
Sangharakshitaâs much loved commentary on the SatipaČČhÄna Sutta, a PÄli text from the Majjhima NikÄya in which the Buddha explains the practice of mindfulness, has just been published in a brand-new edition! The material was originally delivered as a seminar at a menâs ordination retreat in Tuscany in 1982 and developed as a book by Dharmacharis Pabodhana and Jinananda published in 2003, it has been thoroughly revised and significantly enlarged for the new Classic Sangharakshita series (of which it is the first book). It appears â with other PÄli texts and commentaries â in volume 15 of the Complete Works series, PÄli Canon Teachings and Translations.
It should not surprise us that the text has been âthoroughly revised and significantly enlargedâ since its inception over 40 years ago, as mindfulness is at the very heart of our spirituality, enabling our consciousness to be developed, transfigured, and enlightened. And as our consciousness changes, so we, too, change. We have the potential to grow, to mature, to ripen. In Living with Awareness Sangharakshita progressively explores the principle of change through the filter of the very beautiful SatipaČČhÄna Sutta.
The SatipaČČhÄna Sutta is one of the Buddha's most important and significant discourses, spilling over from its central theme of mindfulness to the whole of life itself in all its aspects. And in his commentary, Sangharakshita counsels against an all too narrow interpretation of mindfulness as being simply a meditation practice fixated on the present moment alone, and offers practical advice on how to be mindful â about the body, feelings, mind, mind-objects â on how to be fully mindful in all the aspects of a fully lived life, both in the present moment and in the future.
Sangharakshita unpacks the word âmindfulnessâ (sati) in his opening chapter, showing how it can be integrated with its four foundations of body (kÄya), feelings (vedanÄ), thoughts (citta), and objects of the mindâs attention (dharmas) and established (paČČhÄna). He then shows how, by integrating these, mindfulness can be reconnected to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. In this way mindfulness can reduce suffering and cultivate wisdom, compassion, and peace. In a series of short chapters â Remembering, Goal-setting, Breathing, Living, Looking, and Getting Down to the Essentials â we learn how to engage with our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions, before moving into the second half of the book where we are taught Dying, Understanding, Analysing, Sensing, Enlightening, and Ceasing to Suffering, helping us, through a variety of practices, to live more fully, engaging with ourselves and others.
The text is supported throughout with Notes and References by Sangharakshita and his editors, and concludes with a helpfully detailed Index.
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Luke Penkett is a member of the Norwich Triratna Sangha. He has been writing books and reviews for over two decades. He has lived as a solitary monk for 25 years. Last year (2024) his abbot released him from his monastic vows in order for him to be welcomed as a Mitra. An avid reader, he is making his way through Sangharakshita's work and the Windhorse Publications collection, and will be posting reviews of some of those books in this space.
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The new edition of Living with Awareness is available to purchase in paperback or eBook formats from Windhorse Publications.