Calm & Insight

Overview:

This is a com­pan­ion vol­ume to the books on Nib­bā­na and Awak­ened Beings. From the preface:

‘A peren­ni­al debate amongst Bud­dhist prac­ti­tion­ers revolves around the ques­tions of how much for­mal med­i­ta­tion is required for prac­tice and what form this med­i­ta­tion should take. As described in the book on awak­ened beings, there is a rough divi­sion of Bud­dhist med­i­ta­tion prac­tice into an empha­sis on con­cen­tra­tion and an empha­sis on reflec­tive analy­sis. This divi­sion is so pow­er­ful that it shapes and deter­mines the paths and pro­fi­cien­cy of prac­ti­tion­ers, some who devel­op extra­or­di­nary psy­chic pow­ers and oth­ers who devel­op mas­tery in the domain of wis­dom. In the end, how­ev­er, they merge as one at the fruit of ara­hantship. The con­clu­sion to the debate is thus not one of judg­ing which path is supe­ri­or, but rather a recog­ni­tion of dis­tinct incli­na­tions in prac­tice, along with an acknowl­edge­ment of those shared spir­i­tu­al fac­tors, indis­pens­able for all peo­ple who wish to real­ize the end of suffering.’

Contents:

Preface

Introduction

     Introduction (pdf)

Liberation of Mind & Liberation by Wisdom

Important Principles on the Realization of Nibbāna

     Important Principles on the Realization of Nibbāna (pdf)

     General Aspects of Realization

     Outlines for the Practice of Tranquillity

     Outlines for Insight Practice

Systematic Outlines of Meditation Practice

Appendix 1: Jhāna

Appendix 2: Is It Possible To Develop Insight or Become Enlightened in Jhāna?

Appendix 3: Is It Possible To Develop Insight While In the Realm of Neither-Perception-Nor-Non-Perception?

Appendix 4: The Mind-Moment at Realization of Path and Fruit

Glossary

Endnotes