Bhante Punnaji’s Recommendation
Bhante Punnaji’s secular education and training as a medical doctor and later earning two doctorates has equipped him to be well-versed in modern fields of scientific knowledge including medicine, philosophy, psychology and a thorough understanding of comparative religions.
He always advocates that meditation is the only way to walk the footsteps of the Buddha. Based on his vast experience and knowledge, he came out with this meditation guide – ARIYAMAGGA BHAVANA (The Sublime Eightfold Way) using the original teachings of the Buddha, as found in the Pali Sutta Pitaka.
This meditation guide mostly explains on meditation level 1 – Selective Thinking (anussathi) which readers will find simple and easy to understand. Bhante uses this meditation guide to teach the yogis during retreats conducted at our Buddhist Maha Vihara. It can also be used as a daily living guide.
Emphasis is placed on eradicating the self-centered emotions which not only pollute our minds but our health too. The aim of the retreat is to purify the mind. By purifying the mind, we become good, happy and wise. It begins with a paradigm shift followed by goal reorientation. The paradigm shift is from a consciousness of existence to a consciousness of experience.