Gives a representative sample of the various kinds of meditations described in the earliest body of Buddhist scripture, the Pali canon. This book provides an introduction to their traditional context and practice and supplies explanation, context and doctrinal background to the subject of meditation.

It demonstrates that the Buddha's meditative tradition still offers a path of practice as mysterious, awe-inspiring yet as freshly accessible as it was centuries ago, and will be of interest to students and scholars of Buddhism as well as Buddhist practitioners.

Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
i. What is meditation?
ii. The early manuals
iii. The classification of meditation objects
iv. Different temperaments
v. Finding a teacher or 'good friend'
vi. Lay people and the practice of meditation
vii. Sitting posture
viii. Samatha and Vipassana
Chapter 2
Meditation: introductory texts
Chapter 3
The five hindrances
Chapter 4
Longer Texts:
Concentration and the fruits of recluseship: the Samannaphala Sutta
Chapter
Longer Texts:
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: the Satipannhana Sutta
Chapter 6
(1--10) The ten devices (kasina)
Chapter 7
(11--20) The ten foulnesses (asubha)
Chapter 8
(21--30) The ten recollections: six recollections (anussati)
(21--3) The Triple Gem
(21) The recollection of the Buddha (Buddhanussati)
(22) The recollection of the dhamma (dhammanussati)
(23) The recollection of the sangha (sanghanussati)
The recollection of virtue (silanussati)
The recollection of generosity (caganussati)
The recollection of devas (devatanussati)
Groups of recollections
Chapter 9
The ten recollections: four mindfulnesses (sati)
Mindfulness of death (maranasati)
Mindfulness of the body (kayagatasati)
Mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati)
The recollection of peace (upasamanussati)
Chapter 10
(31-34) The four divine abidings (brahmavihara)
Chapter 11
(35-38) Meditation on the formless (arupasamapatti)
Chapter 12
(39) The perception of loathsomeness in food (Ahare patikkulasanna)
(40) The defining of the four elements (Catudhatuvavatthana)
Conclusion: sila, samadhi and panna
Bibliography
Translator's note
Glossary
[Canonical references]
Index