Patipada International Buddhist Retreat Centre, Katana, SRI LANKA

Development of Mindfulness as 

Expounded by the Buddha

This booklet is published for free distribution to commemorate the Official Opening of Main Shrine Hall of PATIPADA INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST RETREAT CENTRE in conjunction with 2015 Kathina Celebration on 7th November 2015. 

First published in year 1980 by DHARMA VIJAYA BUDDHIST VIHARA, USA. Subsequently editions were published by MAHINDARAMA BUDDHIST TEMPLE, PENANG and PATIPADA MEDITATION CENTRE, AUSTRALIA for 2014 Kathina Celebration.

There are two kinds of meditation, namely, the one that leads to full concentration, stillness, peace and ease of mind, and the other that leads to Realisation or Enlightenment and thereby to perfect peace of mind. Out of these two, the one that leads to full concentration consists of forty methods that lead to higher stages of concentration. Out of these forty methods, this booklet deal with the method of concentrating on one’s breath to development vipassanā or insight. And this vipassanā meditation may be practised in two ways — one way depends on the ecstatic trance (jhāna) and the other way does not. Then it further explained how the meditator enter into any one of the four ecstatic trances and emerges from it after a short time, then contemplates and examines its prominent factor, the nature of the trance-consicousness, and its object, and sees that all of them are impermanent (anicca), unsatisfactory (dukkha) and egoless (anatta). The meditator goes on developing his insight, completes his spiritual pilgrimage in the aforementioned way, and reaches its culmination by attaining to perfect sainthood (arahantship).

The author, Venerable Balangoda Anandamaitreya Thera was famous for his achievements in Buddhist meditation. He was known to have practiced both Samatha meditation and Vipassana meditation to a great extent and was considered to be having a highly developed mind through his meditation. Many Buddhists have experienced his powerful spiritual blessings in many more ways than one. His teachings and life have been an inspiration to many aspiring monks and lay followers.

Venerable Balangoda Anandamaitreya Thera along with Venerable Narada Thera and Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thera was and still is one of the foremostly revered and respected Buddhist monks of the twentieth century in Sri Lanka. His work and sacrifices with Anagarika Dharmapala was one of the steering forces of the upholding of Buddhism in Sri Lanka at one stage. Thera also traveled to many countries in the world for the propagation of Buddhism. Venerable Balangoda Anandamaitreya Thera died at 11:40 pm on 18 July 1998 at the age of 101.

Further information go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balangoda_Ananda_Maitreya_Thero

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PATIPADA INTERNATIONAL 

BUDDHIST RETREAT CENTRE

No. 142 / 2 Kadawala, Katana, SRI LANKA
Tels: +(94) 31 361 9640 & +(94) 71 227 3234
Emails: indaratanathero11@gmail.com & patipadacentre@gmail.com