The Ideas and Meditative Practices of Early Buddhism

Abstract

Preface ; Introduction ; Literature and Abbreviations ; An outline of the most ancient form of Buddhism ; I. DHYANA--MEDITATION ; 1. The Buddha finds the middle way, i.e. the dhyana meditation ; 2. The first sermon ; 3. The noble eightfold path ; 4. The four noble truths ; 5. The Buddha's full enlightenment ; 6. The preparation for dhyana in the detailed description of the dhyana-path ; 7. The immeasurables ; 8. Liberating insight and the destruction of the cankers ; II. DISCRIMINATING INSIGHT ; 9. Discriminating insight ; 10. The twelvefold chain of dependent origination ; 11. No complete destruction ; III. SPHERE-MEDITATION ; 12. A more artificial form of meditation ; 13. The three layers of existence ; IV. KARMA ; 14. Karma in ancient times ; 15. Later developments ; Appendix: Mysticism in the Atthakavagga ; Index ;