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Swallowing the River Ganges : A Practice Guide to the Path of Purification

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When someone has lived something it shows. There is a simplicity and a clarity that comes through in the most ordinary and yet remarkable way. In his Latest work, Swallowing the River Ganges: A Practice Guide to the Path of Purification, Matthew Flickstein has brought into clear and approachable focus the Seven Stages of Purification delineated some nine centuries after the time of the Buddha by that wonderful tome, the Visuddhimagga. Years ago, a meditation teacher suggested that I read this dense and difficult book. I ordered it and literally waited months for its arrival--it was sent on a slow boat from Sri Lanka. When it came, I enthusiastically settled down to read with an ardor that was soon cooled by the difficulty of unearthing the practice truths that I sensed lay at the bottom of this dense volume of lists and dire comparisons like some buried treasure waiting to be uncovered. My mind simply did not have the archeological patience and discernment to pare through the soil of this text and uncover the gems that awaited me there. One of the most profound truths of spiritual practice lies in the living of it--to wear it day by day and soften it into a comfortable fit. When someone has done that an intense and yet unassuming clarity begins to flow from them. It doesn't call a lot of attention to itself and yet is present as a beacon of light for others to follow. There is also a quality of generosity that requires that all truth, all light, all understanding be immediately and completely given away to all who seek it. That is the quality of mind and heart that has gone into this quiet and simple and yet profound practice guide to the Visuddhimagga, the Path of Purification. The book follows the seven stages of purification as delienated by the monk Buddhagosa over 1500 years ago but with one major exception. Flickstein has superimposed the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, The Four Noble Truths, and The Noble Eightfold Path onto the template of these stages, placing each set of contemplations and path factors at the proper stage of development in terms of these seven milestones of spiritual growth. Because of this the book takes on the quality of a road map through our internal landscape, the terrain described by Ajahn Mun as a "cave of wonders." Swallowing the River Ganges begins, then, with the foundation of spiritual practice, purification of virtue. But Flickstein does not list a grim and hard-edged set of rules to follow. Instead there is an aliveness to this discussion that points us to a deeper awareness of the quicksilver of Truth as it flashes its way through our experience. Flickstein points the way to a deeper discernment of truth's voice in every situation of our lives. Difficult spiritual experiences are also described as part of a series of expected and "normal" insights knowledges through which a meditator passes on his or her journey to freedom. The normalizing effect of this is quite powerful. Though many have read about the dark night of the soul and have a sense of it as an expected benchmark along the path, it is rare to find a matter-of-fact and open discussion of what exactly this dark night entails. Flickstein tackles this difficult subject with his characteristic clarity and directness and a style that brings this topic home to our ordinary human lives. There is a comfort that permeates this discussion, the comfort of the intimated presence of so many who have walked this same path before us.

The final chapters of the book are dedicated to the insight knowledges that one attains in the last stages of practice. The power of these ending chapters and of the book as a whole lies in its approachability and usefulness as a resource text for those who follow this "sure heart's release." The power also comes from the simple fact that shouts from these pages over and over, enlightenment is possible. It is one of the possibilities afforded us in our ordinary human lives. This truth comes through this succinct and clear book again and again as the steps to the path of freedom are quietly set down for us. For 2500 years the truths presented on these pages have come through many voices, has been written by many hands, has come to us through many loving hearts through the centuries. Matthew has stewarded its birth into a more modern form and presentation, but it is still One Truth. This book belongs on the shelf of every serious student of Dharma. It is a work that reveals the genius of the Buddha's teachings and how they fit together in an alive and powerful system of understanding that brings us ever closer to the freedom that is already present in our lives.

The Path of Purification is the most comprehensive meditation guide of the Theravada tradition. It is, however, quite complex, and it can be difficult to find the information you need to devlop a meditation practice. While everyone who is interested in this meditation tradition should eventually get around to reading the original, this book can help you start a meditation practice immediately. The author has done a wonderful job of separating out the material that pertains to modern meditators. This book may be even more meaningful to people who already have some experience with meditation and Buddhism. It is interesting to find how appropriate a 1700 year old plan for meditation can be :)

This is an excellent book which condenses and puts into clear English the complex and ancient textbook of Buddhism known as the Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification) which was written in the 5th century common era. Swallowing the River Ganges provides an explanation of beginning practices all the way up to the work of those nearing enlightment. In particular this is a clear rendering of the sort of knowledges needed for progress on the spiritual path from a Buddhist perspective. There is no other book quite like this.

Confused or adrift in your practice? Maybe reading a lot and putting off actually getting on that cushion you ordered? Well, read this book (and Ayya Khema's *Visible Here and Now*) and you will be confused, lost, or procrastinating no more. Brilliant insight shined right where you need it. GET THIS BOOK!

This is a cloudless and exceedingly matter-of-fact atlas for anybody who involves themselves with meditation practice. This book is truly a practice guide, as the title suggests. Although I would without hesitation recommend this book to beginner's, it's honestly more for those of us more familiar with meditative practices.

The author, Matthew Flickenstein, takes aim at what most of us commonly call vipassana (insight) meditation. He gives a pretty surprising investigation into both it's benefits, and what sometimes can lead to actual drawbacks. The purpose of insight meditation, he points out, is to simply see things as they really are. Reality as it is. In order for that to happen, we need to not discriminate what we are aware of, we must be truly be aware of all that arises, without grasping or even resisting any of our experiences. But whenever we move our concentration in a specific direction, such as the breath, we are subtly forming a purpose and we are no longer communicating "no preference" in our awareness of what we are experiencing.

This book goes into much more specific detail about the benefits and drawbacks of certain styles of practice, something I could never summarize in the confines of such a review. Matthew Flickenstein presents us with a most intriguing body of work here, a priceless companion on our road of discovery and introspection. So what are you waiting for? Buy it!

Finally, a Dharma text that avoids the unnecessary mystical, vague, and ambiguous writing notorious in much of Buddhist literature without devaluating the inherent mystical, vague, and ambiguous nature of Buddhism. Bravo, Mr. Flickstein!

This book offers the reader gentle and illuminating guidance to the Path of Purification. Matthew's style of writing is simple, yet direct. In the tradition of the great Buddhist teachers, he offers insightful and meaningful explanations of the important teachings contained in the Path of Purification in a timeless and relevant manner. This book, together with his earlier work, will join the list of contemporary Buddhist classics. It will help those on the path to realization here and now in this life.

Echoing a previous commentator, the emphasis of this book is definitely Vipassana. Nevertheless, it is an exceptionally lucid read - quite a contrast to some of the more abstruse texts associated with Theravada. I thoroughly enjoyed the clarity of the work and find it a great addition to my small library of buddhist writing.

This book has been replaced by the same book (slightly updated) but with a new title. The new book is called: The Mediators Atlas: A Road-map to the inner World. So don't make the mistake I made and buy both books!

Excellent and deep text on Becoming ... a better person, liberated, purified in character. And much more.
I feel a deep measure of gratitude to the author.
Deep bows,
HikerBob