Bodhesako, Nanavira & Ñanananda - Which Books to Start With?

[Mr. G]

Hey all,

I'm interested in reading the books of Bodhesako, Nanavira & Ñanananda. Is there a particular order in which the author's books should be read that would assist the reader in better understanding the material?

Thanks!

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Mr. Gordo,

In order...

Ñanananda
- Concept And Reality
- Magic Of The Mind
- Nibbana Sermons

Ñanavira
- Notes
- Letters

I don't recall reading anything by Bodhesako, so I can't comment on his works, though "Beginnings" sounds like a nice place to begin.

Metta,
Retro.

[tiltbillings]

Hey all,

I'm interested in reading the books of Bodhesako, Nanavira & Ñanananda. Is there a particular order in which the author's books should be read that would assist the reader in better understanding the material?

Thanks!

Which Books to Start With?

Ven Nanananda. He is a far, far better grounded scholar and practitioner and far easier to read. CONCEPT AND REALITY followed by MAGIC OF THE MIND followed by his SAMYUTtA NIKAYA anthology, which has copious notes by him and then there is the NIBBANA SERMONS. This all should keep you busy for a while, and the time studying his works is well worth it. Some of this is online.

[Mr. G]

Thanks retro and tilt!

[mikenz66]

Ven Nanananda. He is a far, far better grounded scholar and practitioner and far easier to read. CONCEPT AND REALITY followed by MAGIC OF THE MIND followed by his SAMYUTtA NIKAYA anthology, which has copious notes by him and then there is the NIBBANA SERMONS. This all should keep you busy for a while, and the time studying his works is well worth it. Some of this is online.

I think it's all on line apart from, unfortunately, concept and reality (which you can order from BPS). I've been posting some of the SN anthology on the Study group lately, and it is also downloadable as a PDF, as is Magic of the Mind and Nibbana Sermons. I've been working through listening to his recordings of the latter which you can find here:
http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/eng/ ... cat=nn&p=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Since they are lectures, I prefer to listen to them than read them...

Another essay I liked was his discussion of meditation: Seeing Through: http://nibbanam.com/?p=49" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's a thread with some more useful information: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2042" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Mike

[Mr. G]

Great resources mikenz! Thanks!

[pulga]

Hey all,

I'm interested in reading the books of Bodhesako, Nanavira & Ñanananda. Is there a particular order in which the author's books should be read that would assist the reader in better understanding the material?

Thanks!

I would start with Bodesako's essay "Change", particularly the first half. (It bogs down a little in the second half with his elaboration of the recursive nature of samsara.)

I don't want to put too much emphasis on it, but an understanding of Heidegger's concept of being-in-the-world is also helpful in understanding what Ñanavira is getting at. I have always found the last several paragraphs of Letter 121 rather striking:

http://nanavira.xtreemhost.com/index.ph ... &Itemid=52" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tiltbillings]

Hey all,

I'm interested in reading the books of Bodhesako, Nanavira & Ñanananda. Is there a particular order in which the author's books should be read that would assist the reader in better understanding the material?

Thanks!

I would start with Bodesako's essay "Change", particularly the first half. (It bogs down a little in the second half with his elaboration of the recursive nature of samsara.)

I don't want to put too much emphasis on it, but an understanding of Heidegger's concept of being-in-the-world is also helpful in understanding what Ñanavira is getting at. I have always found the last several paragraphs of Letter 121 rather striking:

http://nanavira.xtreemhost.com/index.ph ... &Itemid=52" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

[BlackBird]

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

Should I bite my tongue...? No. You haven't read the book, so you're not really qualified to give people advice on whether they should or should not read it.

[tiltbillings]

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

Should I bite my tongue...? No. You haven't read the book, so you're not really qualified to give people advice on whether they should or should not read it.

Which book havent I read? Having to deal with Buddhism filtered through Heidegger is less appealing than Heidegger alone, unless you like to deal with overwrought philosophiocal language. We have seen a nice example of that from Nanavira and Bodhesako in an earlier thread. If Mr Gordo wants to read that stuff, he certainly should. It is his mind he gets to make up and opinions vary.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

For what it's worth, I'd never heard of Heidegger, yet found Nanavira's Notes On Dhamma very beneficial. I do have a Philosophy major though, so I'm not sure whether that's got something to do with it.

Metta,
Retro.

[nyanasuci]

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

I already know by now that when I see a fox on forums related to Nanavira, something negative will come out.

Anyway, mr. gordo, I suggest that you first read Suttas (!), and time to time read Ven. Nanavira (start with The Tragic, Comic and Personal), Bodhesako (Change) and Nanananda.... but avoid abhidhamma and comentaries, if you like to speed up to Nibbana.

[tiltbillings]

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

I already know by now that when I see a fox on forums related to Nanavira, something negative will come out.

Anyway, mr. gordo, I suggest that you first read Suttas (!), and time to time read Ven. Nanavira (start with The Tragic, Comic and Personal), Bodhesako (Change) and Nanananda.... but avoid abhidhamma and comentaries, if you like to speed up to Nibbana.

He said, being negative.

[KerMax]

You have just made a good argument for starting Nanananda and probably not bothering with Nanavira.

I already know by now that when I see a fox on forums related to Nanavira, something negative will come out.

Anyway, mr. gordo, I suggest that you first read Suttas (!), and time to time read Ven. Nanavira (start with The Tragic, Comic and Personal), Bodhesako (Change) and Nanananda.... but avoid abhidhamma and comentaries, if you like to speed up to Nibbana.

Hello,
I take the liberty to create pdf files from the texts of Bodhesako available on Path Press website. It's easier to read this way. :

Change
http://docdroid.net/ez86

Beginnings
http://docdroid.net/ez8a



Source :
http://pathpress.wordpress.com/bodhesako/change/
http://pathpress.wordpress.com/bodhesak ... %20suttas/