Customer Reviews

Discourse Summaries

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The material in this book is not as personal and revealing as in the videos presented in the 10-day Vipassana meditation workshop (I've attended 5 10-day events as of Jan 2007); however, if you are looking to study and get clear on the 8 pathways, the 3 kinds of Panya, etc., this book will give you what you need to outline and organize the ideas logically. This book is NOT as good as being there. The Vipassana experience has given me the tools to assist me in mentally solidifying my walk on the path.

This book contains the lectures given during a 10 day Vipassana course. Great book to read if you are curious as to what is taught during the meditation training.

I was a little dissapointed to find out that this book really is just a repeat of everything he says in the discourses at the 10-day course. Somehow I guess I was thinking it'd be different. If you've done the course, you've heard this all before. If you haven't done the course - don't read this book! Go take a course!
Goenka rocks, this book you could skip. Check out the other collections of his writing for more stuff that will compliment the course rather than repeat it.
(Or, if you want, simply keep this as a reference to remember what the discourses say)

According to the independent Buddhist magazine "Buddhadharma," S.N. Goenka is the number one teacher of Vipassana meditation in the world today. He has trained more than 700 assistant teachers and each year more than 100,000 people do Goenka sponsored Vipassana courses. So, if you are thinking of learning Vipassana I recommend that you prepare beforehand by reading "The Discourse Summaries" as this book is a summary of the instruction videos presented during the 10-Day course.

The Buddha discovered that even the most transient thought that arises in the mind is accompanied by a sensation in the body and it is our physical sensations that drive our behaviour. Modern science has also discovered that our physical sensations affect our state of mind and that our state of mind then determines our behaviour. A quick scan through any newspaper clearly shows that most of the problems in the world come from human behaviour.

In Buddhism, the body is considered the gateway to enlightenment. You access the mind via the body. So in Vipassana you can systematically de-condition your mind by objectively observing your bodily sensations. And what exactly is a conditioned mind--does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

It is possible then to break the chain of our mental conditioning at the link of sensation. The result is clarity, true self-expression and happiness. When our mind is clear our behaviour is appropriate and we tend to be healthier and attract better things. Life also tends to be imperturbable when we operate from present time.

Although Vipassana is experiential I believe that the concepts presented in this book are key to fully benefiting from the technique. I have completed two Goenka sponsored 10-Day Vipassana courses and I know 100% that this ancient Buddhist meditation works. Simply put, Vipassana works!

Check out "The Discourse Summaries" as well as "The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation" by William Hart. They may lead you to doing a 10-Day course. And if you have already done a 10-Day then the material in "The Discourse Summaries" will support your experience.

As another reviewer pointed out, this collection of lectures is 'merely' a summary of the discourses Goenka gave during a 10-day course and which are given via video or audio recording at hundreds of 10-day courses every year, all over the world. It's also true that if you've taken a course, you've heard these words before, and if you haven't taken a course, you should simply make the time somehow and go do one to try it for yourself. Although actually it IS more than just a summary, as this edition at least features a comprehensive glossary of Pali terms as well as translations to English of many of the key quotations of the Buddha that Goenka uses during the course, including references to the appropriate Nikaya of the Pali cannon (a nikaya is one of three (short, middle and long discourses of the Buddha) divisions of the Pali cannon, which is the oldest collection of 'canonical' or 'orthodox' teachings attributed to the Buddha, which includes not only the Buddha's discourses but also a detailed monastic ethical code, and a highly advanced psychology - it is a daunting and enormous work, and if you've ever looked into it you'll agree that specific references to particular verses are much appreciated!).

All that said, this book is a wonderful companion and handbook to keep with you afterward and, I assume, beforehand. Reading it now, more than a year after my first 10-day course, it is a beautiful refresher and reminder, and having the ideas and outlines of the technique collected in one place, with total clarity and no wasted words, is invaluable in my opinion. It is only about 100 pages, a quick read, but very earnest and deeply felt - just reading it gave me an intense dedication to practice I haven't felt since I finished my 10-day course itself. The book virtually oozes optimism and practicality. Although in line with another reviewer I recommend taking a course, rather than reading this book, as an introduction to vipassana and/or Goenka's particular style of teaching the technique, I really can't imagine how you could go wrong with this book, regardless. Considering the absolutely nominal cost, I highly recommend anyone interested in meditation and Buddhism in general, or vipassana and Goenka in particular, pick this up immediately.

the book gave me exactly what I was looking for. It gives the basic information that you get in the 10 day Vipassana Meditation course. It was an easy read and great information.

Great explanation of Vipassana Meditation.
I have meditated for many years, but this book has opened up a totally new horizon.
If you are a meditator, or if you are interested, get it!!