Reviews

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to get inspired to start meditation. Also if anyone is already practicing Vipassana/Anapana, would get benefited by getting more clarity about the technique.

The perfect inspiration to meditate.Webu Sayadaw's focus on Anapana is interesting and relevant even if you practice Vipassana meditation (As did U Ba Khin who is mentioned in the book). He is a true meditation master in the full sense of the word.

This book is amazing. The dialogue that transpires is hilarious and profound. After studying Vipassana meditation, reading this book brings my awareness to the spot every time. It as if Webu Sayadaw's unfathomable Compassion emanates from the pages. A must read for any Vipassana meditator. No nonsense inspiration at its fullest :-) 

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness have been explained in in the Maha Satipatthana Sutta; kaya (bodily sensations), vedana (feelings), citta (mind or consciousness), and dhamma (mind objects).
In Myanmar, the major schools of insight meditation are:
(1) Mahasi Sayadaw. This School emphasizes bodily sensation, especially, the rising and deflating of the stomach with our breathing in and out.
(2) Mogok Sayadaw. This School emphasizes the mind and mental objects.
(3) Sayagyi U Ba Khin and U Goenka ( S.N. Goenka ). This School empahsizes breathing ,that is, bodily sensations.
(4) Sun Lun Sayadaw. This School emphasizes Ānāpāna (breathing in and out). Their breathings are made stronger than in other schools so as to make them perceptible to the practitioners.
The foundersof the first two schools are great scholars. They have given deep and lengthy sermons and discourses.
Compared with them, Webu Sayadaw has given only a few discourses. But his teachings are plainspoken,simple and direct. They,esp public ones, seem to be mainly for motivations. His examples are found to be very effective for inspiration and motivation. My assumption is that practical instructions are reserved for in-house face-to-face teachings. I have also read such instructions and I find them very effective, accurate and in accordance with the Buddhist core canons.
As Webu Sayadaw and other Sayadaws have insisted many a time, the essential instructions are so simple and few that they can be covered in a few minutes. What we need is faith and determination. Maybe this is the reason the Webu Sayadaw concentrated on motivation in his public discourses.
Another key feature of the Webu Sayadaw is his insistence on meditating 24/7.
This is only a kind of introduction. I am NO expert at all in these matters. Not even a well-versed student.
kyaw kyaw naing / george
<a href="http://ethicminds.blogspot.com/">EthicMinds</a>
May Buddha'sTeachings Bring Peace on Earth! 

Excellent book for everyone. Ideal book for those who aspire a life of morality, concentration and wisdom. The questions and answers mode presented in the book makes the book very lively. While reading the book, the reader could feel that instruction for diligent practice of meditation from highly venerated monk, is given for himself. After reading the book, the reader could find himself that his motivation for higher aspiration and life long determination for liberation have been rejuvenated.
Enjoy reading the book!!! 

Webu Sayadaw was an outstanding meditation teacher. His advice is extremely useful - no nonsense, no distraction - it hits directly the goal of buddhist meditation.