Bhante Henepola Gunaratana was ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of 12. He earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from The American University, and has taught courses in Buddhism at several American colleges. He lectures and leads meditation retreats throughout North America, Europe, and Australasia. He is the abbot of the Bhavana Society monastery in West Virginia.

Preface	vii
Introduction: American Buddhism	1
Meditation: Why Bother?	7
What Meditation Isn't	17
What Meditation Is	29
Attitude	39
The Practice	45
What to Do with Your Body	63
What to Do with Your Mind	69
Structuring Your Meditation	79
Set-up Exercises	87
Dealing with Problems	97
Dealing with Distractions I	115
Dealing with Distractions II	121
Mindfulness (Sati)	137
Mindfulness versus Concentration	149
Meditation in Everyday Life	157
What's in It for You	169
Afterword: The Power of Loving Friendliness	177
Index	199
About the Author	207