Sitting Beyond Thinking

Shantij’s discourses and teaching on Buddha’s Maha Satipatthana Sutra and Vipassana Meditation.

Our stream of consciousness is like that of a monkey jumping from branch to branch. Yet we have the power to stop the antics of this ‘monkey mind’, to achieve a quiet or still mind which is essential for the development of our spiritual nature.

‘Sitting Beyond Thinking’ is the outcome of the regular retreats Shantiji conducts in Vipassana meditation to meet the needs of students, both living in the East and West. You must not use this book however as a substitute for attending a Vipassana retreat in which the emphasis is always on actual  practice. Given this emphasis, some explanations are still necessary to provide the context for the practice. The Maha Satipatthana Sutra, The Great Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness is an important text because all instructions are directly or indirectly based on Buddha’s teachings.

What makes this text so powerful and inspiring is that Buddha’s actual words are presented here. Shantiji has presented both the original work as well as an expose of contemporary thought, presenting a wide world view, showing you how the practice of meditation can be a deep and life-sustaining activity. This work is for those of you who wish to find your path, gain knowledge and be in your right mind which is somewhere between being insane or brainless, sitting wholeheartedly in the middle of your life with clarity and practicality.