Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)

A “wonderfully accessible” interpretation of the Buddha’s teachings on breathwork in meditation, from a leading insight meditation teacher (Joseph Goldstein, author of The Experience of Insight)

Larry Rosenberg shares his journey of embracing insight meditation through the timeless teachings of the Anapanasati Sutra. Guided by revered teachers like Ajahn Buddhadasa and Thich Nhat Hanh, Rosenberg reveals the sutra’s sixteen contemplations as a comprehensive path to mindfulness, offering readers a practical blueprint for awakening. The book emphasizes the breath as a powerful anchor, leading practitioners from simple awareness to the realization of life’s deepest truths.


Readers will discover how to integrate mindfulness into daily life, transforming ordinary activities into opportunities for presence and clarity. Rosenberg’s personal experiences and insight illuminate the path to cultivating equanimity, compassion, and wisdom, making this ancient practice accessible to contemporary audiences. The book encourages a spirit of openness and nonattachment, guiding readers to experience the liberating wisdom at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. Rosenberg’s engaging exploration of mindfulness and practical advice invites readers to embrace the breath as a gateway to inner peace and liberation. This work promises to inspire both seasoned practitioners and newcomers alike, offering a fresh perspective on integrating meditation into the fabric of everyday life.

Larry Rosenberg is founder and resident teacher of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Breath by Breath, Three Steps to Awakening, and Living in the Light of Death.