Want to Read
Rate this book
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
With Each and Every Breath
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
4.37 · Rating details · 147 ratings · 23 reviews
A new breath meditation manual by Thanissaro Bhikkhu drawing on two sources: the Buddha’s own set of instructions on how to use the breath in training the mind, and Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo’s method of breath meditation — which builds on the Buddha’s instructions, explaining in detail many of the points that the Buddha left in condensed form. Available online from:
http://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_inde... (less)
ebook, 124 pages
Published 2013
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-30
Average rating4.37 ·
Rating details
·
Oct 30, 2018Aman A rated it really liked it
EDIT: I no longer prefer TMI and actually far prefer With Each and Every Breath. The approach is more relaxed and there is less striving. There is a much greater emphasis on generating piti and sukkha early on which TMI does not do and that is crucial for fast progress. This book is the real deal. TMI is still a very good book but I think better for someone who has been practicing with With Each and Every Breath for 6 months and TMI is useful for debugging specific issues.
Great introduction to anapanasati. I personally prefer The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa if you are a beginner (and maybe even if you are not). With Each and Every Breath has the stages be 1. Meditate Daily. 2. Meditate to the point of mostly overcome gross distractions. 3. Feel the breath sensations at various parts of the body. 4. Full body breathing into Jhana and 5. Jhana.
Culadasa in TMI splits step 2 into 3 separate degrees of distractions which is helpful for a beginner. Additionally, TMI better explains exclusive attention and why full body breathing helps attain this. With Each and Every Breath is a significantly thinner book and that is a big benefit of this book. (less)
flag3 likes · Like · comment · see review
Apr 28, 2013Nava rated it it was amazing
Possibly the best book I've read on meditation practice so far.
The focus on breath seems to me only one of many approaches, but this is the one he takes.
Tan Jeff lists a lot of hindrances experienced in meditation, and offers very practical advice -
in my opinion with a lot of wisdom and gentleness.
The chapter on advanced practice and the four Jhana's felt like it was still outside my understanding, but that's fine. :)
flag3 likes · Like · see review
Jun 01, 2014Balaji Ramasubramanian rated it it was amazing
Shelves: dhamma
Possibly the best manual on breath meditation out there. While the Buddha did teach an array of meditation techniques, breath meditation is something he himself engaged in as a useful pastime, and taught it as a central method of meditation. Thanissaro Bhikkhu is himself a master of meditation describes the basic principles ground-up, and develops the manual to its culmination - jhana. This book should be with anyone wishing to learn meditation. And if I had gotten this book at least 10 years back, I might have learned to meditate far better. (less)
flag2 likes · Like · comment · see review
Mar 22, 2018Ahmad rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism
An extensive and broad meditation manual that teaches the Mindfulness of Breath technique as well as explaining to a very good extent how the practice of meditation falls under Buddhist training and how it relates to the entire doctrine. The first 25 pages of the book outline a summary of the practice up front.
flag2 likes · Like · comment · see review
Jan 25, 2018Rif A. Saurous rated it really liked it
A short and sometimes-to-the-point and often excellent book on meditation. I'm tempted to give five stars. If you want to read one practical advice book about meditation, I think I'd recommend reading (parts of) thise one. (If you have time and inclination to read a much longer more detailed and less woo-woo book, read "The Mind Illuminated" which I haven't reviewed yet but definitely gets five stars.)
Pros: Full of usable instructions. Contains much wisdom. Short. Free pdf available online. Pres ...more
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Feb 07, 2018Sergio rated it really liked it
Good introduction to meditation for the beginners, and a good refresh read full of good tips for the intermediate or more advanced meditators. I found particularly useful the chapter on ‘Disruptive emotions’, with sections on how to deal with feelings of grief, and how to identify and distinguish healthy from unhealthy grieving and build the inner strength to help us maintain a sense of well-being in spite of our losses. Other sections in the chapter address other defilements such as anger, lust, jealousy, doubt.
Also particularly interesting the chapter on Inner focus, and how to apply meditation in our day to day activities so that its benefit are not confined to the daily sitting meditation session. For those of us with a busy life and a stressful job is critical that we extend the momentum from one formal practice to the next and apply to all our activities, in any surrounding we may found ourselves in.
This is a freely distributed book available on accesstoinsight.org where you’ll find plenty additional material, Dhamma articles and talks, books and video. At the end of each chapters there is a section pointing to additional reading and audio/video material with links to accesstoinsight and dhammatalks.org.
Talks from the author are available on the links listed above and youtube.
(less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 05, 2020Derek rated it it was ok
Shelves: religion, nonfiction, reviews
The book covers a lot of ground and it could definitely help someone who is new to meditation. Even if you're not new to meditating, there are a number of useful tidbits in here. But personally, I wasn't a fan of Thanissaro Bhikkhu's style of explanation. That's not to say it's bad; there are just other books and teachings that I've found clearer (like Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo). I also would have preferred if Thanissaro Bhikkhu pulled more from the Bhudda's teachings since he references them many times. (less)
flagLike · see review
Nov 18, 2017Marcin Czarkowski rated it it was amazing
Shelves: consciousness, meditation
Really accessible and practical meditation guide. Method presented by Thanissaro Bhikkhu is really effective for me. Focusing on flow of bodly breath energy instead of sensations in nose area is great for my concentration and ardency to continue practice.
It's really suprising that this free book is not popular. It has really good polish translation (most of meditation/buddhism books are not translated at all). Gonna recommend it to my friends that want to get into daily meditation practice.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 10, 2019know1 rated it it was amazing
Outstanding. Probably the best guide I've read, and that includes TMI. Clear, concise, practical. Very interesting and useful discussion of morality and practice in life that you will hardly come across elsewhere.
Available for free as an e-book. Lots of accompanying audios available for free as well. Author's voice may sound a bit mechanical to some, but as a writer he's excellent.
flagLike · comment · see review
Apr 04, 2019Juan Ignacio rated it it was amazing
Wonderful book for meditation starters which also covers advanced stages of the practice. The best thing is that despite it's a Buddhist technique it's written in a coloquial language, making it very easy to digest (but please don't underestimate it!)
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 02, 2019BurukaniroHakase rated it it was amazing
I am not a meditation specialist, but I can hardly think there could be something written more carefully, precise, practical, concise but with all the necessary details in the same time, on the subject.
flagLike · see review
Apr 27, 2019MikeBy rated it really liked it
It took me a few attempts to get into this, but once I did it is an interesting and simple approach to meditation.
flagLike · comment · see review
Feb 27, 2020Natasha Brianez rated it it was amazing
The best book on meditation I’ve ever read. I’m sure I’ll read it again and again as it is so condensed in profound knowledge.
flagLike · comment · see review
May 28, 2019Ghislaine Cow rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism, recommended-with-integrity, readagain
Excellent. Re-read delving into additional readings.
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 17, 2020Kyle Hayes rated it it was amazing
Extremely practical guide to breath meditation. Furthered my understanding of the goals of meditation and skillful attitudes/ questions to contemplate while meditating.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jun 18, 2018Curtis rated it liked it
An in-depth guide: how to practice breath meditation; common difficulties; the stages of practice and progression through the jhanas.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 12, 2019Gary rated it really liked it
An interesting take on "anapana" as a full-body-breathing practice from the Thai Forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jun 14, 2020Dylan rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism, meditation, non-fiction, spiritual
Very thorough and beautiful book on meditation on the breath energies.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jan 27, 2014Egor Azanov rated it it was amazing
Wow! What a book! One of the best manuals on meditation I've encountered so far.
We've all heard to treat meditation as a skill, to train it as a skill, to practice deliberately. But how? This book shows you how. One of the most important ideas is to 'play' with your breath. Try this and that, see how it feels, make adjustments, take what's working and leave what's not.
Short, precise, technical and very thorough. Amazing book!
flagLike · comment · see review
Mar 29, 2014Jo rated it it was amazing
Great instruction book. I like to think that if I had had this book when I started meditating over 20 years ago, I might be enlightened by now! Cannot recommend highly enough. This book brings together many of Thanisarro Bhikku's teachings on meditation in one very practical and thorough package. I am recommending it to all of my Buddhist friends.
flagLike · comment · see review
Apr 27, 2014Mariya Manahova rated it really liked it
Shelves: meditation
It was a good introduction to meditation. Conveyed concepts well and had very useful practical advice. It cut straight to the core of the issue. It didn't go any further, but that is precisely because it is an introduction.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 29, 2015Ben rated it really liked it
Shelves: budhhism, jhana, meditation
A lot of good practical advice here on meditation. The author is a good writer too.
flagLike · comment · see review
Oct 30, 2016Rob rated it it was amazing
Shelves: come-back-to-again, reread-yearly
I ended up highlighting nearly a third of this book – a comprehensive introduction to mediation and mindfulness as a practice & way of life from a Buddhist perspective; less 'how' and more 'why'. (less)
flag3 likes · Like · comment · see review
Apr 28, 2013Nava rated it it was amazing
Possibly the best book I've read on meditation practice so far.
The focus on breath seems to me only one of many approaches, but this is the one he takes.
Tan Jeff lists a lot of hindrances experienced in meditation, and offers very practical advice -
in my opinion with a lot of wisdom and gentleness.
The chapter on advanced practice and the four Jhana's felt like it was still outside my understanding, but that's fine. :)
flag3 likes · Like · see review
Jun 01, 2014Balaji Ramasubramanian rated it it was amazing
Shelves: dhamma
Possibly the best manual on breath meditation out there. While the Buddha did teach an array of meditation techniques, breath meditation is something he himself engaged in as a useful pastime, and taught it as a central method of meditation. Thanissaro Bhikkhu is himself a master of meditation describes the basic principles ground-up, and develops the manual to its culmination - jhana. This book should be with anyone wishing to learn meditation. And if I had gotten this book at least 10 years back, I might have learned to meditate far better. (less)
flag2 likes · Like · comment · see review
Mar 22, 2018Ahmad rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism
An extensive and broad meditation manual that teaches the Mindfulness of Breath technique as well as explaining to a very good extent how the practice of meditation falls under Buddhist training and how it relates to the entire doctrine. The first 25 pages of the book outline a summary of the practice up front.
flag2 likes · Like · comment · see review
Jan 25, 2018Rif A. Saurous rated it really liked it
A short and sometimes-to-the-point and often excellent book on meditation. I'm tempted to give five stars. If you want to read one practical advice book about meditation, I think I'd recommend reading (parts of) thise one. (If you have time and inclination to read a much longer more detailed and less woo-woo book, read "The Mind Illuminated" which I haven't reviewed yet but definitely gets five stars.)
Pros: Full of usable instructions. Contains much wisdom. Short. Free pdf available online. Pres ...more
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Feb 07, 2018Sergio rated it really liked it
Good introduction to meditation for the beginners, and a good refresh read full of good tips for the intermediate or more advanced meditators. I found particularly useful the chapter on ‘Disruptive emotions’, with sections on how to deal with feelings of grief, and how to identify and distinguish healthy from unhealthy grieving and build the inner strength to help us maintain a sense of well-being in spite of our losses. Other sections in the chapter address other defilements such as anger, lust, jealousy, doubt.
Also particularly interesting the chapter on Inner focus, and how to apply meditation in our day to day activities so that its benefit are not confined to the daily sitting meditation session. For those of us with a busy life and a stressful job is critical that we extend the momentum from one formal practice to the next and apply to all our activities, in any surrounding we may found ourselves in.
This is a freely distributed book available on accesstoinsight.org where you’ll find plenty additional material, Dhamma articles and talks, books and video. At the end of each chapters there is a section pointing to additional reading and audio/video material with links to accesstoinsight and dhammatalks.org.
Talks from the author are available on the links listed above and youtube.
(less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 05, 2020Derek rated it it was ok
Shelves: religion, nonfiction, reviews
The book covers a lot of ground and it could definitely help someone who is new to meditation. Even if you're not new to meditating, there are a number of useful tidbits in here. But personally, I wasn't a fan of Thanissaro Bhikkhu's style of explanation. That's not to say it's bad; there are just other books and teachings that I've found clearer (like Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo). I also would have preferred if Thanissaro Bhikkhu pulled more from the Bhudda's teachings since he references them many times. (less)
flagLike · see review
Nov 18, 2017Marcin Czarkowski rated it it was amazing
Shelves: consciousness, meditation
Really accessible and practical meditation guide. Method presented by Thanissaro Bhikkhu is really effective for me. Focusing on flow of bodly breath energy instead of sensations in nose area is great for my concentration and ardency to continue practice.
It's really suprising that this free book is not popular. It has really good polish translation (most of meditation/buddhism books are not translated at all). Gonna recommend it to my friends that want to get into daily meditation practice.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 10, 2019know1 rated it it was amazing
Outstanding. Probably the best guide I've read, and that includes TMI. Clear, concise, practical. Very interesting and useful discussion of morality and practice in life that you will hardly come across elsewhere.
Available for free as an e-book. Lots of accompanying audios available for free as well. Author's voice may sound a bit mechanical to some, but as a writer he's excellent.
flagLike · comment · see review
Apr 04, 2019Juan Ignacio rated it it was amazing
Wonderful book for meditation starters which also covers advanced stages of the practice. The best thing is that despite it's a Buddhist technique it's written in a coloquial language, making it very easy to digest (but please don't underestimate it!)
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 02, 2019BurukaniroHakase rated it it was amazing
I am not a meditation specialist, but I can hardly think there could be something written more carefully, precise, practical, concise but with all the necessary details in the same time, on the subject.
flagLike · see review
Apr 27, 2019MikeBy rated it really liked it
It took me a few attempts to get into this, but once I did it is an interesting and simple approach to meditation.
flagLike · comment · see review
Feb 27, 2020Natasha Brianez rated it it was amazing
The best book on meditation I’ve ever read. I’m sure I’ll read it again and again as it is so condensed in profound knowledge.
flagLike · comment · see review
May 28, 2019Ghislaine Cow rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism, recommended-with-integrity, readagain
Excellent. Re-read delving into additional readings.
flagLike · comment · see review
Aug 17, 2020Kyle Hayes rated it it was amazing
Extremely practical guide to breath meditation. Furthered my understanding of the goals of meditation and skillful attitudes/ questions to contemplate while meditating.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jun 18, 2018Curtis rated it liked it
An in-depth guide: how to practice breath meditation; common difficulties; the stages of practice and progression through the jhanas.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 12, 2019Gary rated it really liked it
An interesting take on "anapana" as a full-body-breathing practice from the Thai Forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jun 14, 2020Dylan rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism, meditation, non-fiction, spiritual
Very thorough and beautiful book on meditation on the breath energies.
flagLike · comment · see review
Jan 27, 2014Egor Azanov rated it it was amazing
Wow! What a book! One of the best manuals on meditation I've encountered so far.
We've all heard to treat meditation as a skill, to train it as a skill, to practice deliberately. But how? This book shows you how. One of the most important ideas is to 'play' with your breath. Try this and that, see how it feels, make adjustments, take what's working and leave what's not.
Short, precise, technical and very thorough. Amazing book!
flagLike · comment · see review
Mar 29, 2014Jo rated it it was amazing
Great instruction book. I like to think that if I had had this book when I started meditating over 20 years ago, I might be enlightened by now! Cannot recommend highly enough. This book brings together many of Thanisarro Bhikku's teachings on meditation in one very practical and thorough package. I am recommending it to all of my Buddhist friends.
flagLike · comment · see review
Apr 27, 2014Mariya Manahova rated it really liked it
Shelves: meditation
It was a good introduction to meditation. Conveyed concepts well and had very useful practical advice. It cut straight to the core of the issue. It didn't go any further, but that is precisely because it is an introduction.
flagLike · comment · see review
Nov 29, 2015Ben rated it really liked it
Shelves: budhhism, jhana, meditation
A lot of good practical advice here on meditation. The author is a good writer too.
flagLike · comment · see review
Oct 30, 2016Rob rated it it was amazing
Shelves: come-back-to-again, reread-yearly
I ended up highlighting nearly a third of this book – a comprehensive introduction to mediation and mindfulness as a practice & way of life from a Buddhist perspective; less 'how' and more 'why'. (less)
