To make an end of suffering the Buddha has prescribed the practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. By observing the mind and body one will come to understand their true nature of impermanence, suffering, and not-self. This practice leads to the end of greed, hatred, and delusion culminating in the attainment of the highest peace and happiness of Nibbana.

In this book Sayadaw U Silananda explains in accordance with the Commentary the practice of the Foundations of Mindfulness — body, feelings, consciousness and phenomena.

This book is an expansion of Inward Path’s previous edition of Sayadaw Silananda’s “The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: An Exposition of the Summary.” It includes additional Dhamma talks given by the Sayadaw over a good number of years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Venerable Sayadaw U Silānanda was selected by the late Most Venerable Mahāsi Sayadaw of Burma to carry out the honourable task of spreading the Dhamma in the West, more than 30 years ago.

Today, the Venerable Sayadaw is the Abbot of Dhammananda Vihara in California and the Spiritual Director of the Theravada Buddhist Society of America, Dhammachakka Meditation Center in Berkeley, the Tathagata Meditation Center of San Jose, the Society for Advancement of Buddhism in Ft. Myers (Florida) and the Bodhi Tree Dhamma Center in Largo (Florida). In Mynmar, the Venerable is also one of three spiritual directors (Ovadacariya Sayadaws) of the Mahāsi Meditation Center in Yangon.

Born to a devout Buddhist family in Mandalay on 16 December, 1927, the Venerable received his early education at Kelly High School, an American Baptist Mission School for boys. In 1943, at the age of 16, he ordained as a novice monk and began formal religious training with his preceptor and other renowned monks. Full bhikkhu ordination followed in 1947.

The Venerable holds two Dhammacariya (Master of Dhamma) degrees and has taught at the Athithokdayone Pali University. He was an External Examiner at the Department of Oriental Studies, University of Art and Sciences in Mandalay, Myanmar.

The Venerable was the Chief Compiler of the Tipitaka Pali-Burmese Dictionary and was one of the distinguished editors of the Pali Canon and associated Commentaries at the Sixth Buddhist Council held in Rangoon (Yangon) from 1954 to 1956. He is the author of seven Burmese Buddhist books and nine in English. Three of his English books had been translated into Chinese.

Well-regarded as a compassionate, knowledgeable and wise teacher, the Venerable Sayadaw teaches Vipassana meditation, Abhidhamma and other aspects of Theravadian Buddhism in English, Burmese, Pali and Sanskrit. He has led meditation retreats throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Europe.

In 1993, the Venerable was awarded the title of Agga Maha Pandita by the Burmese religious authorities and in 1999 the title of Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja. He was also appointed as Rector of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University of Yangon in Myanmar. More recently, in 2000, he was conferred Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt.) by Yangon University.

Venerable Sayadaw U Silānanda passed away on 14 Aug 2005 at the age of 77.



ALSO BY SAYADAW U SILANANDA
Published by INWARD PATH PUBLISHER

• Volition: An Introduction to the Law of Kamma
ISBN 983-9439-20-0 (IJ015/98)

• No Inner Core: An Introduction to the Doctrine of Anatta
ISBN 983-9439-09-X (IJ016/98)

• The Man Who Called Himself Tathagata
ISBN 983-9439-40-5 (IJ042/00)

• On Clear Comprehension
ISBN 983-9439-41-3 (IJ043/00)

• The Three Characteristics (Chinese Edition)
ISBN 983-9439-45-6 (IJ047/00)

• The Three Characteristics
ISBN 983-9439-48-0 (IJ049/00)

• The Four Foundation of Mindfulness: An Exposition of the Summary
ISBN 983-9439-59-6 (IJ060/02)

• Vipassana Meditation Instruction
ISBN 983-3512-48-8 (IJ153/08)

• The Fundamentals of Buddhism
ISBN 983-3512-51-8 (IJ156/08)