do to change their lives or in what direction they should go. I've been there. So if you are sure THAT SOMETHING REALLY HAS TO CHANGE then read this book. If you like the book THEN go to the course. It's a hugh change in the way you think and feel about things. So tread carefully and slowly. Yes if you really do want to get off of the treadmill that is your normal every day existence and you FINALLY want to start feeling that your life has TRUE meaning, then read the book. If you decide to go to the course and then just want to go back to your OLD self and be who you were before you went,then please don't go. Because you won't be the same. You will have changed. That's a simple statement but you will have changed in substantial ways. Please be aware that these are big life altering changes.

If you are a butterfly and are fluttering around in this and that direction looking to try NEW things, then do not read this book or take the course. It's serious stuff that makes you realize that most of the things you think are serious really aren't and that can scare you. So if you've had enough of the humdrum of everyday life and want to really start living, then boldly go where few men and women have gone before.

Wake up and smell the roses. Just don't cry about it when they don't smell the way you thought they should. But that's really the whole point of the book and the course. You are to STOP putting your preconcieved notions on everything and start seeing life as it really is. Believe it or not that will be new and very scarey ground for most people. I know it scared the hell out of me. Not for the faint of heart. So fasten your chin strap tightly, bare down, dig in and go to war with illusion. It's a hell of a ride. Just don't expect it be to easy. Reality is a harsh mistress! But one that will eventually, AFTER A TRUE BATTLE, lead to the the peace you have been looking for. Nothing worth having is easy. I can't express this strongly enough.

Here is something most people won't tell you; life is full of suffering and is many times very painful. You will have to come to peace with that! It's reality!

This book and the accompanying 10 day course changed my entire life. This happened because my mind actually transformed, completely reinvented itself into a rational, sensible self. I too was a hard sell- a highly educated, argumentative, self-centered business person- and have in no way given up my worldly life because of the program. I have cleaned out my mind of the negativities, so now I can continue to pursue excellence and success with a clean, positive, and radiant mind instead on an insecure, unsure, angry, and frightened mind. Every person in my life has appreciated the change, and not once have I tried to sell this technique to anyone else. It is too special. However, whenever people ask me about how I am able to live my life with the level of clarity, lack of fear, and boundless dreams and goals that I do, I love to share with them my secret, so they too can learn the amazing Vipassana. I am in no way a master, and I know I will need to study for a lifetime to make small steps. However, I will be eternally grateful for the changes I have already seen.

I practice and teach meditation, but am now strongly wanting to participate in the 10-day vipassana course, having finally read this priceless book. I have some absolute favorite books, like Swami Rama's "Science of Breath" that allow such a perfect conveyence of great information. One of these days, I'll participate in vipassana, and absorb the lessons more completely!

This book was really clear in getting to the point; two things about Vipassana that stuck with me after reading it: concentration on breathing and reaction-less observation of sensation. Hard to practice I admit, but certainly felt that I gained something after reading this book.

this book was excellent, it really makes you look at the world differently and helps you find yourself, after this book has been read, reread it because it's short but a little complicated to get 100% the first time around. Then try this type of meditation and you'll know what i'm talking about;o) enjoy.

If you are looking for a comprehensive introduction to meditation then this is the book for you. I lead a meditation group in support of the International Campaign for Tibet and use this text regular as a source of information and inspiration for the group members.

There is a tendency to read too much and sit (practice) too little. This clear and concise book provides all you need to get on the path. Read it then practice daily; after a year, read it again-- it will seem like a whole new book to you.

This book changed my view of life in a totally positive manner. It contains a very important masseges that I have never read in other
similar books. It is simple, accurate, and nothing but the truth

This book is sooooo true! It helps to actually go through and practice meditation in between chapters. If you are interested in how meditation can help you, this will definitely teach you a wonderful technique!

This book is but a sell on a 10 day intensive meditation marathon. I did my retreat a couple of years ago after reading the book. What a disaster that was ! People hallucinating around me, crying, some had to go to the HOSPITAL with depersonalization problems and receive psychiatric treatment. The organization was not ready to help and kicked out the very people needing their support while trying to keep it a secret from the other participants.

Avoid it at all costs, Goenka is a dogmatic guru with no true knowledge. This method is based on a competitive philosophy and is the opposite of the relaxed approach that produces real and lasting results.

This book is an introduction to the 10-day intensive meditation course. In addition to reading the book I've done the meditation course and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

I felt this technique of meditation was all about competing and trying to win (Karma) points. Everyday at the end of day you have to listen to a recorded speech by Goenka focused on teaching "the right way" to enlightment. He tries to fill your head with rules, and guilt for all the "bad things" that you are supposedly doing. This leads to the development of a mentality of stress and trying to achieve something, when I think meditation should do the exact opposite. I honestly felt he was trying to brainwash people.

This technique is not only bad, it is also dangerous. You meditate for 10hrs everyday, without any preparation for any psychic effects and revelations that might come out of such intense meditation. I started having hallucinations and asked the teachers for help and they simple kicked me out of the retreat in the middle of the night without any care for my well being. There are many cases of people that have psychological issues during this course, and there are even known cases of people that after leaving the retreat have commited suicide. But the Goenka school tries to hide all this. Honestly, they have a cult culture,they care about the ideology and not really about the people.

I just came back from a 10 day meditation retreat from the vipassana center. I had an awful experience being there. The first 3-4 days were good, I was eager to learn a new technique and my mind was clear; I was more centered, as the days progressed I was getting more aware of the fact that Mr. Goenka sounded critical of other practices and Christianity including a comment that bothered me a lot, he said:"It is said that humans were made in the Image of God, I believe that humans made God to their image". I understood that he doesn't believe in God, just Natural Laws. The 10 days are equivalent of 100 hours of meditations, 30 hrs are mandatory. And the finnal 1 hour from 5 am to 6:45 am In the 11th day. You are not allowed to communicate in any form with the outside world or inside you observe silence, and have no contact of any kind with others. The worse part for me is how much he sounded like a sales man trying to convince you that this is the way of living and the way to enlightenment, looking at every sensation as an object and not reacting to them. Then how are you going to feel and express love and compassion if you cannot feel anything? When we were allowed to talk on the 10th day, (you still cannot touch anyone either, not even handshake) some people could not understand the end of the technique: To send and radiate love and compassion towards all beings, including animals. By then, I am thinking we were brain washed for hours about observing pain (you do feel lots of pain during some parts of the meditation and you are not allowed to move) and you are instructed to not reject the pain; and when we had a nice flow of energy, you were instructed to not get attached to this either it or enjoy it. He said over and over again all those feeling were NOT you, NO I. NO ME. To purify your mind and be free of suffering. How are you going to generate love and compassion and radiated it when you just observe the feelings pleasant and unpleasant and you are not allow to really feel,just treat them as objects and keep your mind equanimus? There were hours and hours where he said that all those feeling only bring misery. I have 17 years practicing other types of meditation, and I was in a very deep state of consciousness. I don't believe in sending message to your subconscious mind that are negative and repeatedly for hours and hours and Mr. Goenka did plenty of that. On the 9th day, when I approached the teacher to asked him if that was all in the technique he said, well you'll will have to come to 25 or 45 or 60 day courses to see for your self. The goal for them is to make you give up your life to service without any of the joys of life. The manager assistant and people that live on that technique gave up their life, they have no physical contact of any kind with anyone.

The book mentions Mr. Goenka finding a cure to his head aches, and they omit the fact that he used heroine everyday for the pain. Overall my experience was very unpleasant, I felt like I was on a jail and had a lot of anxiety during the course. My goal of coming home feeling happy and refreshed was just wishful thinking.

When I came home, I was exhausted and has taken me a while to be able to be in touch with my own feelings and emotions and I'm still not feeling normal. I had a good mindful experience on the beginning with the environment and I am calmer internally. This is not something that I would choose to give up my life for when there are other similar schools that will have a more positive impact. I found out another place for vipassana, I wish I would have done the meditation with them instead, [...] There is also retreats for mindfulness given by Thich Nhat Hanh at plum village ([...]) for those that want to have a really great experience on awareness and mindfulness without the hard sell.

IMHO, bad technique. (from a person who attended the 10 day as well, has over 12 years of martial arts, taoist and buddhist meditation technique)find a good teacher, not a book, nor a 10-day given by a video tape with inept teachers...

SN Goenka has a biased, single-minded view. Never knew dhamma was biased. Didn't Buddha say 10,000 paths to enlightement, and not one?

Great Insightful Book. I more than halfway through it and I am enjoying every bit of it. It has changed my outlook on the world & life in general. I am a more relaxed person than I was before. I'm still a work in progress but no one is perfect and that's exactly what this book points out.

A friend of mine did a 10 Vipassana retreat and afterward, she bought this book. Before I went on my retreat she recommended that I read this. It helped me understand the ideas and practice before I went which helped to calm some of my nervousness!
I highly recommend both the book and the 10 day retreat.