diff --git a/bindings/java/examples/ProcessState.java b/bindings/java/examples/ProcessState.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..911553b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/java/examples/ProcessState.java
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import net.hyperic.sigar.*;
+
+/*
+Compile the example:
+% javac -classpath sigar-bin/lib/sigar.jar ProcessState.java
+
+State of the java process running the example:
+% java -classpath sigar-bin/lib/sigar.jar:. ProcessState
+java: Running
+
+State of the bash shell when invoking the example is running:
+% java -classpath sigar-bin/lib/sigar.jar:. ProcessState $$
+bash: Sleeping
+
+State of emacs editor used to write the example:
+% java -classpath sigar-bin/lib/sigar.jar:. ProcessState 2673
+emacs: Suspended
+*/
+
+public class ProcessState {
+
+    private static String getStateString(char state) {
+        switch (state) {
+          case ProcState.SLEEP:
+            return "Sleeping";
+          case ProcState.RUN:
+            return "Running";
+          case ProcState.STOP:
+            return "Suspended";
+          case ProcState.ZOMBIE:
+            return "Zombie";
+          case ProcState.IDLE:
+            return "Idle";
+          default:
+            return String.valueOf(state);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void main(String[] args)
+        throws SigarException {
+
+        String pid;
+        if (args.length == 0) {
+            pid = "$$"; //default to this process
+        }
+        else {
+            pid = args[0];
+        }
+
+        Sigar sigar = new Sigar();
+
+        ProcState procState = sigar.getProcState(pid);
+        String state;
+
+
+        System.out.println(procState.getName() + ": " +
+                           getStateString(procState.getState()));
+
+        sigar.close();
+    }
+}