Art of Living: Give You How Live Well

For many years my husband and I were editors of the Vipassana Newsletter. This afforded us a unique opportunity to hear and see many inspiring stories about meditators who had died bravely and peacefully, filled with the wisdom of their meditation practice. We have read accounts of the deaths of parents, partners, children and friends. Often, as they witnessed their beloved die with contentment and equanimity, those present were filled with an unexpected happiness on an occasion of

irreplaceable loss.

The Buddha said, "Two things only do I teach: misery and the

way out of misery." This collection of writings—Goenkaji's explanations of the teaching of the Buddha, the Buddha's scriptural verses, poetical stories of monks and nuns from the time of the Buddha, accounts from fellow meditators—is born of the acceptance of the truth of suffering. It contains inspiring examples of people gaining strength and a taste of freedom through their practice, and demonstrates convincingly the

efficacy of the Path, the way out of misery.

I have gathered these stories not only to help sustain and

strengthen established Vipassana meditators in their quest, but also to encourage others searching for peace and understanding to take up the practice of getting to "know thyself" truly, on an

experiential level—to develop their own wisdom.

May you experience the fruits of the Path taught by the Buddha: freedom from the suffering and sorrow that we face

throughout our lives.