Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G.

by Henepola Gunaratana, Jeanne Malmgren (Editor)

Overview

In a new expanded anniversary edition, read the inspiring life-story from the bestselling author of Mindfulness in Plain English.



Bhante Gunaratana—Bhante G., as he is affectionately called—is one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers in the West.

This expanded anniversary edition of Journey to Mindfulness includes five new chapters in which Bhante G. reflects on the impact of the tsunami that struck his homeland in 2004 and his subsequent appearance on Larry King Live, his brief experiment in ordaining nuns at his monastery, as well as intimate reflections on the loss of family members, and his own aging and infirmity. He provides an inspiring example of what it means to live a life in alignment with the Buddhadharma.

“Like the stories of the wisest and kindest of grandfathers. A joy to read.”
—Sylvia Boorstein, author of Pay Attention for Goodness’ Sake

“Tremendously inspiring. It both breaks down illusions and over-idealism about Buddhism and gives a vision of how to attain the highest in our lifetimes. An old, humble monk reflecting on his arrogant youth has invaluable lessons for all of us.”
—Sumi Loundon, author of Sitting Together

Inspirational, charming, and delightfully accessible—we are left with the image of a good man who has lived an extraordinary life, and that this kind of life is within reach of all of us.”
—Branches of Light

“This plain-English look back at years of an a mixture of adversity, humility, and hard-won wisdom tells an engaging story that non-Buddhists can appreciate as well as Buddhists.”
—Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614294429
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	11/28/2017
Edition description:	Anniversary Edition
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	775,633
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, a native of Sri Lanka, is the author of several Wisdom titles: Mindfulness in Plain English; Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness; Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English; The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English; Meditation on Perception; and Loving-Kindness in Plain English. A Buddhist monk for more than 75 years, he is North America’s highest-ranking monk of the Siyam Nikaya sect of Theravada Buddhism. After coming to the U.S. in 1968, he earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from The American University in Washington, D.C. He has led meditation retreats all over Asia, Europe, Australia, and North and South America. In 1988 he founded Bhavana Society (www.bhavanasociety.org), the forest monastery/retreat center in West Virginia where he now lives.

Jeanne Malmgren has been a student of Bhante Gunaratana since 1985. After a long career in journalism, she earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and now has a private practice of psychotherapy. She also writes about healing arts, teaches classes and workshops in mindfulness, and leads meditative hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, where she lives. She can be reached at www.upstatecounselor.com.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

1 Small Treasure 13

2 The Homeless Life 35

3 Escape 57

4 A Monk Once Again 71

5 Monks' School 79

6 Higher Ordination 85

7 The Final Cure: Meditation 93

8 The Struggle to Stay in School 99

9 Missionary Monk 107

10 Crossing the Ocean to India 115

11 The Relics and the Dalai Lama 119

12 Among the Untouchables 129

13 Under the Great Bodhi Tree 141

14 A Trip Back Home 149

15 My Father's Funeral 159

16 Malaysia 169

17 An Invitation to the West 177

18 Coming to America 181

19 Manual Labor Missionary 187

20 Mistaken for a Woman 195

21 "Officer Bhante G." 203

22 A Last Visit with My Mother 215

23 "Are You Mister Gunaratana?" 221

24 Breaking Free 231

25 Building a Monastery 239

26 No Price Tag 249

27 Chief Sangha Nayaka 257

28 Helping My Homeland 263

29 Battles 267

30 Saved By a Man on a Bicycle 273

31 Coincidence-or Kamma? 279

32 Facing the End 285

Afterword Jeanne Malmgren 293

Index 299

About the Authors 307

Editorial Reviews

Bhante Gunaratana is a meditation master who lives in each present moment. In Journey to Mindfulness, Bhante demonstrates, with warmth, humor, and rare candor, how it is possible to overcome experiences of abuse, rejection, and our own emotional reactivity through the practice of mindfulness. Journey to Mindfulness is an exhilarating journey into the mind and heart of someone whose life has been dedicated to living and sharing the Buddha’s teaching.

Matthew Flickstein

Inspirational, charming, and delightfully accessible—we are left with the image of a good man who has lived an extraordinary life and that this kind of life is within reach of all of us.

Branches of Light

Tremendously inspiring. It both breaks down illusions and over-idealism about Buddhism and gives a vision of how to attain the highest in our lifetimes. An old, humble monk reflecting on his arrogant youth has invaluable lessons for all of us.

Sumi Loundon Kim

Like the stories of the wisest and kindest of grandfathers. A joy to read.

Sylvia Boorstein

This is a most refreshing book from a Buddhist meditation teacher who lays bare his human failings and admits they are as much a part of his life as his achievements. It is also a fascinating globe- and culture-crossing autobiography of a man born in a small village in Sri Lanka with enough persistence and good kamma (Pali for karma) to see him through many vicissitudes. Author of the bestseller Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante G., as he is affectionately known, repeatedly ran away from monasteries where he lived as a boy monk, stole things as a child, smoked and had traumatic fear-inducing accidents with water. As his story makes clear, his is a very human journey of teaching himself as well as others what the Buddha taught about how to live. That organizations that promote ethical living and spiritual development should also have their share of bickering, envy and bad behavior is an unsurprising part of his story, candidly told without excess rancor or blame. The monk-author is fluent in different cultures as well as languages, and his autobiography contributes to an understanding of the relationship between the American Buddhism of converts and traditional Asian Buddhism, more specifically the Theravada branch of Buddhism as practiced in his native Sri Lanka. This plain-English look back at 75 years of an admixture of adversity, humility and hard-won wisdom tells an engaging story that non-Buddhists can appreciate as well as Buddhists. (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

"Bhante Gunaratana is a meditation master who lives in each present moment. In Journey to Mindfulness, Bhante demonstrates, with warmth, humor, and rare candor, how it is possible to overcome experiences of abuse, rejection, and our own emotional reactivity through the practice of mindfulness. Journey to Mindfulness is an exhilarating journey into the mind and heart of someone whose life has been dedicated to living and sharing the Buddha's teaching."

Matt Flickstein

"Journey to Mindfulness flows like a good Buddhist teaching, rich with anecdotes and detail from Bhante G.'s life. The story has just the right amount of history woven into Bhante's travels and adventures. It is also a very funny book. It seems that even monks can have a great sense of humor."

St. Petersburg Times

"Bhante Gunaratana's stature across America as a Buddhist teacher has risen with the popularity of his classic Mindfulness in Plain English. While Bhante's narrative doesn't leave out the hard parts, this is still, of course, a success story. And here lies the promise and purpose of Journey to Mindfulness: if Bhante G. can do it, so can you."

Shambhala Sun

"The 75-five-year-old teacher of Buddhist meditation, Bhante Gunaratana, reveals his human failings and shows how they are as much a part of his life as his accomplishments. The author of the bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English, he writes with refreshing candor. This plain-spoken book is a mix of humor, wisdom, adversity, and what appears to be genuine humility. As a child, Bhante exhibited bad behaviors, but shows how he taught himself and others what the Buddha taught, and how to live. He is now one of Buddhism's great teachers. An easy and engaging read that you don't have to be Buddhist to appreciate."

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

"Monks and nuns in the Buddhist tradition are often viewed as people who don't necessarily struggle as intensely with difficult emotions as the rest of us. Bhante G., as he is affectionately called, dispels that perception and reveals the intimate truths of his life with unflinching honesty, humor, and warmth. The author of the highly acclaimed bestseller Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante G never loses sight of the Buddha's teachings throughout a life marked by hardship and despair as well as great achivement and happiness. Time and again, we see that Bhante is undaunted by adversity. His tireless energy and unwavering faith reminds us that we too can embody these very same qualities. ...The scope of this book is wide and rich in detail; Bhante's message is inspiring."

Insight

"Spiritual teachers who write autobiographies are not always candid about their more human characteristics, but Bhante G's book is humorous and open. There is no doubt that this is the story of someone who chose to go his own way and live his vision. Like all good teachers, his story can inspire us to live our own."

The Middle Way

"Fascinating, and comforting in its honesty."

Kate Wheeler

"Wow! As a young, beginner Buddhist, I find Bhante G's seventy-five year life as a monk tremendously inspiring. Without sentimentality or excuses, Bhante G candidly and painfully reveals his shadow side—the rebelliousness, anger and uncontrollable emotion as a teenager and young man—and how he overcame his difficulties. All young adults exploring a path in the dharma should read this book! It both breaks down illusions and over-idealism about Buddhism and gives a vision, in a realistic way, of how to attain the highest in our lifetimes. An old, humble monk reflecting on his arrogant youth has invaluable lessons for us young adults just setting forth on the long path."

Sumi Loundon