Tranquillity & Insight

by Amadeo Solé-Leris

Book by Sole-Leris, Amadeo

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1986

Reviews

[Leroy Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clear overview of the practices of Theravada Buddhism. Touches on just about every key aspect and presents itself in a way which is quite palatable. Serves as a good compass for where one might wish to look further.

[james · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucid description of the fundamental characteristics of Theravada Buddhism meditation. Amadeo goes into the absorptions and how the first four differ from the next four. The first four can be attained through samatha techniques while the latter are attained through vipassana. I liked Amadeo's description of what is left over with the dissolution of the body, psychic residue. This book stresses buddhism as the middle way, neither affirming an everlasting abode for a soul nor the total annihilation of the being upon the dissolution of the body. What is left to be reborn are the karmic fruits we bring into being through our lived out actions. What "this" is specifically has not been spelled out in any book on buddhism I have ever read. Nirvana is ineffable, incapable of being explained through any carefully reasoned thought. I'm perfectly ok with this by the way. It makes perfect sense to me that we leave ripples in our wake and these are our essence to be reborn or reawakened in our wake. Amadeo is smart and so is this book. It's full of references and pays an homage to U Ba Khin illustrating how a devotion to the buddha's teachings can orient a life, changing not only us for the better but those around us as well.