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Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book

Daniel M. Ingram

4.32 · Rating details · 583 ratings · 82 reviews

* Author posits that enlightenment is an attainable goal* Argues that meditation is a method for examining reality. The very idea that the teachings of meditation 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 med ...more

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Paperback, 406 pages

Published November 30th 2008 by AEON Books (first published April 2007)

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Apr 28, 2012 Craig Shoemake rated it it was amazing

Shelves: buddhist-philosophy, contemplative-science, meditation, vipassana, insight-meditation

This is not your daddy’s Dharma book! (Your mommy’s neither.)

The differences start with the cover, and no, I’m not talking about the flaming dude with a chakra wheel for his heart. I’m talking about the author’s title: Arahat. Now, Ingram does have a regular title–he’s a medical doctor (M.D.) specializing in emergency medicine–”Everything from hangnails to heart attacks” he told me in a phone conversation. As you ought to know by now (if you read this blog regularly), an arhat (there are variant ...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Adam Shand rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spirit

This book changed everything I thought I knew about meditation and the spiritual path in general. He tackles the taboos and myths around the concept of enlightenment, clearly and succinctly lays out the stages and paths that spiritual progress takes and draws parallels and comparisons between Vipassana (often called Insight Meditation in the west) and other spiritual traditions.

Just when I was about to give up on my meditation practice in despair and disgust, this book reconnected me with my pra ...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Sky rated it really liked it

Shelves: essential, mind-brain-plus, ontoscopy-related

Excellent book.

Although i myself followed a somewhat different path, i recognize a lot of the issues Ingram addresses. He is very open and honest about the whole thing, which can only be applauded and encouraged.
I particularly like the many warnings to not get trapped in the more sophisticated illusions that are out there.
It is a very elaborate, enlightening and accessible work, but i have a few remarks.

It is a lot of text and guidance, from my perspective a little too much, giving people certai Excellent book.

Although i myself followed a somewhat different path, i recognize a lot of the issues Ingram addresses. He is very open and honest about the whole thing, which can only be applauded and encouraged.
I particularly like the many warnings to not get trapped in the more sophisticated illusions that are out there.
It is a very elaborate, enlightening and accessible work, but i have a few remarks.

It is a lot of text and guidance, from my perspective a little too much, giving people certain expectations of certain stages and how these feel like.
Everyone of us is different, with his/her specific issues and hangups, and while it is true that every path has its pitfalls, the one and only thing you really need to remember is to stay attentive, and confide in the fact that change is continuing, whatever feelings or thoughts arise, to dive further into the emptiness and fullness of living.

After all, it is all about getting to a natural, unconfused state of being (i don't really care about the different models, realms and concentration states, frankly). This is a natural process that needs a lot of artificial intervention in the beginning, but as you move on, it becomes more natural and evident. And if you are not ready for something, don't push it. Otherwise you've got to sit through the whole ride and deal with what comes up.
As the author suggests, the practice of "choiceless awareness" is a more natural approach to become aware of the subtleties of our thought structures and processes, and i personally stick to that, for the sake of simplicity. However, this may not be the best approach for other people.

As i have noted, it is a very explicit book - a whole bunch of things and processes are named and explained - which can be of good use, but it can also be a hindrance. I for myself would get lost in all the descriptions of the states and stages. There is no ideal guide of course. I suppose with all the info supplied, you're almost forced to consult a teacher to guide you through it all.
If you went observing along Krishnamurti's pointers like i did, without any formal retreats or meditation practice, it can be difficult and frustrating to have no concrete help whatsoever, and you need to come up with little techniques and useful reminders to somewhat know what you are actually doing or trying to do. But on the other hand, there are less concepts and confusing explanations to get rid of.
Ultimately, the authority and the questioning of that authority lies within you, and in the end there is nothing to hold onto, really. This is also mentioned in the book.

Also, i think it is much safer to stay grounded in the relative world, remaining mindful and open, to explore the meaning of things and nothingness through our relationship with the world, questioning the images we have built up over the years. That approach integrates both the content and the processes of thought, with less problems of getting lost in the absolute, as Ingram and others seem to have experienced much more extremely than myself (it is in fact big part of the Buddhist practice - delving into the absolute, usually while retreating, and then returning to "the real world"). Any path to truth has difficult phases, and these are affected immensely by how life is interpreted.
Perhaps "meaning" is the word i have been missing the most while reading.

In any case, this book is of great help to bring the ancient teachings of Buddha down to their essence, and to put a lot of things in perspective, free from all the glorious expectations and delusions.
It greatly contributes to the development of clearer and more efficient ways of insight practice, without all the nonsense.

Highly recommended! ...more

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Apr 27, 2018 Nick Imrie added it

Shelves: religion, religion-buddhism, religion-escape-from

Many of the major retreat centers that purport to foster insight practice in the US and Europe are actually bastions of the worst pop psychological bullshit retrofitted with a bastardized Buddhist front.

As you can see from the quote above, Daniel Ingram is not pulling any punches in this book!

At over 600 pages this is a long, dense, and wordy book. It's mostly very readable, because Ingram's two aims are simple: first, to debunk some of the nonsense that has grown up around western Buddhism which is frankly a hindrance to acheiving anything; second, to explain the procedure for getting to enlightenment in clear and simple terms.

In his first aim, he is forthright, biting, and funny, although he doesn't intend to be mean. I think he makes a good point that we need support, friends who are into what we are into, good teachers and places to practice. We wish to be in the company of fellow adventurers rather than lone wanderers in strange lands. Unfortunately, much of what we find is not particularly conducive to adventure and deep exploration.
So Ingram has some scathing things to say about people who waste their time in petty sectarian disputes: I am again astounded at how fixated people can be on the minute differences between their tradition and traditions that are so similar to theirs they can only be differentiated by the clothes people wear and the names they call things. Or the Westerners who practise Buddhism by 'becoming neurotic about being Buddhist, accumulating lots of pretty books and expensive props, learning just enough of some new language to be pretentious, and by siting on a cushion engaged in free-form psychological whatnot while doing nothing resembling meditative practices.'
He has entire chapters devoted to what meditation isn't and what you won't get from it including: perfectly clear chakras, immortality, perfect health, any specific knowledge about anything not related to sitting on a cushion and watching your own breath; perfect psychological health and an end to all neurosis and negative emotions; an end to thoughts; a hot bod; some kind of personal radiance that will make everyone in awe of you; a total absence of annoying people and events in your life; perpetual bliss; or transcendence of this earthly realm without actually having to go to the inconvenience of dying.
Alright, so we know what meditation isn't. So what is it? Ingram hammers one point: determined effort to realize the full truth of the Three Characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and no-self i.e. to realize ultimate reality.
As far as Ingram's concerned, anyone can achieve this if they follow the steps:

What the Buddha taught was really extremely simple and , as a practice, particularly unglamorous and generally quite difficult though manageable. If one has a chance to read the original texts, one sees again and again that what the Buddha taught was generally practical and as non-dogmatic as could be expected. He basically said, 'Do these very specific things, and these specific results will happen.' He had little use for ritual, ceremony or philosophy that was not for some practical purpose.

Ingram does an exhaustive job of drawing a map of the stages one passes through on the way to enlightenment. He's adamant that knowing the stages can really ease your progress. There are certain points where most people get discouraged, so it's good to be forewarned that you shouldn't give up now! Like marathon runners pushing through 'The Wall'. Likewise, there are certain stages that feel pretty good, like when your concentration has advanced to a point that you can fairly easily slip into moods of great joy or equanimity. Who wouldn't want to stay at that stage forever? But with Ingram's maps, you can keep your eyes on the prize and stay moving.
Perhaps the only thing that Ingram can't explain is what really is the value of realizing ultimate reality, and why he can't just tell us what that is so we don't have to spend a decade sitting on a cushion. Everyone seems to agree that at some point trying to describe enlightenment to the unenlightened is nearly impossible, like trying to describe colour to people who are not only blind, but sceptical that there is any such thing as sight at all. Ingram worries that any attempt to explain will be misunderstood and lead to misleading preconceptions. He ends up quoting the late great Bill Hamilton: 'Highly recommended, couldn't say why.'
And frankly, as a novice meditator who has not yet even achieved access concentration, some of the higher level stuff looks completely baffling to me. What are we to make of this:

When the emptiness door predominates with suffering as it's second aspect, then a very strange thing happens. There is an image on one side staring back, and then the universe becomes a toroid (doughnut), and the image and this side of the toroid change places as the toroid universe spins. The spinning includes the whole background of space in all directions. Fruition occurs when the two have changed places and the whole thing vanishes.

For now, I'll just have to take his word for it. ...more

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Feb 09, 2018 Teo 2050 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: _contents, _audio, _nonfiction, meditation, unconditioning, by_md, sensation-perception, affective_valence, pain-suffering, lib_slatestarcodex

~10h @ 1.5x. (IIRC, I first found this through the review on Slate Star Codex.)

I respect the straightforwardness with which Ingram lays out what he does and doesn’t believe in, or has experienced himself, after his apparently extensive history of meditation & theorizing. It was especially refreshing to consider the perspective of someone with such a strong preference for explicitly mapping out all that there is to (achieve through) meditation.

One thing that struck me as odd was how Ingram pr ~10h @ 1.5x. (IIRC, I first found this through the review on Slate Star Codex.)

I respect the straightforwardness with which Ingram lays out what he does and doesn’t believe in, or has experienced himself, after his apparently extensive history of meditation & theorizing. It was especially refreshing to consider the perspective of someone with such a strong preference for explicitly mapping out all that there is to (achieve through) meditation.

One thing that struck me as odd was how Ingram privileged the hypothesis of real, causal, paranormal psychic “Powers”—attainable through meditation?—to the extent of talking of their ethical use. Other than that, I’ll just admit that it’ll be a long way for 3rd person science to catch up with the deeper meditative states/stages to disconfirm any maps, or dependency structures in what can lead to what, in favor of others. So it was interesting to hear how someone is so subjectively opinionated on so much and simultaneously able to articulate the myriad variables & alternative views involved.

I can’t claim to have experienced the states/stages discussed, but I respect the openness of Ingram & others who can, because if real, they’re incredibly interesting & should be studied. In sum, I found it a good exercise to consider my attitudes toward this book in all its arrogance, clarity, and provocativeness. It should give anyone interested and/or experienced in meditation a lot to think about. If only science would as manically explore all this stuff soon, so we could agree on a map and better concentrate on what helps!

Contents:
(view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Bruce rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spirituality, personal-development, non-fiction

I read this in electronic version, which is available FREE from the author's website http://www.interactivebuddha.com/ You can also get a physical copy from the usual places.

As interested as I am in spirituality, I've gone 45 years without knowing the technical (buddhist) meaning of the term enlightenment. Until I read this book. If you are interested in the topic, whether you know nothing about Buddhism or are a practicing Buddhist, then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. I would give it 10 stars if ...more

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Jan 21, 2018 Clícia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: always, read-again

An objective mind wrote this book. To me, Ingram was the decoder of many scriptures and he summarized it all in this book. It is not a manual for meditation per se. It is more a study of the core teachings. It gives important information on the theory of meditation and self-realization based on the eastern culture.

I think it is a good reading for analytical/objective/practical minds. There is no self-help in the lines written. Quite the opposite. He takes the truth and smashes into your face. In ...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Steve Woods rated it it was amazing

Shelves: buddhism, meditation

Many years ago, ravaged by the effects of an abused childhood and ptsd as a result of service in two wars I turned in a moment of desperation to meditation for relief from the insanity, violence and self hatred that were ripping through my mind and had driven me to the edge of suicide. I had been introduced to meditation decades ago and even though my experience had been restricted to some basic concentration practices, the one thing I did remember was that for whatever time I spent in meditatio Many years ago, ravaged by the effects of an abused childhood and ptsd as a result of service in two wars I turned in a moment of desperation to meditation for relief from the insanity, violence and self hatred that were ripping through my mind and had driven me to the edge of suicide. I had been introduced to meditation decades ago and even though my experience had been restricted to some basic concentration practices, the one thing I did remember was that for whatever time I spent in meditation the maniac in my head would shut up. All else had failed including the predictable addictions that traditionally provide shelter for those in my position at least for a time, now short of blowing my brains out, an option that was acquiring drive by the day a retreat to meditation seemed the only option....and so the journey began.

A long and tumultuous journey, one that I blundered through with little or no understanding, except that which I gained from reading books on practice and psychology. Of the former most were the standard explorations of Buddhist thinking and of the latter most were outliers, like Stanislav Grof, Eugene Gendlin and Carl Rogers. They all provided some context and at least of modicum of guidance and comfort that, despite the intensity of my experience, the depths of despair and and the emotional agony, this was the only way forward. I continued to practice without having a clue of the direction or the procession of that journey.

I truly needed this book then! This is the only discussion of the stages of either concentration or insight I have read that makes all clear, it would have been so helpful to have had the direction it provides and the descriptions of the spiritual terrain before me rather than spending weeks and months at various times drowning in a sense of slipping slowly into insanity. The upshot was that I made it to a point where I could go no further it was all just too much for me. I slid back into the submersion in conditioned reality, referenced still by much of what deludes us all, despite the many realizations and insights I had gained that have remained with me. I have sat now for two years in the the nether regions, not here nor there. Stuck, seemingly with no where further to go.

Reading this book I can now see in context what has happened. where I have been and where I now stand, what is behind and what is before me. I have to admit that i feel such clarity, relief and satisfaction that I made it as far as I did. Time to take up the challenge again and move on, the path now seems clear and at least I have been through it all once before I know what is before me and that I am capable of navigating the dark places as well as soaring through the light.

It is just so frustrating to know that this guidance could have been delivered by any one of the many books I have read already if the people who wrote them had had the courage to break the stupid seal of mystery so prevalent among those who practice, if they had not been so irresponsible as to keep it all from me. They robbed me of understanding, direction and time. Just to know that the gaining of insight is a bitch as well as a blessing would have been so helpful. To know that what was happening to me happens to all who tread the same road would have been a great deal more reassuring than the thought that I was basically skirting the edges of certifiable insanity. I had reached by blind determination something so worthwhile when it just felt to me like I had failed in some way. A pity; it robbed me of the courage to persist.

This book should be prescribed reading for anyone embarking upon the meditation journey. At least then they would know what might follow and could then make decisions about whether concentration practice might be all they want and whether the pursuit of insight is something they have the stomach for before they start. ...more

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Jan 11, 2015 Tord Helsingeng rated it really liked it

Well, as the subtitle says, this is a book for serious or even zealous practitioners. "Vast emptiness, nothing holy" seems to fit the bill even though that quote is from the zen lineage. Ingram is quite provocative in his writing and even puts a certain symbol (electric/flash) on many chapters which may be especially provocative to traditional buddhists. It is certainly a book that aims for enlightenment through intense practice of the theravada variety. I especially like Ingram's mapping of the ...more

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May 10, 2009 Martinxo rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: meditators

Shelves: 2009, spirituality, self-development, consciousness

This is a key book for clear and precise meditation instruction. Ingram is no half-hearted new-agey Buddhist, he takes you quickly to the point and then it us up to you. Highly recommended.

Worth checking out his site:

http://interactivebuddha.com/

and getting involved in the conversation at:

www.dharmaoverground.wetpaint.com

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Nov 15, 2018 Bon Tom rated it it was amazing

After some time in the book, I was thinking the same thing author proposed at the end of the book: If I only had this book as a guide at certain times in my life, years ago, when I was experimenting with mental states, especially those induced by concentration practices. And experiencing some wild mental states, nobody ever confirmed in speech or in literature as real. Until now.

So, to potential lucky reader: this book isn't messing around. Experiences described within are real. So take it seri ...more

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Oct 01, 2017 Paul Iversen rated it it was amazing

Wish I'd read this a decade ago. An invaluable overview and map for meditation practice. Free copy available on the author's website: http://integrateddaniel.info/book/

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Feb 22, 2019 Scav Jennings rated it it was amazing

True spirituality. Not fucking around. I used this book to become a master of altered states

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Dec 06, 2017 Jon Bash rated it really liked it

This book is hard to rate and review. I'll start with what I considered the bad.

THE BAD
--------

- The writing is subpar, to say the least. I can't be too hard on him since this was written in his spare time without anything resembling a professional editor, but the spelling/grammar errors, weird organization, funky formatting, etc get really obnoxious.
- Daniel is prone to long, angry rants that don't seem to serve much of a purpose beyond venting, and even when they do serve a purpose, it's obvio ...more

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May 06, 2012 Mitchell rated it really liked it

Shelves: spirituality

If you are not on a spiritual path toward enlightenment (awakening), this book is not for you. If you are on such path and hold to a specific tradition, then Daniel Ingram’s arrogant and irreverent tone, as well as some of the spiritual taboos he addresses, is likely to offend you, perhaps profoundly. Lightening-flash symbols for chapters and sections that might be considered controversial, to some, are clearly marked and are also addressed as a warning in the forward.

For the relatively small nu If you are not on a spiritual path toward enlightenment (awakening), this book is not for you. If you are on such path and hold to a specific tradition, then Daniel Ingram’s arrogant and irreverent tone, as well as some of the spiritual taboos he addresses, is likely to offend you, perhaps profoundly. Lightening-flash symbols for chapters and sections that might be considered controversial, to some, are clearly marked and are also addressed as a warning in the forward.

For the relatively small number of people who are on a spiritual path toward enlightenment and are perhaps adverse to various traditions and dogma, then this may be the most valuable resource that you are ever likely to find anywhere.

Understanding what you read here and then putting it into practice just might save you precious time and countless thousands of dollars finding the right teachers, pathways and books and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The paradox, of course, is that you still have to investigate all this is on your own. As Ingram stresses over and over again, there is no substitute for investigating the true nature of reality through direct sensate experience and it takes practice, practice, and practice no matter what stage of the Path you are on.

The author does a masterful job of explaining the distinctions between concentration practices and insight or wisdom practices, which are rarely found elsewhere. Characterizing the various states of concentration and the progressive stages to enlightenment, Ingram maps an accessible pathway. Interestingly, at the highest levels, concentration practices are associated with various kinds of psychic powers and sorcery, and, according to Ingram, cannot and will not lead to enlightenment and that such practices are not needed to awaken.

Perhaps the most honest, insightful and least heard notions that Ingram puts forth is that enlightenment and its various stages are attainable by anyone who is serious and works hard at it. In fact, he proclaims that enlightenment is easier to attain than purging of all our personal “stuff” (issues, flaws, quirks, pain, negative emotions, traumas, cultural baggage, childhood scars, fears, relationship difficulties, insecurities, etc.) that many people attribute to enlightened beings. This purge doesn’t necessarily take place. Being an arahat or buddha will not solve or eliminate our personal stuff—while finding this out is a drag, at least Ingram has the courage to tell it like it is.

Ingram openly identifies as an Arahat and debunks much of the magic, mystery and mastery that surrounds a spiritual practice by bringing it down to earth and putting it into practical terms. For this and so many other reasons, this is a handy book of have for those who are on such a spiritual path.

...more

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Jul 24, 2015 Amit Srivastava rated it it was amazing

What is enlightenment? If you've ever questioned and made an attempt to understand it, almost certainly you wouldn't have found a satisfactory answer. Do yourself a favor by stopping to look for it elsewhere and read this book now!

I do not mean to say that other books/texts may not have this answer, but I can assure that this book will not disappoint. It is written in a brutally honest, utterly cynical (sometimes), down to the nuts and bolts, cut-the-myths-and-hypes, non decorative, straight-to- ...more

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Aug 30, 2015 John Davis rated it really liked it

Shelves: rereadme, dreaming, todo

This is a hard book to review for me, a non-buddhist non-meditator starting from zero. I tore through the first half of the book if a couple of days; Ingram's discourse on buddhist virtues was great, and his criticism of other sects and western "Jet Set" nihilo-buddhism was informative. I bogged down in the descriptions of the various jhanas and nanas, as these were far from my attainment (I began meditating after reading, and did hit something resembling access concentration, but failed to sust ...more

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Jul 02, 2015 Dean rated it it was amazing

Shelves: buddhism, eastern-philosophy, mysticism, meditation, non-fiction, nonduality, spirituality, zen

One of the best contemporary dharma/meditation/spiritual practice books and commentary written in modern times. This book really gets at the core of what Buddhism _should_ be about and focus on with its practices- however, this book could easily apply to any of the major religions or practical spiritual paths aiming at self-transformation and 'enlightenment'. I like the direct advice given, and also the conceptual mappings throughout the book detailing possible stopping places along the spiritua ...more

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Jan 05, 2014 Cypherks rated it really liked it

Having read a lot of Buddhist texts over the last few years, and diving into Dzogchen as well, I was always left with more questions and felt that I was chasing a rabbit down a hole than never ended. Never have I read so many books about nothing!

This is the first Buddhist book I've read that makes sense. Stripped away of flowery language and allegory, Daniel Ingram lays it all out for you to follow along with. Sit down, meditate, do this, this and this. Then you'll run into very familiar, very ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Eryk Banatt rated it it was ok

I read this book after it was recommended to me as a down-to-earth book about Dharma, and I think for what it is, it does quite well.

I think it's pretty important to understand this review to know that I have very few points put into spirituality, and do not consider myself a dharma practitioner. As such, this review is distinctly from the outside looking in, and I recognize that a great deal of my gripes are from a place of ignorance / outside the intended audience.

As someone decidedly unspir ...more

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Aug 08, 2013 Juergen rated it liked it

This book's a bit of a slog. I'd offer another star if it was better edited. That said, the collection of information available herein is invaluable to one who has a bit of practice time logged. The treatment given by Ingram to the Progress of Insight, as delineated by the Visuddhimagga and preferred by those in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition, is golden. If you find yourself in contemplative territories, it would be immensely helpful to have a map to help you circumnavigate the pathways. The Progr ...more

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Jul 25, 2013 Susan Tucker rated it really liked it

Not a philosophy book, this book is a how-to guide for the serious meditator. I appreciate the book for describing the territory and aims of insight practice and concentration practice in a way I've never seen before. Many vague notions were cleared up for me.

I've never been a serious meditator, and the chapters quickly got into territory far beyond my experiences and comprehension. I have a feeling I'll be re-reading this one.

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Jan 18, 2013 Rick rated it it was amazing

Best book on meditation ever. By far. And one certainly doesn't have to be a Buddhist to appreciate or benefit from.

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Oct 05, 2013 Ted rated it it was amazing

Shelves: buddhism

For serious Buddhist meditators, iconoclastic and indispensable.

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Jan 16, 2018 Elf M. rated it it was ok

I'm just a novice meditator, so my impressions may be off, but after reading Daniel Ingram's Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, I feel like I've just come out of one of those Discordian lessons on guerilla ontology, not quite recalibrated to what is useful and what is not. Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, usually referred to by its fans and detractors as MCTB, is as far as I've been able to determine a controversial book by a controversial teacher within Western Buddhism, and ...more

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Nov 26, 2018 Jakob rated it really liked it

This book stands out among all the dharma books i’ve read due to its practical and technical approach to meditation mastery. It also pulls no punches in criticism of western mindfulness culture, which is refreshing. It puts emphasis exactly where other books about Buddhism fail to; that is, the actual practice of meditation and what progress along that path looks like.

I have used several of the techniques laid out in the book to further my meditation practice and it has helped to motivate me to ...more

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Feb 08, 2017 Fundinn rated it it was ok

I like how Daniel goes off on a tangent for 10 pages about the terrible and dramatic effects of sitting on a cushion and then writes off one sentence about how all of that may simply not happen to you and you may just very well have gone through the storm without even noticing it.

The book seems to have been written by an individual who was visibly hurt during his ascension(or should I say degeneration?) towards enlightenment.

Heartfelt, Daniel urges the ex-heroic addict on retreat to keep practi ...more

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Sep 07, 2017 Wayne's rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this book and it has some no nonsense advice. It also has a lot of stuff about mystical experiences that I cannot really relate to or grasp.

My view is that mindfulness and other basic buddhist practice has a lot to offer which has little to do with religion but a lot to do with a fundamental understanding of how people are. I think also that there are some people that experience "mystical" phenomenon and that many traditions have tried to understand these and there is in those traditio ...more

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Nov 17, 2018 Riikka rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened-as-an-audiobook, zen

Very interesting, in a way clarifying and often even a fun read, if you happen to find witty criticism of different traditions, models or behaviours fun. It motivated me to rethink the goals of my meditation practice, though the fruits of this rethinking will remain to be seen.

I'd give a five-star rating if it wasn't for sometimes a bit too exhaustive rants of different people doing it wrong (reminds me of Elizier Yudkowsky in Less Wrong). Great job pointing out possible misguidance or pitfalls ...more

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Dec 15, 2018 Marco Pontual rated it liked it

Shelves: buddhism, meditation, abandoned

I don't know, something kept not clicking while I was reading the book, despite the author having his info on buddhism apparently straight. I'm sure the fact that the author is on the extreme self-promoting side of the spectrum is also hardly helpful when trying to connect with the material.

Maybe I'll get back to it someday, but with so many books written by kind and humble sages out there it's more likely that I won't.

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“This is a really slippery business, and many people can get all into craving for non-craving and desiring non-attachment. This can be useful if it is done wisely and it is actually all we have to work with. If common sense is ignored, however, desiring non-attachment may produce neurotic, self-righteous, repressed ascetics instead of balanced, kind meditators. A” — 1 likes

“At the most fundamental level, the level that is the most useful for doing insight practices, we wish desperately that there was some separate, permanent self, and we spend huge amounts of time doing our best to prop up this illusion. In order to do this, we habitually ignore lots of useful information about our reality and give our mental impressions and simplifications of reality much more importance than they are necessarily due. It is this illusion that adds a problematic element to the normal and understandable ways in which we go about trying to be happy. We constantly struggle with reality because we misunderstand it, i.e. because reality misunderstands itself.” — 1 likes

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