A collection of talks given by Dr. Paul Fleischman on Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka, these selections explore subjects such as mental health, mindfulness, and cultivating inner peace. They were given to diverse audiences across the world in locations including Boston, Madrid, Vienna, and Dublin. These talks are a valuable introduction to Vipassana meditation, as well as an inspiring resource for those who are already practicing.
We have lived in an era during which the spirituality intrinsic to science has become obvious. The universe is not random. It contains patterns and paths. This is called the information-state of the universe, and it organizes the materials and energies that form our bodies and minds. We are each microcosms; downloaded into our small selves are a vast array of directives and limits, the laws of science, that govern stars as well as our hearts and minds. We can gain access to some of the wisdom of this universal, lawful reality through meditation. As we observe our body sensations with equanimity, we come in contact with basic laws of physics, like entropy, or the decay of aggregates over time, and we also encounter basic laws of psychology, like the fact that social love, Mettā, leaves us happier than anger or fear. We may become self-balanced to face contingencies. It is science, not mysticism or religion, that reveals the value of Vipassana as a vestibule to ultimate realities, and highlights it as a practical guide to the psychology of well-lived lives. We are each unique snowflakes, patterns and lace, melting in the cosmic storm. We arise and pass inside a universe, a web, a Dhamma. We become aware of the scriptures that are inscribed inside us and that guide our wellbeing.
These eight essays explore the interface between psychiatry, science, and the timeless teachings of the Buddha. Drawn from the personal experiences of a therapist and practitioner of Vipassana meditation, this work explores meditation’s similarities and differences with psychotherapeutic and scientific endeavors. In the title essay, parallels are drawn between the atomic synthesis of free choice and lawful consequence in Chaos Theory and karma, offering contemporary insights into one of Buddhism’s core concepts. The empirical roots of meditation, its relevance to daily life, and the challenges and benefits of daily practice of Vipassana meditation are also addressed. Practical examples for continued observation outside of formal meditation retreats guide readers in incorporating Buddhist practice into daily life.
The way to inner peace is illuminated in this accessible guide to tending one's inner landscape. The lives of outstanding figures such as the Buddha, Walt Whitman, and Gandhi are used to connect the ideal of inner peace with how real people cultivate peace in their everyday lives. Peacefulness as dynamic, selective, and egoless is shown through the constructive act of choosing different ways of life, such as having a smaller family or a more modest career. A message of hope and inspiration permeates this pragmatic approach and is exemplified by the author's own practice of meditation.
This collection of prose poems is based upon the teaching of the Buddha. The selections have been chosen for inspiration, rather than representing the full span of the teaching. We have previously presented them as slides, or read them aloud to friends, on various occasions, such as after workshops, following assistant teacher meetings, around fireplaces in national parks, or after evening metta. They have consistently been received with appreciation, and have evoked multiple requests for their publication. All of these compositions combine the Buddha’s thoughts with contemporary phrasing. They cannot be considered direct quotes from the Pali Canon, because we have worked only with English language translations, and because we have combined similar passages, or modified the language for readability. But at the same time, we can’t claim that these words are original to us, because they are in the spirit of the Buddha. They are brief, poetic, re-speaking of some of the Buddha’s most important ideas. They are sparks from the campfire that continue to glow in the dark. Our intention is that these slides, or pages, will inspire meditators and nonmeditators alike. They are written from the authentic experience of the troubling human condition, and they speak from the standpoint of suffering and the Path out of suffering. They are insights that have crossed the bridge of time from ancient India to today. We hope you will find wisdom flowing through time on the river of words that originates in the ancient spring of the Pali Canon. —Paul R. and Susan K. Fleischman
Nous n'avons jamais eu autant besoin des bénéfices thérapeutiques à retirer d'une meilleure conscience de soi que dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, dans toute sa complexité. Tout au long de sept essais poétiques et passionnants, le Dr Fleischman explore les connections existant entre la psychiatrie, la science et la méditation. Il s'agit d'une nouvelle traduction de ce livre achevée en 2021.
These eight essays explore the interface between psychiatry, science, and the timeless teachings of the Buddha. Drawn from the personal experiences of a therapist and practitioner of Vipassana meditation, this work explores meditation’s similarities and differences with psychotherapeutic and scientific endeavors. In the title essay, parallels are drawn between the atomic synthesis of free choice and lawful consequence in Chaos Theory and karma, offering contemporary insights into one of Buddhism’s core concepts. The empirical roots of meditation, its relevance to daily life, and the challenges and benefits of daily practice of Vipassana meditation are also addressed. Practical examples for continued observation outside of formal meditation retreats guide readers in incorporating Buddhist practice into daily life.
The way to inner peace is illuminated in this accessible guide to tending one's inner landscape. The lives of outstanding figures such as the Buddha, Walt Whitman, and Gandhi are used to connect the ideal of inner peace with how real people cultivate peace in their everyday lives. Peacefulness as dynamic, selective, and egoless is shown through the constructive act of choosing different ways of life, such as having a smaller family or a more modest career. A message of hope and inspiration permeates this pragmatic approach and is exemplified by the author's own practice of meditation.
A collection of talks given by Dr. Paul Fleischman on Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka, these selections explore subjects such as mental health, mindfulness, and cultivating inner peace. They were given to diverse audiences across the world in locations including Boston, Madrid, Vienna, and Dublin. These talks are a valuable introduction to Vipassana meditation, as well as an inspiring resource for those who are already practicing.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, this thought-provoking essay explores the Buddha's teaching to find one prescription: not war, not pacifism but nonviolence.
We have lived in an era during which the spirituality intrinsic to science has become obvious. The universe is not random. It contains patterns and paths. This is called the information-state of the universe, and it organizes the materials and energies that form our bodies and minds. We are each microcosms; downloaded into our small selves are a vast array of directives and limits, the laws of science, that govern stars as well as our hearts and minds. We can gain access to some of the wisdom of this universal, lawful reality through meditation. As we observe our body sensations with equanimity, we come in contact with basic laws of physics, like entropy, or the decay of aggregates over time, and we also encounter basic laws of psychology, like the fact that social love, Mettā, leaves us happier than anger or fear. We may become self-balanced to face contingencies. It is science, not mysticism or religion, that reveals the value of Vipassana as a vestibule to ultimate realities, and highlights it as a practical guide to the psychology of well-lived lives. We are each unique snowflakes, patterns and lace, melting in the cosmic storm. We arise and pass inside a universe, a web, a Dhamma. We become aware of the scriptures that are inscribed inside us and that guide our wellbeing.
This book contains sixteen numbers of the renowned Wheel Publication series, dealing with various aspects of the Buddha’s teaching. Wheel Publication 329–30: The Therapeutic Action of Vipassana—Paul R. Fleischman 331–33: The Buddhist Philosophy of Relations—Ledi Sayadaw 334: Anathapindika—Hellmuth Hecker 335–336: Buddhist Stories III—Eugene Watson Burlingame 337–338: One Foot in the World—Lily de Silva 339–341: The Tragic, the Comic and the Personal—Nanavira Thera 342–344: Gemstones of the Good Dhamma—S. Dhammika
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