Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book (Second Edition Revised and Expanded)

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. This book sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based (sometimes referred to as Zen) and insight (Vipassana) meditation. The author 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.