Summary of Larry Rosenberg's Breath by Breath

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The Anapanasati Sutra begins with the words I have heard from Ananda, Buddha’s cousin and one of his closest disciples. He was tasked with explaining the Buddha’s teachings after his death, and he did so by using the phrase Thus have I heard. #2 The Buddha’s instructions for breath meditation are simple. He says that the meditator should go to the forest, to the shade of a tree, or to an empty building, and sit down with legs folded crosswise. The meditator should be mindful of his breathing, and breathe in and out. #3 The full lotus is a difficult posture to learn, and it can be a problem if it becomes something you attach to. The simple act of sitting in a stable upright posture with calmness and dignity has an importance all its own. #4 Mindfulness is the ability to be aware of your present moment, and it is not a process of thinking, but rather of pre-conception. It is not attached to or against anything, and it simply reflects what is there.