Buddhist Path, Buddhist Teachings

This collection brings together scholarly contributions relating to the research of Lance Cousins (1942-2015), an influential and prolific scholar of early Buddhism. As well as being a scholar, Cousins was a noted meditation teacher and founder of the Samatha Trust with an international reputation.

This collection brings together scholarly contributions relating to the research of Lance Cousins (1942-2015), an influential and prolific scholar of early Buddhism. Cousins’ interests spanned several related fields from the study of Abhidhamma and early Buddhist schools to Pāli literature and meditation traditions. As well as being a scholar, Cousins was a noted meditation teacher and founder of the Samantha Trust. The influence of Cousin’s scholarship and teaching is felt strongly not only in the UK but in the worldwide Buddhist Studies community. The volume is introduced by Peter Harvey and the following chapters all speak to the core questions in the field such as the nature of the path, the role of meditation, the formation of early Buddhist schools, scriptures and teachings and the characteristics and contributions of P?li texts. The volume is of interest to students and scholars in Buddhist Studies, Religious Studies and Asian Studies as well as Buddhist practitioners.

Preface 1. Lance Cousins: An Obituary, Appreciation and Bibliography Peter Harvey Meditation and the Buddhist Path 2. The Four Jhā
nas and their Qualities in the Pali Tradition Peter Harvey 3. Paths of Monastic Practice from India to Sri Lanka: Responses to L.S. Cousins' Work on Scholars and Meditators Bradley S. Clough, University of Montana 4. 'I'm Not Getting Anywhere with my Meditation ': Effort, Contentment and Goal-Directedness in the Process of Mind-Training Ajahn Amaro, Amaravati monastery, Hertfordshire Comparative Mysticism 5. John of the Cross, the Dark Night of the Soul, and the Jhā
nas and the Arū
pa States: A Critical Comparative Study Elizabeth J. Harris, University of Birmingham 6. Emptiness and Unknowing: An Essay in Comparative Mysticism Rupert Gethin, University of Bristol Interpreting Buddhist Teachings 7. Ambiguity and Ambivalence in Buddhist Treatment of the Dead Richard Gombrich, University of Oxford 8. The Alagaddū
pama Sutta as a Scriptural Source for Understanding the Distinctive Philosophical Standpoint of Early Buddhism P. D. Premasiri, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 9. An Ekottarika-ā
gama Discourse Without Parallels: From Perception of Impermanence to the Pure Land Anā
layo Bhikkhu, University of Hamburg Abhidhamma 10. Equal-headed (samasī
sin): An Abhidharma Innovation and Commentarial Developments Tse-Fu Kuan, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan 11. Calligraphic Magic: Abhidhamma Inscriptions from Sukhodaya Peter Skilling, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 12. The Relation of the Saccasaṅ
khepaṭ
ī
kā
Called Sā
ratthasā
linī
to the Vinayavinicchayaṭ
ī
kā
Called Vinayasā
ratthasandī
panī
Petra Kieffer-Pulz, Akademie der Wissenschaften und Literatur Mainz Schools and Scriptures 13. The Formation of Canons in the Early Indian nikā
yas or Schools in the Light of the New Gā
ndhā
rī
Manuscript Finds Mark Allon, University of Sydney 14. Theriya Networks and the Circulation of the Pali Canon in South Asia: The Vibhajjavā
dins Reconsidered Alexander Wynne, University of Oxford Literature 15. Yaś
odharā
in Jā
takas Sarah Shaw, University of Oxford 16. Jā
taka Stories and Paccekabuddhas in Early Buddhism Naomi Appleton, Preface 1. Lance Cousins: An Obituary, Appreciation and Bibliography Peter Harvey Meditation and the Buddhist Path 2. The Four Jhā
nas and their Qualities in the Pali Tradition Peter Harvey 3. Paths of Monastic Practice from India to Sri Lanka: Responses to L.S. Cousins' Work on Scholars and Meditators Bradley S. Clough, University of Montana 4. 'I'm Not Getting Anywhere with my Meditation ': Effort, Contentment and Goal-Directedness in the Process of Mind-Training Ajahn Amaro, Amaravati monastery, Hertfordshire Comparative Mysticism 5. John of the Cross, the Dark Night of the Soul, and the Jhā
nas and the Arū
pa States: A Critical Comparative Study Elizabeth J. Harris, University of Birmingham 6. Emptiness and Unknowing: An Essay in Comparative Mysticism Rupert Gethin, University of Bristol Interpreting Buddhist Teachings 7. Ambiguity and Ambivalence in Buddhist Treatment of the Dead Richard Gombrich, University of Oxford 8. The Alagaddū
pama Sutta as a Scriptural Source for Understanding the Distinctive Philosophical Standpoint of Early Buddhism P. D. Premasiri, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 9. An Ekottarika-ā
gama Discourse Without Parallels: From Perception of Impermanence to the Pure Land Anā
layo Bhikkhu, University of Hamburg Abhidhamma 10. Equal-headed (samasī
sin): An Abhidharma Innovation and Commentarial Developments Tse-Fu Kuan, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan 11. Calligraphic Magic: Abhidhamma Inscriptions from Sukhodaya Peter Skilling, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 12. The Relation of the Saccasaṅ
khepaṭ
ī
kā
Called Sā
ratthasā
linī
to the Vinayavinicchayaṭ
ī
kā
Called Vinayasā
ratthasandī
panī
Petra Kieffer-Pulz, Akademie der Wissenschaften und Literatur Mainz Schools and Scriptures 13. The Formation of Canons in the Early Indian nikā
yas or Schools in the Light of the New Gā
ndhā
rī
Manuscript Finds Mark Allon, University of Sydney 14. Theriya Networks and the Circulation of the Pali Canon in South Asia: The Vibhajjavā
dins Reconsidered Alexander Wynne, University of Oxford Literature 15. Yaś
odharā
in Jā
takas Sarah Shaw, University of Oxford 16. Jā
taka Stories and Paccekabuddhas in Early Buddhism Naomi Appleton

• Edited by Naomi Appleton
• Edited by Peter Harvey