Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book »

Daniel M. Ingram began entering into classical meditation territory as a teenager quite by accident and without knowing it crossed into territory that he would later call various names, including The Dark Night and the Knowledges of Suffering. He had no idea what had happened, but somehow knew that he had to find something. After being inspired by a good friend who got to the first stage of enlightenment after a retreat in centers in the Buddhist tradition, he began going on intensive insight meditation retreats in the US, India and Malaysia. By simply following the instructions he achieved the expected results, and has since become part of the global movement of meditation reform, a movement that seeks to preserve core meditation technology and supports, integrate helpful aspects from across traditions, refine the techniques and maps through exploration and verification, and spread the message that it can be done. It is also a movement to strip away the aspects of dogma, ritual,rigid hierarchy, myth and falsehood that hinder high-level practice and keep the culture of meditation mired in unhelpful taboos and misplaced effort. Dr. Ingram also has an MD, a Master's degree in Public Health, and a bachelor's degree in English literature. He practices in the U.S. as a board-certified emergency medicine physician. He hopes that those on the path will practice well, aim high and become accomplished practitioners who will help to train others to do the same.

* Author posits that enlightenment is an attainable goal
* Argues that meditation is a method for examining reality

The very idea that the teachings of meditation can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in “self-absorbed mindnoise”.

Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. It’s easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram’s assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide—to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.

Foreword and Warning 11

Part I The Fundamentals

Introduction to Part I 21

Morality, the First and Last Training 24

Concentration, The Second Training 30

Wisdom, The Third Training 33

The Three Characteristics 37

Impermanence 38

Suffering 47

No-self 49

The Five Spiritual Faculties 55

Faith and Wisdom 55

Energy and Concentration 56

Mindfulness 57

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 60

Mindfulness 60

Investigation of the Truth 63

Energy 66

Rapture 67

Tranquility 68

Concentration 69

Equanimity 70

The Three Trainings Revisited 74

The Four Noble Truths 83

Truth Number One: Suffering 83

Truth Number Two: "Desire" 85

Truth Number Three: The End of Suffering 88

Truth Number Four: The Path 89

Practical Meditation Considerations 90

When, Where and for How Long? 90

Daily Life and Retreats 92

Postures 96

Objects for Insight Practices 98

Resolve 101

Teachers 102

Summary 107

Conclusion to Part I 108

Part II Light and Shadows

Introduction to Parts II & III 113

Buddhism vs. The Buddha 117

Content and Ultimate Reality 122

What Went Wrong? 127

A Clear Goal 136

Harnessing the Energy of the "Defilements" 144

Right Thought and the Augean Stables 149

From Content to Insight 153

Part III Mastery

Concentration vs. Insight 161

The Concentration States (Samatha Jhanas) 167

The First Jhana 167

The Second Jhana 169

The Third Jhana 170

The Fourth Jhana 171

The "Psychic Powers" 173

No-self vs. True Self 182

The Formless Realms 188

Boundless Space, The Fifth Jhana 183

Boundless Consciousness, The Sixth Jhana 190

Nothingness, The Seventh Jhana 191

Neither Perception Nor Yet Non-Perception,The Eighth Jhana 192

The Progress of Insight 195

1 Mind and Body 201

2 Cause and Effect 201

3 The Three Characteristics 202

4 The Arising and Passing Away 204

5 Dissolution, Entrance to the Dark Night 211

6 Fear 220

7 Misery 221

8 Disgust 222

9 Desire for Deliverance 222

10 Re-observation 223

11 Equanimity 233

12 Conformity 240

13 Change of Lineage 241

14 Path 241

15 Fruition 241

16 Review 242

The Vipassana Jhanas 246

Bill Hamilton's Model 248

Fractals 255

U Pandita's Model 257

Inklings of One More Model 257

How the Maps Help 259

The Three Doors 273

"Was That Emptiness?" 278

Beyond First Path ("What Next?") 285

Models of the Stages of Enlightenment 294

The Non-Duality Model 301

The Sudden Schools of Awakening 302

The Fundamental Perception Models 303

The Specific Perception Models 304

The Emotional Models 306

The Theravada Four Path Model 307

A Revised Four Path Model 313

A Simple Model 316

The Action Models 318

The Power Models 322

The Tibetan Ten Bhumi Model 323

The Tibetan Five Path Model 324

The Energetic Models 325

The Specific Knowledge Models 326

The Psychological Models 327

The Thought Models 330

The God Models 334

The Physical Models 336

The Radiance Models 336

The Karma Models 339

The Perpetual Bliss Models 340

The Three Kayas 342

The Immortality Models 347

The Transcendence Models 349

The Extinction Models 349

The Love Models 350

The Unity Models 351

The Social Models 352

The Three Yanas 354

Ditching our "Stuff" vs. Ditching the Split 356

The "Nothing to Do" and "You are Already There" Schools 357

Final Points 361

So What's "Full Enlightenment"? 363

Integration 367

It is Possible! 371

More on the "Mushroom Factor" 373

So Who The Heck Is Daniel M. Ingram? 381

Conclusion and Best Wishes 387

Appendix: The Cessation of Perception and Feeling Nirodha Samapatti 389

Index 393