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Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: My Kind of Kick Ass Dharma!
I’m currently re-reading my paperback copy of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram. The paperback had just been released in the U.S. but the e-book has been available for free on Ingram’s site as PDF download and in “blook” format.
I finished reading the “blook” version on my iPhone but I still purchased the paperback so I can read and re-read it offline. I think this book will be an instant cult classic, especially to those people who are into hardcore, no-nonsense dharma.
Here’s my rundown of the contents of the book.
First of, unlike other mainstream politically-correct spiritual authors, Ingram breaks away from political correctness and egalitarianism by claiming he had already achieved Arahatship, meaning, that he is already “enlightened.” Depending on your notion of “enlightenment” Ingram could either put you off and make you stop reading the book, or it could pique your curiosity and keep you reading. I read the book from cover to cover, and I’m glad I did.
Ingram makes it clear what his intentions are in the opening of the book. He even warned the readers about his social commentaries on Buddhism in particular and mystical traditions and spiritual teachers in general. Along the way he also makes his bias transparent to the readers. Ingram’s flavor of Buddhism is rooted in the Theravada tradition, particularly from Mahasi Sayadaw school of meditation.
I’m no scholar of Buddhist literature so I’m not sure whether Daniel Ingram is representing the dharma in its purest form. However, I understand enough about Buddhist teachings and concepts to recognize that Ingram is pointing to pragmatic truth on the Buddhist path by simplifying the language and removing the dogma, cultural baggage, narcissism, and metaphysical hubris surrounding both Eastern and Western flavors of Buddhism.
The core ideas in the book which I find very powerful are: The Three Trainings, The Three Characteristics, and Models of the Stages of Enlightenment.
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Posted January 24th, 2009 by DamonWonderfully topical for me, C4, I've just recently listened to a three part interview with Daniel Ingram: Part 1 here. He does caution, as do you: 'for those who want kick-ass dharma' - that his approach is straight, but rough, and that those not prepared to deal with some of the difficulties that will arise should choose another approach. And, he's very generous in his remarks about the quality of those other approaches.
His take on the cycling that occurs between positive experiences on the one hand, and 'dark night experiences on the other is fascinating. He claims that this cycling occurs on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly etc basis. That is, throughout any given day he will cycle through the high and the low in a way that is substantially equivalent to the cycling that occurs over the wider term of his spiritual growth. Interesting. It gives me a better grasp of the nature of stage attainment to hear him talk in these terms.
Still, I find his claim of having 'done it', or 'got there' a little flat and disappointing on the face of it. I like it that he's bold about claiming arahat status, but hasn't Daniel got some sort of edge he's working at? It seems something of a failure of the imagination, if he hasn't. Is this an example of the strength and weakness of Theravadin Buddhism - pure and strong but perhaps a little unsophisticated in some of its aspects? One of the aspects of Integral that most appeals to me is the acknowledgment of evolution, of new creative possibilities for spirit. Daniel Ingram seems so smart and capable, however, so perhaps he accounts for this aspect in some other way.....
Actually, he reminds me a little of Andrew Cohen: both he and Ingram appeal to me most at the level of their energy and style, rather than what they're actually saying. I get a momentary lift in consciousness from both of them just by listening.
And its worth checking out his book list here. I like the comments made with each of his selections, and the inclusion of Pema Chodron and Trungpa on the list, help to reassure me regarding the lack of heart some discern in Ingram's approach. All in all, I think he's exciting and refreshing. I really like his hard-ass approach, which as far as I can tell is really just a down to earth, grounded take on being in the practice groove. He seems to view the path as something that's hard, and to be entered into at your own peril. And then once you're really in you can't get out. Ha, great stuff. It resonates with me - practice is grueling, at any level.
Here's a comment from Daniel Ingram, himself, talking about the book on his bio page:
"Two interesting and practical questions for you are, “Who are you in direct experiential terms?” and “Who is it that knows?” Answer these, and you will come to know all of this directly for yourself. The first and last job of anyone who teaches meditation should be to make herself or himself redundant. This book is the best I have been able come up with to help accomplish this, as I have tried my best to pack it with everything useful that I know."