Satipahāna Sutta: Discourse in which the Buddha described mindfulness meditation.
Sayadaw: Burmese word meaning “great teacher;” a monk who teaches meditation or an abbot of a monastery.
Siddhattha, Prince: The Buddha’s personal name and rank (Skt: Siddhartha).
sīla: Morality.
sīlashin nun: A member of the Burmese lineage of woman renunciates who take eight or ten precepts, shave their heads, and wear pink or brown robes.
Sonā Therī: Name of an elderly woman who became a bhikkhunī and attained enlightenment after being cast out by her children.
sotāpanna: Stream enterer. One who has attained the first stage of enlightenment by experiencing nibbāna for the first time. Such a person uproots the illusion of self as well as doubt in the efficacy of meditation practice; will not be reborn as an animal or in hell due to the weakening of his or her defilements; and ceases to believe that any rite or ritual can bring about liberation.
Subhadda: A non-Buddhist renunciate to whom the Buddha preached on his deathbed, and who thereby became the last disciple to be converted by the Buddha.
sukha: Happiness, contentment, pleasant feeling. The fourth factor of the first jhāna.
Sumedha: Name of a hermit who undertook the bodhisatta vow to attain perfect enlightenment, and eventually became the historical Buddha.
sutta: Discourse of the Buddha. Collected, the suttas form the “Second Basket” of basic texts in Buddhism.
Sutta Nipāta: Early text containing discourses of the Buddha.
tahā: Thirst; craving.
tatra majjhattatā: Mental balance. An aspect of equanimity.
Tāvatimsa: The Heaven of the Thirty-Three Gods. Deva realm where the Buddha delivered a discourse on Abhidhamma to his mother, who had died and been reborn there, and where the bhikkhu of “Chariot to Nibbāna” was reborn upon his death during meditation practice.
Thera: Elder. Respectful suffix added to the name of an elder monk.
Theravāda: Literally, “the speech of the elders.” Buddhist tradition based on Pāli canonical scriptures, found in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and now in the West.
Therī: Female elder. Respectful suffix added to the name of an elder nun.
thīna: Mental factor of torpor.
thīna middha: Sloth and torpor. Specifically, the mental factor of thīna, or torpor, considered together with middha, its effects on surrounding mental factors and therefore on the mental state as a whole. Stiff and unworkable mental state; the Fifth Army of Māra and the fourth hindrance.
Tissa: Young man in the Buddha’s day who renounced the world to become a bhikkhu, and eventually became an arahant by meditating on the pain of his broken legs.
Udaka the Rāmaputta: A famous meditation teacher of the Buddha’s day, and one of the Bodhisatta’s two main instructors.
uddhacca kukkucca: Restlessness and worry. The fourth hindrance.
upādāna: Clinging. The mind’s grasping onto an object and refusing to let go.
upasama sukha: The well-being and bliss of tranquility that results from freedom from the oppressive kilesas.
upekkhā: Equanimity, balance of energy; the quality of mind that remains centered without inclining toward extremes. Seventh factor of enlightenment.
vicāra: The aspect of concentration consisting of the mind’s “rubbing” against the object. Second factor of the first jhāna.
vicikicchā: Doubt; skeptical criticism; the exhaustion of mind that comes about through conjecture. The Seventh Army of Māra and the fifth hindrance.
vikkhambhana viveka: State where the defilements are weak and distant, no longer as troubling to the mental state. Results from kāya viveka and citta viveka, defined above.
Vinaya: Rules of discipline for monks; the monks’ way of life; the “First Basket,” or group of texts, in Buddhism.
vipāka: The result of kamma. Conditions that arise due to past actions.
vipassanā: Literally, “seeing through various modes.” The energetic observation of mental and physical objects in their aspect of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and lack of an inherent, independent essence or self.
vipassanā jhāna: 1) The continuous focusing of the mind on paramattha dhammas, that is, objects that can be known directly without the mediation of concepts. 2) The mind that, while ranging freely from object to object, remains fixed on the characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and absence of self.
vipassanā kilesas: Defilements of insight. Chiefly appear during the stage of insight into the rapid arising and passing away of phenomena. Great bliss and rapture occur at this time. The defilements of insight consist of grasping at these pleasant experiences resulting from insight, without being fully aware that one is grasping at them.
vīrāna bhāvo: State of the heroic ones; word for the quality of effort required in meditation practice.
viriya: The energy or effort expended to direct the mind continuously toward the object. Derived from the word for hero. Third factor of enlightenment.
Visuddhi Magga: “The Path of Purification.” A major and exhaustive instructive text written in the fifth century C.E. by Buddhaghosa of Sri Lanka.
vitakka: The aspect of concentration consisting of the mind’s aiming toward, sticking into, and establishing itself upon an object. First factor of the first jhāna.
viveka: Seclusion; descriptive term for the calm state that occurs when the mind is secluded and protected from the disturbances of the kilesas.
vivekaja pīti sukha: The rapture and happiness born of seclusion. Term for the third and fourth factors of the first jhāna, considered together.
vyāpāda: Aversion. The second hindrance.
yogi: One who practices meditation.
INDEX
A
abdomen, 4–5, 16, 17, 61, 62, 67, 94–95, 101, 179, 183, 200, 202
absence of self, 21, 100, 101, 124, 194, 195, 227, 246–47, 282–84, 293
absorption. See jhāna
accuracy of awareness, 7. See also aim
afterlife. See death, rebirth agitation, 65, 143, 144, 154, 162, 169, 187, 267
aim, 4, 5, 8, 10, 60, 85, 180–184, 188–90, 203
Ajātasattu, King, 154, 287
alcohol. See intoxicants
anger, 237, 242, 243, 254, 282, 285, 287, 290
animals, 13, 39, 115, 159, 161, 240
arahant, 88, 124, 130, 138, 210, 214, 229–32, 252, 283
ardency. See effort
arising and passing away, 21, 104, 159, 160, 164, 194, 198, 199, 247, 283. See also impermanence
attachment, 42, 67, 159–62, 182, 200–201, 204, 252, 278. See also equanimity
attitude, 22, 29, 30, 57, 58, 61, 78, 151, 222, 268
aversion, 66, 110, 162, 176, 187–88, 196–97, 204, 242, 243 278, 285–87
B
babies, 35
balance of mind, 103–4, 152, 153, 157, 159, 162, 164, 203. See also equanimity
bare attention, 199
benefactors, 76, 78, 118, 275
bhikkhu, 11, 92, 118, 128–31, 138, 289–90, 292. See also bhikkhunī, bhikkhunī sangha
bhikkhunī, 11, 107–8, 118, 128, 130, 284
bhikkhunī sangha, 129
bliss, 68, 74, 205–6, 211, 214, 241, 293. See also rapture
Bodhisatta, 120–24, 282, 284, 292
body, 5–6, 36–38, 72, 103, 132–33, 142–46, 171–72, 182, 202, 279
boredom. See dissatisfaction
breath, 4, 66, 164, 166, 179, 243–44. See also abdomen
Buddha
achievements of, 125, 126–27
appreciation for, 117–18, 134, 135, 136, 145
compassion of, 27, 122–23, 125, 126
on concentration, 135, 152, 154, 158, 199
on courage, 107–8
on eight ways to stay awake, 61–63
on energy, 109, 112–14, 116
enlightenment of, 125
on equanimity, 159
greatness of, 120, 127
holy life described by, 85
illumination of the, 124–25
on laziness, 110–11, 119
liberation taught by, 10, 121
on mindfulness, 173–75, 199, 215
on nobility, 117
the purpose of the, 88–89
on rapture, 133–34, 141
remembering the, 116–17, 120, 134
results of meditation, 71
on the seven factors, 93
teachings of the, 1, 116, 119, 135, 216
timeless words of, ix
on tranquility, 145
virtues of, 135, 142
wisdom of the, 120, 125
C
calm. See tranquility
cause and effect, 10, 13, 51, 64, 148, 150, 251, 253, 270
celestial beings. See devas
celibacy, 3, 280, 284. See also sexual conduct
characteristics of nibbāna, 287
characteristics of phenomena, 98
Chariot to Nibbāna, 68, 96, 119, 292
children, 35, 63, 119, 122, 129–30, 149–51, 291
Cittā, 107–8, 284
cleanliness, 3, 103, 152, 266, 268
clear comprehension, 97, 265, 290
clinging, 52, 72, 110, 161, 169, 227–29, 246, 292. See also craving
clothing, 3, 58, 146, 161, 178, 211
comfort, 32, 146–47, 181, 183–84, 188–89, 199–203, 235, 272. See also discomfort
community, 29, 58, 142, 214, 218, 279, 290
compassion, x, 41, 48, 77–78, 121, 122, 123–24, 125–26, 198
conceit, 11, 75–6, 78, 192, 211, 243, 254, 276, 287
concentration, 8, 10, 12–14, 19–21, 26–27, 29, 33–35, 44–46, 50–51, 63, 83–85, 103, 109, 141, 143, 148–55, 165, 199, 220, 224
conditionality. See cause and effect
confusion, 99–100, 103, 110, 205–6, 177, 216
conscience, 215, 236–39, 246, 256
continuity of practice, 20, 21, 24–25, 183, 188, 189, 199, 241
controlling faculties, 19–21, 22, 32, 33, 36–37, 42–43, 58, 103, 261, 277, 280
courageous effort. See effort
craving, 11, 41–42, 59, 72, 96, 182, 209, 227–29, 242–43, 255, 288, 292
crooked behavior, 221–22
cures resulting from meditation, 47, 163, 164–67, 168
D
death, 39–41, 119–20, 163, 216, 222, 223, 226, 228, 240
defilements. See kilesas
delusion, 51–52, 110, 176–77, 186–87, 227, 242, 261, 287, 288
desire. See craving
devas, 86, 140–41, 213, 214, 216, 217, 232, 267, 283
Dhamma, x, 20, 27, 29, 30, 34, 57–59, 63–64, 77, 79, 81, 99, 101–2, 119, 124, 126, 128, 134–37, 145, 167, 196, 216–19, 232–34, 240–41, 251, 253
dhamma, 11, 92, 98–102, 179, 182, 239, 275, 285, 288
diet. See food, vegetarianism
discomfort, 12, 39, 44, 46, 68, 106, 202
discouragement, 34, 260
disgust, 36, 110, 171, 176, 204, 237, 239, 273
dissatisfaction, vi, 37, 57–58, 67, 91, 105, 202, 285
dissolution, 119, 201, 202, 204, 203, 247, 272, 285
doubt, 64–69, 73–75, 99–100, 157, 164, 174, 187, 189, 233, 252–53, 255
dread, moral. See conscience
dress. See clothing
drowsiness. See sloth and torpor
drugs, 2, 144, 167. See also intoxicants
E
effort,
balancing, 8
to be aware of movement, 11, 177
continuous, 25, 73, 83, 183, 212
as a controlling factor, 19, 37, 104
courageous, 36–37, 48, 63–64, 105–8, 110, 132, 134, 234
development of, 69
enlightenment factors of, 34, 105, 115
heroic, 42–46, 173
launching, 113
to maintain posture, 32
mental, 12, 149, 234–35, 236
mindfulness and, 8, 19–21, 45, 73, 83, 109, 118, 224, 228, 246, 280
to observe pain, 113
as one of the seven noble qualities, 92
persistence of, 112, 114, 130, 168, 236
physical, 4, 147, 215, 234–35
in practice, 68, 88, 109, 114, 116, 119, 123, 127, 147, 170, 186
and precise aim, 5
progressive, 52
right, 10–11, 224, 225, 280
to seek truth, 215
sincerity of, 81
slackening of, 68
sparing no, 79
toward accuracy, 183
wrong, 256
elements, 57, 71, 100, 104, 112, 194, 196, 227, 241, 250, 271
emotional problems, 116
energy. See effort
enlightened person. See arahant
enlightenment. See factors of enlightenment, nibbana
environment,
supportive of meditation, 19, 26, 41, 56, 58, 97, 146, 152–53, l83, 187, 203
equanimity, 33–35, 135–36, 157–60, 161–62, 164, 200, 201, 203–5, 268, 272, 277, 295
extraordinary experiences, 199, 206, 258
F
factors of enlightenment, 33–34, 91–93, 163, 165, 168
factors, mental, 33–34
faith,
balancing with other mental states, 103, 159
as a controlling faculty, 20–22, 37, 53
danger of, 199
defined, 255
and desire, 259
effects of on the body, 165
and ending suffering, 81
impermanence and, 22
in vipassanā, 87
influence of on consciousness, 262
and motivation, 71–74
and nibbāna, 255
and patience, 48
as a property of noble ones, 255
stimulation of, 21
sustaining effort, 220
types of,
blind, 157
excessive, 156
preliminary verified, 20
verified, 70, 199, 253
unshakable, 253
fame. See gain
family, 38, 77–78, 111, 117, 128–30, 167, 209, 238–39, 286
fear, 63, 204, 237–38, 239–40, 243, 255, 256. See also conscience feeling
food,
appreciation for, 117, 266
availability of, 26
compared to kamma, 29
conversation about, 27
depending upon alms, 58
disgust toward, 111
overattachment to, 68, 278
preparing, 29
refraining from taking, 280
and sensible nutrition, 145, 267
sufficiency of, 219
suitability to practice, 29, 279
to maintain energy, 111. See also vegetarianism
forgiveness, 78, 122–23
four foundations of mindfulness, 22, 92, 128
Four Noble Truths, 91–92, 96, 139, 253, 284–85
friends, 29, 38, 41–42, 56, 118, 150, 156, 162, 237, 267. See also benefactors
friends, spiritual. See teachers
fruition consciousness, 33, 88, 148, 250, 279
function of mental factors, 19, 149–50, 176, 206, 292
G
gain, 85, 86, 89, 125, 154, 276, 280
dangers of, 79–84
generosity, 41, 49, 58, 117, 119, 121, 127, 139, 256, 267, 279, 284, 285
ghosts,
hungry, 223, 230, 248
unhappy, 213, 216
gluttony, 72, 73. See also food
gods, 140, 214, 220, 292. See also devas
gratitude, 30, 31, 66, 74, 75–78, 79, 118, 136
greed, 2, 43, 49, 81, 84, 176–77, 196, 212, 242, 280
H
happiness, 83, 84, 114, 117, 135–36, 139, 141, 142, 143 181, 183–84, 188–89, 199–201, 205, 207–9, 210, 212, 277. See also bliss
hatred, 14, 37, 49, 177, 197, 198, 2
21, 223, 254. See also crooked behavior
haven, safe, 215, 221, 226, 231, 248, 258, 260
healing, 46–48, 163, 244. See also cures
health, 31, 32, 36, 38, 39, 46, 47, 49, 107, 211, 214, 235, 244. See also cures
mental, 59, 131
hindrances, 20, 113, 155, 180, 181–82, 186–89, 232, 233, 269, 278, 284
holy life, 57, 85–89, 128, 129, 284, 285
hunger, 55, 213, 280
and thirst, 58–59
I
ignorance, 73, 96, 115, 120, 187–88, 228–30, 252, 256, 261, 275, 282
imagination, 5, 157, 172, 197, 227
impermanence, 10, 19, 191, 192, 194, 225, 247, 272, 283
impersonality, 11. See also absence of self
impurities, 36, 69. See also kilesas
ingratitude, 55, 75–79, 130, 280. See also conceit, gratitude
insight into
absence of self, 248, 249
arising and passing away, 136, 161, 166, 201–3, 272
cause and effect, 9, 152, 161, 166, 176, 253, 249, 270–71
Dhamma, 104
disgust, 273
dissolution of phenomena, 203
dissolution, 202, 204, 272
equanimity, 137, 205, 273
fear, 273
the happiness of peace, 273
impermanence, 103, 166, 176, 193, 248
impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and absence of self, 100–101, 124, 171
nibbāna, 48, 103, 273, 138, 254
path and not-path, 272
the rise and fall of phenomena, 137, 161
suffering, 248, 249
the true nature of body and mind, 97
the true nature of mind and matter, 53, 152
the true nature of phenomena, 10, 104
the true nature of reality, 52, 69, 98
the true nature of things, 98, 103
instructions for
sitting, 4–7, 12, 15–16, 18, 32, 42, 47, 60, 61, 72, 98, 236
walking, 7–12, 15, 32, 52, 98, 130, 235–36, 277, 279
integrity, 135, 222, 238, 239, 240. See also conscience
intellect, 9, 65, 99, 105, 157, 177, 186, 197. See also thinking
interview instructions, 14–19
intoxicants, 2, 278. See also alcohol, drugs
investigation, 18, 23, 33–34, 92, 98–105
J
jealousy, 164, 212, 253, 255, 286
jhāna, 98–104, 142, 178–83, 185, 198–205, 208, 233, 246, 252, 272, 277, 286, 284. See also concentration, higher jhanas
joy, 34, 142, 165–66, 188, 189, 208, 233, 289. See also rapture
K
Kaccāyana, Venerable, 176, 178, 286
kamma, 40, 49, 114–15, 160, 220, 222, 227–29, 230, 242, 244–45, 250, 255, 286, 293