Tranquillity & Insight (An Introduction To The Oldest Form Of Buddhism) [Paperback]

Amadeo Sole-Leris (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (October 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877733856
• ISBN-13: 978-0877733850
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,205,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An oldie but goodie. Get a copy if you can., April 12, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Memphis, Tennesse, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tranquillity & Insight (An Introduction To The Oldest Form Of Buddhism) (Paperback)

This book has been with me for over a dozen years, the first book on Buddhism I ever bought. I have referred to it time and again, and re-read it several times. It is falling apart. It has a peculiar, dry tone and feel to it that I love. A little academic at times, it is nonetheless a valuable resource on the meditation techniques of the early Theravadin school. Unless one is prepared to actually learn these things directly from the Visuddhimagga or other such wonderful but difficult source texts, then this book can become an invaluable companion. Unfortunately out of print now, you would be lucky to get a used copy.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to a Buddhist meditation library, December 4, 2006

By 

Richard D. Price "rprice" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tranquillity & Insight (An Introduction To The Oldest Form Of Buddhism) (Paperback)

This slim book has much in common with the usual suspects of English language Theravadin medatation classics--Walpola Rahula's "What the Buddha Taught," Nyanaponika Thera's "The Heart of Buddhist Meditation," "The Path of Purification," Soma Thera's "The Way of Mindfulness," etc. In fact, these books are quoted and appear in the bibliography. But this is not a meditation manual exactly, and the presentation is a big deal.

The discussion of insight and tranquility meditation (techniques, experiences, goals) clarifies key similarities and differences. (The discussion of Samatha is about as good as that in Winston L King's "Theravada Meditation: The Buddhist Transformation of Yoga.") Some of the author's observations are borrowed and some are his own, but even when he's really onto something he merely posits it for the reader to interpret. You can't say that about many books on meditation.

Although the outline format presents information in easily digestible chunks, the synopses are pithy and full. My only complaint is that the introductory overview of Buddhism is a bit pedestrian.