Venerable Cheng Kuan

Contents

Preface to the third revised edition
Chapter 1 The essentials of Ch'an Buddhist meditation
Chapter 2 Some basic concepts and terms about meditation
Chapter 3 Some advanced meditation techniques
a. The four contemplations
The body is defiled
The sensations are afflicting
The mind is transient
The Dharma is egoless
b. The contemplations on the four elements-earth, water, fire, air
c. The contemplation on the mind
d. The contemplation on the Buddha nature
Chapter 4 The five flavors of ch'an
a. A prelude
The composition of the mind
The first five cognizances
The sixth cognizance
The seventh cognizance
The eighth cognizance
b. The five flavors of ch'an
The worldly meditation
Other religions meditation
Minor-vehicle ch'an
Major-vehicle ch'an (Bodhisattva ch'an)
The Tathagata ch'an (Buddha's ch'an)
Chapter 5 The five contemplations for ceasing the perturbed mind
Anapanasmrti (contemplation of the breath)
The contemplation on uncleanliness
The contemplation on the twelve causality links
The contemplation on compassion
The contemplation on Buddha's merits
Chapter 6 The contemplations on defilements (questions and response)
Chapter 7 The nine visualizationson a corpse
Chapter 8 The five stages in raelizing Dhyana Part 1
The second stage Realizing samatha (cessation)
The third stage Realizing vipasyana (visualization)
The fourth stage Realizing samadhi
The fifth stage Realizing prajna
The first stage Fulfilling the prerequisites
Step 1 To denounce the five desires
The desire for forms
The desire for sound
The desire for smell
The desire for flavor
The desrie for touch
The desire for wealth
The desire for sex
The desire for fame
The desire for food
The desire for sleep
Chapter 10 The five stages in raelizing Dhyana Part 2
Step 2 To renounce the five shrouds
To renounce the shroud of avarice
To renounce the shroud of aversion
To renounce the shroud of sleep
To renounce the shroud of exuberant levitation
To renounce the shroud of skepticism-The doubts about the three precious ones; The doubts about oneself
Step 3 To execute the five cultivations
The cultivation of the aspiration for Dyana
The cultivation of remindfulness
The cultivation of diligence
The cultivation of ingeniousness
The cultivation of unitary mindedness
Conclusion
Chapter 11 An epilogue: The legend of running meditatin and the incense board
Appendix An echo
About the author
Donors for publishing the three books… (mehr)