This does assume there's a reliable method for determining what the early material is - but yes, that's another discussion.daverupa wrote:I am referring to the fact that early materials primarily define samatha-vipassana as paired qualities, not different paths of practice, and was sort of wondering about the issue of the 'cherry-pick' that such a Theravada interpretation of these qualities represents. But it's been discussed elsewhere at length, and might easily derail this thread...
The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
mettafuture wrote:Master Gautama detailed 40 meditation objects over the course of a 45-year teaching career. So why is it that Western Buddhists focus on just 1 or 2 of these objects (eg. anapanasati and metta)? Is it because our dhamma teachers don't feel that contemplating the elements or recalling the qualities of the Buddha could be compatible with our cultural sensibilities? Perhaps they aren't. But if that's the case, maybe we need to change something about ourselves rather than continue to selectively disregard large portions of the dhamma.
I also feel that it may be a mistake to introduce breath meditation to every new Buddhist as their first meditation object. I've heard people try to make the point that anapanasati can fulfill all four satipatthanas, therefore special attention doesn't need to be given to the individual satipatthanas. But does it really make sense to skip developing at least a rudimentary understanding of the body, feelings, consciousness, and mental objects before jumping ahead to the breath?
I would love to have a set of lessons to follow and practice, but i find so much information everywhere it's hard to compile it into my own situation.
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
I've been working on a concise list of introductory resources. Here's what I have so far.
Introductory Material:
The Buddha’s Teachings As It is by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Mindfulness in Plain English [free ebook] by Ven. Gunaratana
Intermediate Material:
In The Buddha’s Words by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Gunaratana
Advanced Material:
Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization by Ven. Analayo
Pali Nikaya Translations:
Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara [free anthology]
Weblinks:
Access To Insight
Audio Dharma
[link to this post]
Introductory Material:
The Buddha’s Teachings As It is by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Mindfulness in Plain English [free ebook] by Ven. Gunaratana
Intermediate Material:
In The Buddha’s Words by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Gunaratana
Advanced Material:
Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization by Ven. Analayo
Pali Nikaya Translations:
Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara [free anthology]
Weblinks:
Access To Insight
Audio Dharma
[link to this post]
Last edited by mettafuture on Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- tiltbillings
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
I liked it better when you had Ven Analyo's book listed.mettafuture wrote:I've been working on a concise list of introductory resources. Here's what I have so far.
Introductory Material:
The Buddha’s Teachings As It is by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Mindfulness in Plain English [free ebook] by Ven. Gunaratana
Intermediate Material:
In The Buddha’s Words by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Gunaratana
Pali Nikaya Translations:
Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara [free anthology]
Weblinks:
Access To Insight
Audio Dharma
[link to this post]
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
- mettafuture
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
It's a brilliant book, but perhaps it might be too weighty for a non academic?tiltbillings wrote:I liked it better when you had Ven Analyo's book listed.
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
It is worth the struggle, but it is not for every one.mettafuture wrote:It's a brilliant book, but perhaps it might be too weighty for a non academic?tiltbillings wrote:I liked it better when you had Ven Analyo's book listed.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
- mettafuture
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Re: The Breath, and Cherry-Picking for Cultural Convenience
I've added it back.tiltbillings wrote:It is worth the struggle, but it is not for every one.mettafuture wrote:It's a brilliant book, but perhaps it might be too weighty for a non academic?tiltbillings wrote:I liked it better when you had Ven Analyo's book listed.