Journey to Mindfulness:
The Autobiography of
Bhante G.
By Bhante Henepola Gunaratana with Jeanne Malmgren

Wisdom Publications, 2003

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Due to their revered status and rigorous meditative training, monks and nuns in the Buddhist tradition are often viewed as people who don’t necessarily struggle as intensely with difficult emotions as the rest of us. Bhante G, as he is affectionately called, dispels that perception and in doing so, reveals the intimate truths of his life with unflinching honesty, humor and warmth. The author of the highly acclaimed best seller Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante G never loses sight of the Buddha’s teachings throughout a life marked by hardship and despair as well as great achievement and happiness.

Bhante G was born into a small village in Sri Lanka, 77 years ago, the son of an impoverished farming family. As a young boy, he displayed a mischievous and volatile temperament, which was to cause him great anguish, both at home and at school. Despite his youthful folly and humble beginnings, he possessed an unshakeable aspiration to become a well-educated monk who would not just teach the Dharma, but teach it in English! How this came to pass is the compelling story of Bhante Gunaratana’s life.

Time and again, we see that Bhante is undaunted by adversity. His tireless energy and unwavering faith reminds us that we too can embody these very same qualities. From monk’s college in Sri Lanka and ministering the Dharma to the Untouchables of India to finally to building a monastery in West Virginia, the scope of this book is wide and rich in detail.

Bhante’s inspiring message is that only by looking within our own minds are we able to quell the fires of greed, anger and delusion, enabling us to find peace and tranquillity. “My own anger, contentiousness, and judgementalness were fertile ground for practice” is a bold invitation for each of us to persevere with diligence and steadfastness along the journey to mindfulness. With utmost compassion and conviction, Bhante reassures us that “no matter how strong they may be, the sources of suffering can be overcome in your life, too!”

 -- Reviewed by Marilyn Rothman