Daniel Ingram - Mastering the Core Teachings of Buddha - An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book

MASTERING

THE

CORE T EACHINGS

OF THE

BUDDHA

An Unusually Hardcore

Dharma Book

by

The Interdependent Universe

but conventionally attributed to

The Arahat

Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH

Third Edition

Copyright © April, 2007, By Daniel M. Ingram

daniel_ingram@interactivebuddha.com

www.interactivebuddha.com

This book is dedicated to the memory of the late Bill Hamilton.

His relentless dedication to the cultivation and promotion of wisdom despite all the consequences made him a truly great teacher.

CONTENTS

Contents......................................................................................................i Foreword and Warning..............................................................iv Part I: The Fundamentals.........................................................................1

1. Introduction to Part I..............................................................2

2. Morality, The First and Last Training....................................4

3. Concentration, The Second Training.....................................9

4. Wisdom, The Third Training................................................12

5. The Three Characteristics.......................................................16

Impermanence................................................................................................16

Suffering..........................................................................................................26

No-self.............................................................................................................28

The Five Spiritual Faculties .......................................................34

Faith and Wisdom..........................................................................................34

Energy and Concentration..............................................................................35

Mindfulness.....................................................................................................36

6. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment ....................................38

Mindfulness.....................................................................................................38

Investigation of the Truth...............................................................................40

Energy.............................................................................................................44

Rapture............................................................................................................44

Tranquility.......................................................................................................46

Concentration.................................................................................................47

Equanimity......................................................................................................47

7. The Three Trainings Revisited...............................................52

8. The Four Noble Truths .........................................................60

Truth Number One: Suffering.......................................................................60

Truth Number Two: “Desire”........................................................................62

Truth Number Three: The End of Suffering.................................................65

Truth Number Four: The Path......................................................................66

9. Practical Meditation Considerations.......................................67

When, where and for how long?....................................................................67

Daily life and Retreats.....................................................................................68

Postures...........................................................................................................73

Objects for Insight Practices...........................................................................75

Resolve............................................................................................................78

Teachers..........................................................................................................79

10. Summary................................................................................84

11. Conclusion to Part I..............................................................85

i

Part II: Light and Shadows......................................................................87

12. Introduction to Parts II & III................................................88

13. Buddhism vs. The Buddha *................................................92

14. Content and Ultimate Reality *.............................................97

15. What Went Wrong? *..........................................................102

16. A Clear Goal .........................................................................111

17. Harnessing the Energy of the “Defilements” .......................119

18. Right Thought and the Aegean Stables ................................124

19. From Content to Insight........................................................127

Part III: Mastery....................................................................................132

20. Concentration vs. Insight.......................................................133

21. The Concentration States (Samatha Jhanas) .......................139

The First Jhana...............................................................................................139

The Second Jhana...........................................................................................141

The Third Jhana.............................................................................................142

The Fourth Jhana............................................................................................143

The “Psychic Powers”.....................................................................................144

22. No-self vs. True Self .............................................................153

23. The Formless Realms ..........................................................159

Boundless Space, The Fifth Jhana..................................................................159

Boundless Consciousness, The Sixth Jhana...................................................160

Nothingness, The Seventh Jhana....................................................................161

Neither Perception Nor Yet Non-perception,

The Eighth Jhana............................................................................................163

24. The Progress of Insight ........................................................166

1. Mind and Body...........................................................................................171

2. Cause and Effect.........................................................................................172

3. The Three Characteristics..........................................................................173

4. The Arising and Passing Away....................................................................175

5. Dissolution, Entrance to the Dark Night....................................................181

6. Fear.............................................................................................................191

7. Misery..........................................................................................................191

8. Disgust.........................................................................................................192