Foreword by Joseph Goldstein
Foreword by Daniel Goleman
Managing Editors Preface
Introduction
1. Purification of Conduct
The Purification of Conduct for Monks
Observing the Monastic Precepts Pursuing a Pure Livelihood Wisely Using Requisites Carefully Restraining the Senses Practicing Restraint Prior to the Practice of Meditation Restraint that Comes from Meditation Restraint as a Prerequisite for Meditation
The Purification of Conduct for the Laity
Comparisons to Monastic Morality The Five Spiritual Obstacles The Enlightenment of Immoral Laypeople How Different Types of People Are Suited to Different Trainings
Purifying Conduct with Meditation
Morality by Means of Abandonment Morality by Means of Abstinence Morality by Means of Mental Volition Morality by Means of Restraint Morality by Means of Nontransgression Morality as Remote and Immediate Conditions for Concentration and Knowledges The Power of Meditation to Purify Morality for Monastics Nota Bene: The Practice of Morality Is Essential
2. Purification of Mind
Mental Purification
Three Types of Mental Purification Two Vehicles for Going to Enlightenment Methods for Taking the Two Vehicles to Enlightenment Insight with Momentary Concentration Methods for Developing Insight
Mental Purification for Those Who Take the Vehicle of Insight to Enlightenment
Liberations and Hindrances Helpful Contemplations to Dispel Hindrances Obstacles to Concentration and the Methods to Overcome Them States of One-Pointedness
3. Absolute and Conventional Realities
What Is Reality?
Ultimate Reality Conceptual Illusions Hearsay and Such Description vs. Experience The Correct Definition of Ultimate Reality Transience
The Two Meanings of Activity
The Meaning that Ordinary People Know The Meaning that Insight Meditators Know
Two Kinds of Insight
Appropriate Objects for Meditation The Present Moment Inferential Insight: Knowledge by Comprehension
Lessons to Learn from Those Who Take the Vehicle of Tranquility to Enlightenment
Observation of the In- and Out-Breath To What Extent Must Insight Be Purified? Venerable Sariputtas Method Venerable Moggallanas Method A Note of Caution
4. The Development of Mindfulness
Checking Meditation against the Pali Texts Five Kinds of Phenomena
Contemplation of the Body
The Case of Seeing The Case of Hearing The Case of Smell The Case of Taste The Case of Touch Mindfulness of Breathing The Four Primary Material Elements How to Observe Thought How to Note General Activities Clear Comprehension Accurate Awareness
Contemplation of Feeling
Pleasant Feeling Unpleasant Feeling Neither- Unpleasant-nor-Pleasant Feeling Worldly Pleasure Unworldly Pleasure Worldly Displeasure Unworldly Displeasure Worldly Neither Displeasure nor Pleasure Unworldly Neither Displeasure nor Pleasure Realizing Feelings
Contemplation of Mind
Mental States Realizing Mind
Contemplation of Mental Objects
The Five Hindrances Wise Attention Unwise Attention The Five Aggregates The Six Senses The Ten Fetters The Seven Factors of Enlightenment Balancing Spiritual Faculties The Seven Types of Suffering The Four Noble Truths
Mindfulness of the Four Noble Truths
Truths in the Round of Existence and Truths Beyond It How Suffering Is Realized How the Origin of Suffering Is Realized How Cessation and Path Are Realized Cultivating Mundane Understanding Cultivating Supramundane Understanding How to Develop the Noble Eightfold Path The Moment of Path Knowledge Other Objects of Meditation
The Benefits of Mindfulness
The Only Way The Buddhas Acknowledgment Suitable Contemplations
5. Practical Instructions Preparations for Practice
The Basic Practice
The Primary Object Distracting Thoughts Physical Discomfort Odd Experiences Getting a Drink Going to Bed Getting Up Eating a Meal Increasing the Number of Objects General Objects Mental States Diligence
Insight
Mind and Body Cause and Effect Effects of Concentration Seeing the Three Characteristics Distractions from the Path Disappearance Disillusionment Looking for Relief Equanimity
The Experience of Nibbana
Entering Fruition Clarifying the Insight Knowledges Practicing for Higher Paths and Fruitions A Note on Parami
A Word of Advice
6. Stages of Insight Knowledge
Insight Knowledge that Discerns Mental and Physical Phenomena: Purification of View
Awareness of Phenomena Discerning Mental and Physical Phenomena Seeing Things as They Really Are
Insight Knowledge that Discerns Conditionality: Purification by Overcoming Doubt
The First Way of Seeing Conditionality The Second Way of Seeing Conditionality The Third and Fourth Ways of Seeing Conditionality The Fifth Way of Seeing Conditionality The Lesser Stream Enterer
Insight Knowledge by Comprehension
Comprehension of Impermanence Comprehension of Suffering Comprehension of Not-Self Contemplation of Mental Phenomena Other Types of Contemplation Strengthening the Mental Faculties Seven Ways to Contemplate Physical Phenomena Seven Ways to Contemplate the Mind Practical Advice
Insight Knowledge of Arising and Passing Away
Eliminating Attachment Continuity of Processes vs. Momentary Phenomena The Characteristics of Arising and Passing Away Observing True Arising and Passing Away The Ten Corruptions of Insight Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way
Insight Knowledge of Dissolution
Insight and Counter-Insight Inferential Knowledge Mature Knowledge
The Three Aspects of Disillusionment: Insight Knowledges Fear, of Danger, and of Disenchantment
Insight Knowledge of Fear Insight Knowledge of Danger Insight Knowledge of Disenchantment
Insight Knowledge that Desires Deliverance
Insight Knowledge of Reobservation
The Ten Aspects of Insight into Impermanence The Twenty- Five Aspects of Insight into Unsatisfactoriness The Five Aspects of Insight into Not-Self Mature Reobservation
Insight Knowledge of Equanimity toward Phenomena
How Phenomena Are Observed from Two Aspects How Phenomena Are Observed from Four Aspects How Phenomena Are Observed from Six Aspects How Phenomena Are Observed from Eight Aspects How Phenomena Are Observed from Ten Aspects How Phenomena Are Observed from Twelve Aspects The Three Stages of Equanimity Peak Insight Knowledge of Equanimity toward Phenomena
Knowledge that Leads to Emergence
Adaptation Knowledge of Change-of-Lineage Path Knowledge and Fruition Knowledge A Word of Caution
Reviewing Knowledge
Five Subjects to Consider Abandonment of Defilements Confirming Stream Entry The Great Reviewing Knowledges (Mahapaccavekkhananana)
Attainment of Fruition
Three Types of Insight The Benefit of Attaining Fruition Entering the Attainment of Fruition The Experience of the Attainment of Fruition Emerging from the Attainment of Fruition Unstable Attainment Varying Degrees of Mastery
Nibbana
Definitions of Nibbana Two Types of Nibbana Experiencing Nibbana
7. The Eighteen Great Insight Knowledges
The Seven Main Contemplations
Contemplation of Impermanence Contemplation of Unsatisfactoriness Contemplation of Not-Self Contemplation of Disenchantment Contemplation of Dispassion Contemplation of Cessation Contemplation of Relinquishment
The Remaining Contemplations
Contemplation of Destruction Contemplation of Fall Contemplation of Change Contemplation of the Signless Contemplation of the Desireless Contemplation of Emptiness Insight into Phenomena that Is Higher Wisdom Knowledge and Vision of Things as They Really Are Contemplation of Danger Contemplation Reflection Contemplation of Turning Away
Mahasi Sayadaws Closing Words
List of Abbreviations
Notes Pali-English Glossary
English-Pali Glossary
Bibliography
Index About Vipassana Metta Foundation