The Art of Living

by William Hart

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Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. 2500 year aago it was re-discovered by Gotama the Buddha and taught by hm as a universal remedy for universal ills. At first the technique flourished in India in India but gradually it became corrupted, lost its efficacy, and disappearedd from the land of its origin. Fortunately the neighbouring country of Burma preserved the original form of Vipassana throught the mellennia. Since 1969 it has been re-introduced into India, where it is now striking deep roots.

Vipassanā is a Pālī word meaning insight, seeing things as they really are. It is not a blind faith or philosophy, and has nothing to do with sectarioan religion. Instead Vipassana is a practical method that can be applied by anyone of average intelligence. Its goal is to purify the mind, to eliminate the tensions and negativities that make us miserable.

Vipassana meditation as taught by Shri Satya Narayan Goenka and his assistant teachers is learned in 10-day residential courses. Courses are held regularly in different parts of India and in every continent of the world. People come to these camps from every case, community and background. For ten days they live together in harmony, intent on acquiring this ancient spiritual treasure of India.

The Art of Living is the first book to appear in English that accurately describes at length, for the general reader, Vipassana meditation as taught by Shri S N Goenka. The book takes as its starting point the daily discourses of Shri S N Goenka given during Vipassana meditation courses. The result is an illuminating distillation of and commentary on these inimitable introductory communications of Dhamma.

Contents:

• Foreward by S N Goenka
• Preface
• Introduction
        Story:Swimology
• The Search
        Story: To Walk on the Path
• The Starting Point
        Story: The Buddha and the Scientist
• The Immediate Cause
        Story:Seed and Fruit
• The Root of the Problem
        Story:The Pebbles and the Ghee
• The Training of Moral Conduct
        Story:The Doctor’s Prescription
• The Training of Concentration
        Story:The Crooked Milk Pudding
• The Training of Wisdom
        Story:The Two Rings
• Awareness and Equanimity
        Story:Nothing but Seeing
• The Goal
        Story:Filling the Bottle of Oil
• The Art of Living
        Story:The Striking of the Clock
• Appendix A: The Importance of in the Teaching of the Buddha
• Appendix B: Passages on Vedanā from the Suttas
• Glossary
• Notes
• List of VRI Publications