Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha : An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book - Revised and Expanded Edition

"The very idea that Buddhist teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Daniel Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise"--Amazon.com. Cover 1 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Preface to the Second Edition 14 Foreword and Warning 16 Part I: The Fundamentals 26 1. Introduction 28 2. Morality, The First and Last Training 31 3. Concentration, The Second Training 38 4. Wisdom, The Third Training 42 5. The Three Characteristics 46 6. The Five Spiritual Faculties 63 7. The Secen Factors of Awakening 68 8. The Three Trainings Revisited 83 9. The Four Noble Truths 90 10. Objects for Insights Practices 96 11. On Teachers 101 12. Daily Life and Retreats 111 13. A Few Odds and Ends About Retreats 113 14. Post-Retreat Advice 119 15. Postures 121 16. Resolve 124 Part II: Light and Shadows 126 17. Introduction to Parts Two Through Five 128 18. Buddhism Versus the Buddha 131 19. Content and Ultimate Reality 135 20. What Went Wrong? 140 21. A Clear Goal 147 22. Harnessing the Energy of the Defilements 154 23. Right Thought and the Augean Stables 159 24. From Content to Insight 162 Part III: The Shamantha Jhanas 166 25. Introduction to Part Three 168 26. The Wide World of Jhana 170 27. The Concentration States (Shamatha Jhanas) 181 28. The Formless Realms 196 29. Kasina Practice 206 Part IV: Insight 216 30. The Progress of Insight 218 31. The Three Doors 284 32. "What Was That?" 290 33. Review 298 34. The Vipassana Jhanas 303 35. How the Maps Help 319 36. Beyond First Path (What Next?") 325 Part V: Awakening 334 37. Models of the Stages of Awakening 336 38. Integration 441 39. It Is Possible! 445 40. More on the "Mushroom Factor" 447 41. So, Who the Heck is Daniel M. Ingram? 456 Part VI: My Spiritual Quest 460 42. Backstory 462 43. The Early Years 466 44. Bodysurfing 472 45. College and Pre-Buddhist Exploration 474 46. The Middle Years 476 47. Thank U, India 480 48. The First Bodh Gaya Retreat 487 49. The First MBMC Retreat 489 50. The Dark Night Gets Ugly 494 51. The Second Bodh Gaya Retreat 496 52. The Great Stream Enterer 500 53. Dharma Power, Dharma Poison 503 54. The Middle Paths 505 55. Map Failure 514 56. Wandering 518 57. Kansas, Powers, and Retreats 521 58. Introduction to the Powers 523 59. Are the Powers Real? 526 60. Paradigm Fluency 527 61. Crazy? 530 62. Those Damn Fairies... 539 63. Definitions of the Powers 542 64. Ethics and the Powers 544 65. How to Cultivate the Powers 549 66. Made Pliant and Malleable 553 67. Benefits of the Powers 556 68. Magick and the Brahma Viharas 560 69. Bhavana Society 2001 Retreat 577 70. Around the World and Finding Home 583 71. More Practical Tidbits 591 72. Conclusion and Best Wishes 597 Index 600 Backcover 622 The very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise. Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas.