The Brightened Mind

May 1, 2011

The American Buddhist monk Ajahn Sumano Bhikkhu (Questions from the City), one of the early Western students of Ajahn Cha and founder of ten Theravada Buddhist centers across Europe, is an experienced author. This most recent, brief, accessible book focuses on a simple aspect of Buddhist practice: meditation, keyed to bring about focused awareness, which ultimately will bring readers closer to the Universal Mind. VERDICT Not for beginners in Buddhism, Ajahn Sumano's cheerful and direct text will be a true eye-opener for practicing Buddhists.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
In recent years, meditation has earned a special place in the current pantheon of spiritual and self-help treatments as a universal remedy for many of our current personal ills. Hence, guides and introductions to meditation abound, written by a plethora of authors from varied fields and backgrounds, throwing out buzzwords like mindfulness for good measure. In this environment, Bhikkhus primer on Buddhist meditation really shines. At just over 100 pages, this small volume begins with a short discussion on the uses for meditation and quickly launches into a succession of short, pithy chapters on the nature of mind, the need for spiritual education, and step-by-step instructions on preparing for and engaging in a meditation session. Bhikkhu, an ordained monk and follower of famed Thai Buddhist master Ajahn Chah, provides the reader with a clear, basic understanding of samatha, or calm-abiding, meditation without an overwhelming amount of terminology or dogma. Readers looking for a more thorough study of Buddhist meditation techniques should search elsewhere, but for those just beginning to practice meditation, this is just the ticket.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)