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by David C. Johnson (Author), Jens Troeger (Illustrator), Jens Troeger (Editor)
Just what did the Buddha teach? Most agree the Earliest Buddhist Suttas are the basis for his teachings. This book is a collection of transcripted and edited talks by Bhante Vimalaramsi, an American Buddhist 30 year monk. In it he goes through individual suttas and explains the meaning, and how one applies this to your meditation and enhances your general understanding of Buddhist Principles. Most importantly he focuses on the meditation practice. He gives detailed instructions and how to handle hindrances. He explains his method of the 6 'R's. Nibbana can be achieved here and now.He interprets the deeper meaning of the suttas and shows you what the Buddha really meant. He found a particular step that was left out. It made all the difference in the world. The word is Relax and the Pali word is "pasambayhm". When practiced this makes your practice go faster and deeper than ever before. Bhante spent 3 mos in a cave in Thailand, with a cobra no less, to try to understand just what the earliest suttas from the Pali Cannon actually teach you. He spent 20 years with many Burmese, Thai and Sri Lankan masters. Finally he just took a copy of the Majjhima Nikaya and went into the jungle to figure it out for himself. All of these talks are based on suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Wisdom Publications - 1995).
