Book · 1992
Mindfulness in Plain English
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Bhante Gunaratana explains how to sit, attend to the breath, meet distraction, and keep practicing when meditation feels boring, frustrating, or pointless.
What does Reddit think of Mindfulness in Plain English?
Mindfulness in Plain English receives 11 mentions in r/Meditation's 2026 snapshot, with only five unique commenters but unusually practical testimony. One reader says beginning alone felt boring, frustrating, and progress-free until this book helped (↑20). Another calls it “golden” for continuing practice and notes the audiobook (↑8). The manual explains breath meditation, attitude, distraction, and the difference between observing thought and suppressing it without requiring a numbered attainment system. Its Buddhist framework is present even when the prose feels broadly accessible. That makes it a better first technique book than a spiritual bestseller that offers present-moment slogans without sitting instructions. The small commenter count prevents a grand community-consensus claim, but the specificity matters more: these readers describe the problem it solved. A legal free edition also removes the pressure to buy before testing the fit.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Breath-based mindfulness practice
- · Working patiently with distraction
- · Attitude toward boredom and frustration
- · Observation without thought suppression
- · Practice grounded in Buddhist teaching
Common praise
- + A reader directly credits the book with turning a frustrating, progress-free start into a workable practice.
- + The instructions explain what to do during a sit rather than relying on inspirational claims about presence.
- + A legal free edition makes it possible to evaluate the manual before buying another meditation product.
- + The prose remains approachable while acknowledging its Buddhist practice context.
Common criticism
- − Only five unique commenters produce the 11 measured mentions, so the data is specific but not broad consensus.
- − Readers seeking a secular clinical program may prefer an MBSR or MBCT workbook with explicit health boundaries.
- − Its straightforward breath practice will feel too basic to readers looking for advanced insight maps or nondual inquiry.
Who it's for
Start here when you have tried sitting and mainly discovered boredom, distraction, and uncertainty about whether you are doing anything. The 2026 sample is small, but its strongest comment names exactly that failure mode and says the book helped. Readers who want clinical treatment should use an evidence-based program with professional support rather than expecting one manual to provide it.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Mindfulness in Plain English?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“"It doesn't have to be the breath. It can be everything. Everything is worth paying attention to." - I think this is the essence of meditation in the end, no matter what the technique is? In Mindfulness in Plain English, the author very clearly talks about how awareness and concentration are two d…
“- "Mindfulness in plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana (awesome book that is easy to read and also quite easy to understand. Mindsets, practices, clear and concise writing on what mindfulness and meditation actually is etc, great stuff). - "The Power of Now" and "Practicing the Power of Now" by Ec…
“Here's the order I usually recommend people go in: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics - A good starting point, with 2 authors, one from a "normal person" background and one from a more "meditationny" background, gives you lots of context and suggested practices. Mindfulness in Plain English - the cl…
“For letting go I'd recommend the book, "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle or perhaps, "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana. They are both easy to read and can give you a new perspective on life and how to let go. The book, "The Mind Illuminated" by John Yates may have been the most …
“I always recommend *Mindfulness in Plain English* to anyone asking for a direction when first starting out. I like that insight of the breath not being of the mind.
“Mindfulness in Plain English is available online here for free. I second OP's recommendation, this book has been a very important part of my own journey!
“Mindfulness in Plain English was the one book that made it all click for me.
“I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that you don't need an app to meditate, just set your phone to "Do Not Disturb" and set a timer for the duration you wish to meditate. If you don't know how to meditate the best way to learn is reading a book like Mindfulness in Plain English or The Mind Illuminate…
“I read the book "Mindfulness in plain English". I personally don't like apps or guided meditations and this was an easy enough read. Highly Recomend it
“There is a book that is just what you might really like! Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Reddit even has a free PDF, but if you enjoy it, I encourage you to buy a copy or donate to his charity/meditation center. [](http…
“I really like that, thank you for sharing. It reminds me of a section from Mindfulness in Plain English: >If the breath seems an exceedingly dull thing to observe over and over, you may rest assured of one thing: you have ceased to observe the process with true mindfulness. Mindfulness is never bor…
“>How do I start? Inform yourself by reading about it from people who have practiced for a long time. "Mindfulness in Plain english' by Bhante Gunaratana is superb for beginners. It is straight to the point, direct,immediately applicable, no fluff. Indispensable really. Not a thick book either. …
“Nicee! Check out mindfulness in plain english, it's such a refined and digestible take on the subject
“Dissenting opinion here but I really didn't like this book, I found it too dry and too academic, as in it was trying to constantly prove the worth of the techniques by citations of case studies and clinical trials. If OP is a slow reader then this book would potentially put them off. However I don'…
“for me, right up there with "the power of now", its "mindfulness in plain english" by Ven. Henepola Gunaratna. (the book is free to download, pls google it if you'd like to check it out) Thanks for the other two suggestions!
Convinced? Pick up Mindfulness in Plain English
What else does r/Meditation read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Mindfulness in Plain English — frequently asked
Is Mindfulness in Plain English good for beginners?+
Yes. Its clearest r/Meditation evidence comes from a beginner who found practice boring and frustrating until the book supplied useful instruction (↑20). It explains breath meditation and common obstacles directly without requiring the reader to adopt a complex progression model.
Can I read Mindfulness in Plain English for free?+
Yes. Readers in the measured discussion note that a legal free edition is available online, and an audiobook edition also exists. Use an authorized source associated with the publisher or Buddhist organization rather than an unauthorized scan.
Is Mindfulness in Plain English secular?+
No, it comes from Theravada Buddhist teaching, though its practical language is accessible to readers who do not identify as Buddhist. If you specifically need a secular clinical intervention for depression, anxiety, or trauma, an MBSR or MBCT program has a different purpose and evidence base.