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Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation
By: Richard Shankman

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Author: Richard Shankman
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781590305218
Publication Date: 2008

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Product Code: 15692

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Description

Contents

This book offers an in-depth look at the foundational aspect of Buddhist meditation known as samadhi, or concentration: the ability of the mind to remain calm and settled without distraction. In part one of the book, Richard Shankman looks at the range of views and understandings about the experience of samadhi and offers a comprehensive examination of it using teachings attributed to the Buddha as well as later commentaries. He compares the diverse descriptions and presentations of samadhi in order to present a broad understanding of it and its place in meditation practice. He examines different, often conflicting, views and how these various views are related.

In part two, he presents a series of interviews with prominent contemporary Buddhist teachers, including Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, and Christina Feldman, that focus on the practical experience of samadhi. This section of the book brings the theoretical to life, offering a range of approaches to and applications of the different meditation techniques.

Experience of Samadh, Richard Shankman, Shambhala Publications, Paperback, 2008, 236 Pages, $18.95


	Preface		ix
	Acknowledgments		xii
	Introduction		xiii
Part 1	Samadhi in the Pali Texts
	1.	Samadhi in the Pali Suttas	3
	The Importance and Place of Samadhi in Buddhist Meditation		6
	Warnings on the Dangers and Misuse of Samadhi		7
	Developing Concentration		10
	Right Samadhi		14
	Samadhi in Important Buddhist Lists and Discourses		17
	2.	Jhana in the Pali Suttas	32
	The First Jhana		36
	The Second Jhana		43
	An Alternate Scheme for the First Two Jhanas		46
	The Third Jhana		46
	The Fourth Jhana		48
	Beyond the Four Jhanas: Three Divergent Paths of Development		49
	3.	Samadhi in the Visuddhimagga	53
	Tranquillity and Insight: Two Paths of Meditation Practice		55
	Three Levels of Concentration		56
	Three Signs of Concentration		57
	Developing Samadhi		59
	Meditation Subjects to Develop Samadhi		60
	Jhana in the Visuddhimagga		62
	The Eight Attainments		67
	4.	Controversies Surrounding Samadhi	77
	What is Jhana?		79
	Are Samadhi and Insight Two Distinct Paths of Practice or One?		83
	Is Jhana Necessary for the Deepest Stages of Insight?		90
	From the Suttas to the Visuddhimagga		97
	Conclusion		101
Part 2	Interviews With Contemporary Meditation Teachers
	Jack Kornfield		107
	Ajaan Thanissaro		117
	Sharon Salzberg		130
	Bhante Gunaratana		136
	Christina Feldman		146
	Leigh Brasington		156
	Ajahn Brahmavamso		166
	Pa Auk Sayadaw		174
Appendix 1	Does It Matter Where You Watch the Breath?		183
Appendix 2	The Four Stages of Enlightenment		187
Appendix 3	Organization of the Pali Canon		189
Appendix 4	Samatha Meditation Practices of the Visuddhimagga		191
	Notes		207
	Glossary		215
	Sources for the Pali Texts		219
	Credits		221
	Index		223

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