Autorentext

Peter Stuckings comes from Australia and has lived around Asia for most of his life due to a fascination with the region's ancient wisdom traditions. He obtained a Masters Degree in Buddhist Studies from Hong Kong University, and also completed Pali language studies in Sri Lanka and with Oxford University. To make the most of the region's training opportunities, he spent some years hopping from country to country and monastery to monastery, which was the inspiration for this book. Nowadays he has taken the robes and dwells as a monk in the forests of Sri Lanka. His blog, called Places To Meditate, lists meditation centres of good standing throughout the region.

Klappentext

Embark on the most rewarding and illuminating journey of your life, with this step by step guide to mastering internal reflection

Meditation can be a long, and for beginners, often an intimidating process to embark on as the landmarks on the meditative journey can be mind-blowing, mind-numbing, heavenly, disturbing, transformative and more.

However, in his fascinating book, Peter Stuckings provides a wealth of advice on the questions people might encounter when starting on the practice of intensive meditation.

In an elegant and witty prose, The Meditation Retreat Manual covers everything from basics, such as what you need to bring on a retreat and how to sit well, to the more intensive mental and conceptual challenges commonly faced.

The book works as a reference text, so readers can dip in and out of topics that interest them most.

There is also a selection of meditation instructions to pique the interest of beginner readers, as well as a special focus on meditation methods with roots in Buddhist teachings.

Inhalt

INTRODUCTION

PART I: RETREATS: PHYSICAL
CHAPTER ONE - Meditation equipment
CHAPTER TWO - Noble Silence
CHAPTER THREE - Meals
CHAPTER FOUR - To bring or not to bring
CHAPTER FIVE - Journaling
CHAPTER SIX - Pali chanting and formalities
CHAPTER SEVEN - Finding a centre
CHAPTER EIGHT - Discomforts and inconveniences
CHAPTER NINE - Ordination on retreat
CHAPTER TEN - Donations
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Visas and international travel
CHAPTER TWELVE - A day on retreat

INTERLUDE 1 - Concentration meditation instructions

PART II: RETREATS: MENTAL
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Preparing yourself
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Commitment vs. Quitting
CHAPTER FIFTEE - Devices
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - East and West
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Teachers
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Continuity of practice
CHAPTER NINETEEN - Sleep time
CHAPTER TWENTY - Mental health
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Other meditators
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Leaving retreat

INTERLUDE 2 -insight meditation instructions

PART III: MEDITATION: PHYSICAL
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Morality
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Aches and pains
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE- Postures
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Samatha vs. Vipassana
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Restraint of the senses
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Anicca
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - The meditation hall
CHAPTER THIRTY - Exercising
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - Daily practice post-retreat

INTERLUDE 3 - Walking meditation instructions

PART IV: MEDITATION: MENTAL
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - Effort
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - The Five Hindrances
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR - Maps
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE - Faith
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - Mindfulness vs. Concentration
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN - Conceit
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT - Enlightenment
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE - Dark Night

FURTHER RESOURCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR