audiobook Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Ancient Mysteries of Amenta by Gerald Massey in History

Description

The Sutra on the Concentration of Sitting Meditation is a meditation manual compiled in China in the 4th century C.E. by Kumarajiva; the noted translator of many important Mahayana sutras and philosophical texts. Based on his profound knowledge of both Traditional and Mahayana Buddhism; Kumarajiva introduced Mahayana thought systematically and significantly advanced the Chinese understanding of Buddhism. This clear and well-organized manual describes both Traditional and Mahayanist meditation methods; based on the classification of practitioners into five different types. According to practitioners’ inclinations to lust; anger; ignorance; discursive thoughts; or a combination of these; an appropriate remedial practice is prescribed for each type. Though the specific methods vary for Traditional or Mahayana followers; the general framework of practice is largely the same; suggesting that to Kumarajiva; Mahayanist meditation was not separate from Traditional forms of meditation. For the Chinese; the Sutra on the Concentration of Sitting Meditation provided much-needed clear guidance for meditation practice and this text exerted significant influence on the subsequent development of Buddhist meditation in China; especially on the Tiantai tradition.