The Path of Serenity and Insight: An Explanation of the Buddhist Jhanas [Hardcover]

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2002

In the oldest scriptures of Theravada Buddhism much attention is given to the Jhanas, high levels of meditative attainment distinguished by powerful concentration and purity of mind. Ven. Dr. Gunaratana examines these Jhanas within the context of Buddhist teaching as a whole and particularly within the meditation disciplines taught by the Buddha.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Venerable Henepola Gunaratana served as Hon. General Secretary of the Buddhist Vihara Society of Washington D.C. and later became President of the Society. He has taught courses in Buddhism, conducted meditation retreats, and lectured widely throughout the United States and Canada and pursued his scholarly interests as well.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Pub; 2nd edition (March 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8120808711
• ISBN-13: 978-8120808713
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,071,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clear and comprehensive explanation of Buddhist meditation, October 8, 1999

By 

Terry Terry (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Path of Serenity and Insight: An Explanation of the Buddhist Jhanas (Hardcover)

A systematic introduction to the development of insight through meditation. It covers ethical foundations, all aspects of concentration, including the jhanas and the four foundations of mindfulness (contemplation of body, feelings, states of mind and mind objects)-and the stages of realization of wisdom. Included is the role of the teacher, as well as the subjects of meditation and their appropriateness to different practicioners. A scholarly, clear and comprehensive commentary.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly and technical textbook on Theravada Buddhist meditation theory, January 9, 2009

By 

Stuart-Little - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Path of Serenity and Insight: An Explanation of the Buddhist Jhanas (Hardcover)

This book is unique in several aspects. First, it is written by a Theravadian monk originally from Sri Lanka, with a Ph.D. in philosophy from the American University in Washington D.C. Second, it is a book on the theory of samatha and vipassana meditation (i.e., serenity and insight meditation) as opposed to a book on meditation techniques that focuses on the different objects of meditation. (Only some of the traditional objects of meditation are mentioned and many are not mentioned at all.) Finally, the book is very technical and full of Pali nomenclature.

My paperback edition was published in India, but is now out of print. Apparently a new hardcover edition is available with a new cover, but still published in India.

While the English and editing is excellent, it is still a very difficult book to understand as the book is not watered down and covers advanced meditation theory. This book is meant either for academics or those who want a very in-depth theoretical account of how to develop samatha (one pointed concentration or calm abiding) and insight (vipassana) according the Pali canon. It requires serious study to understand. It thoroughly covers the theoretical aspects of the four jhanas and all the mental factors that must be present and the mental factors that hinder the attainment of the first four jhanas. I know of no other book that is comparable. It is an essential text for anyone serious about developing a stable, concentrated and one pointed mind. (Note, Pali: jhana = Sanskrit: dhyana. Note, the first a should be long.)

As near as I can tell this is Henepola Gunaratana's first book. His subsequent books are way less technical and theoretical and are much easier to understand. This book is essentially his 1980 doctoral dissertation from the American University under Dr. David Rodier titled:<<A Critical Analysis of the Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation>>. This dissertation is available online. Just Google the above title.

Finally, another very useful and complimentary text is <<Samatha Meditation>> by Gen Lamrimpa, translated by Alan Wallace and edited by Hart Sprager. It is a well edited compilation of the oral teachings Gen Lamrimpa gave during the first two weeks of a one year Samatha retreat in the U.S. to a group of Western meditators in 1988. These teachings were based <<The Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path of Awakening>> by Tsong-kha-pa, <<The Stages of the Listeners>> by Asanga, <<The Essence of the Center>> by Santaraksita and <<The States of Meditation>> and <<Compendium of Practices>> by Kamalasila. The terminology and stages are significantly different from the Theravada system. For example, <<Samatha Meditation>> describes a nine stage system versus the Theravada four stage system, but both take one to the same destination. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent explanation of the Buddhist path, June 29, 2009

By 

Andrew Levin "-A.L." (Long Island, New York, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The path of serenity and insight: An explanation of the Buddhist jhanas (Hardcover)

This book is a good treatment of the methodology of the path of meditation as it pertains to pursuing liberation in the Buddhist spiritual discipline, both that of the meditation absorptions of the jhanas, and of "dry" insight meditation, the latter not necessarily being dependent upon the former.. It is a very orthodox work, not explaining the path in everyday layman's terms as the author's other mindfulness book, just the essential structure of the gradual training and the mechanics of meditation and the different elements of practice that factor into the process along the way.

Very good, Orthodox, even scholarly, and simple. It explains the whole path; the gradual training, the jhanas, the stages of purification and the progress of insight. Major points of interest and answers to common questions as explanations of the path and its constituents are made.

I want to stress again that this work is a much more technical (though still quite accessible) and scholarly work than the author's bestselling "Mindfulness in Plain English" and "Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness". It has the feel of a scripture, commentary, or other orthodox-flavored work on Theravada Buddhism.

All in all, a helpful treatment on stages of the path to enlightenment and every step and factor along the way. Good to study to develop an understanding of the entire path before you begin. Very much recommended.

Portions of this book are available for free viewing on Google Books. Just search for the title of this book and you will see the title come up in the first few matches.