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Index
How to Practice Shamatha Meditation
Copyright
Contents
Editor’s Note
Part I: Introduction to the Teachings
1. Prelude to the Practice
Unsuitable Motivations
Meaningful Motivations
Rebirth in the Form or Formless Realms
Liberation, or Nirvana
Full Awakening
2. Guidelines for Practice
The Seven-Limb Puja
Building a Strong Foundation
Patience
Physical and Mental Obstacles
Potential Problems
Questions and Answers
Part II: The Collection of Causes for the Cultivation of Shamatha
3. The Six Essential Causes
1. Dwelling in a Favorable Environment
2 & 3. Reducing Desires and Developing Contentment
4. Rejecting a Multitude of Activities
5. Maintaining Pure Moral Discipline
6. Rejecting Thoughts of Desire for Sensual Objects
4. Cultivating Shamatha in Dependence upon the Essential Causes
Preparation
The Actual Practice
Posture and Other Physical Aspects
Counting the Breath
Questions and Answers
Part III: Cultivating Faultless Samadhi
5. How to Perform Prior to Directing the Mind to the Object of Meditation
The First Fault: Laziness
Four Antidotes to Laziness
Pliancy
Enthusiasm
Aspiration
Faith
The Interaction of the Four Antidotes
The Excellent Qualities of Shamatha
Questions and Answers
6. Another Look at Bodhichitta
7. Directing the Mind to the Object During Meditation
Ascertaining the Specific Object of Meditation
The Second Fault: Forgetfulness
Establishing the Faultless Approach
Nondiscursive Stability
Strength of Clarity
The Third Fault: Laxity and Excitement
Maintaining Awareness of the Object
Antidotes to Laxity and Excitement
Dispelling a Faulty Approach
Duration of Sessions
Understanding That Arises from Reflection
Questions and Answers
8. Meditating on Impermanence
9. How One Performs After Directing the Mind to the Object
The Practice When Either Laxity or Excitement Arises
The Definition of Laxity
The Definition of Excitement
Cultivating Vigilance That Recognizes Laxity and Excitement
The Fourth Fault: Nonapplication
The Antidote to Nonapplication
The Definition of Intention
Additional Remedies for Laxity
Additional Remedies for Excitement
Recognizing the Causes of Laxity and Excitement
The Fifth Fault: Application
The Antidote to Application
A Brief Summary of the Five Faults and Eight Antidotes
Questions and Answers
10. Meditation: The Cultivation of Virtue
11. The Stages of Cultivating the Mental States
The Nine Mental States
Differences between the Nine Mental States
Questions and Answers
12. Patience and Fortitude
13. The Mental Powers and Forms of Attention
Accomplishing the Six Mental Powers
The Four Forms of Attention
Part IV: The Criteria for Having Attained Shamatha
14. Pliancy
The First and Last Antidote
Signs of Pliancy
Questions and Answers
15. A Few Final Words
Dedication
Glossary
Further Reading
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