| Preface
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8
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| 1. |
Introduction
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9
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|
Why Practice?
|
9
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|
The Foundation of Ethics
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16
|
|
The Affirmation of Intuitive Wisdom
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20
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|
A Meditation on the Jewel in the Lotus: Om Mani Padme Hum
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23
|
|
Questions and Responses: On Ethics and the Sequence of Practice
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25
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| 2. |
Entering Samatha Practice
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31
|
|
Beginning the Meditation
|
33
|
|
Relaxation, Stability, and Vividness
|
34
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|
Questions and Responses: On Breath Awareness
|
40
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|
The Mastery of Attention: Mindfulness and Introspection
|
46
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|
Samatha as a Catalyst for Mental Events
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50
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|
Dealing with Problems in Samatha Practice
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52
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| 3. |
The Path to Samatha: An Overview
|
59
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|
The Nine Stages of the Path to Samatha
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59
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|
The Achievement of Samatha
|
65
|
|
The Prerequisites for Achieving Samatha
|
68
|
|
Five Obstructions to Progress in Samatha
|
73
|
|
The Five Factors of Stabilization
|
76
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|
On the Choice of an Object in Samatha Practice
|
78
|
|
Questions and Responses: On Achieving Samatha
|
80
|
|
Beyond Samatha
|
84
|
| 4. |
Loving-Kindness
|
87
|
|
Meditation: Loving-Kindness for Oneself
|
90
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|
Extending the Practice of Loving-Kindness
|
95
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|
The Advantages of a Lay Person in the Practice of Loving-Kindness
|
97
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|
Loving-Kindness for One's Enemies
|
98
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|
The Problem of Righteous Anger
|
107
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|
Passion and Patience in Response to the Sources of Suffering
|
109
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|
Finding a Lovable Quality
|
112
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|
Confusing Attachment with Loving-Kindness
|
114
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Questions and Responses: Enemies and Insight
|
116
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The Attainment of Samatha in Loving-Kindness
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121
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| 5. |
Compassion
|
127
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|
Questions and Responses: Catharsis, Logic, and Compassion
|
133
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Compassion for a Suffering Person: Meditation
|
135
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|
Extending the Meditation on Compassion
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137
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|
Intrusiveness in the Practice of Compassion
|
138
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|
Meditation on Avalokitesvara, the Embodiment of Compassion
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139
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| 6. |
Empathetic Joy
|
143
|
|
Rejoicing in Others' Happiness
|
143
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|
Rejoicing in Virtue
|
145
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| 7. |
Equanimity
|
149
|
|
Equanimity in Theravada Buddhism
|
149
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Equanimity in Tibetan Buddhism
|
151
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|
Questions and Responses: On Distinguishing Attachment from Affection
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161
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| 8. |
The Empowerment of Insight
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163
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From Insight to an Unmediated Experience of the Ultimate
|
169
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|
Questions and Responses: The Urgency and Rarity of Spiritual Awakening
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178
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|
Notes
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185
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