Why meditate?              Link to the German language book


This A 5 size booklet is the result of my studies and practice of Buddhism and meditation, especially of the teachings of Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, of listening to talks given by other monks and nuns, of my experiences during the many retreats I have taken care of over the years, and of the numerous books I have read about related topics on eastern and western philosophy and other, spirituality concerning matters.
The chapters concerning the first two of the Four Noble Truths are very close to a series of three talks given by Tan Dhammavidu, an English monk, during the monthly meditation retreats at Wat Suan Mokkh in Thailand. The other chapters are transcribed from various talks I have given during the same retreats.

Price:

3.65 Euro or 4.95 US$

CONTENTS
	page
Foreword	vi
Introduction	9
Why meditate – Part I	11
The meaning of the term ‘Dhamma’	14
Two kinds of language	17
The 1st Noble Truth	24
Forms of Dukkha	24
What turns life into Dukkha?	36
Common ways to escape from Dukkha	40
The 2nd Noble Truth	48
The Five Aggregates	48
Dependent Origination	55
The 12 links of the ‘Dependent Origination’	58
The realms of existence	88
Other features of ‘The Wheel of Life’	94
The 3rd and 4th Noble Truth	98
Wisdom	100
Morality	101
Concentration	104
Techniques aimed at ending spiritual suffering	106
Delaying the response to sense experiences	108
Dealing with greed, desire, lust, attachment	110
Dealing with hate, aversion, ill-will, …	111
Conclusion	114
Why meditate – Part II	114
Meditation in daily life	117
Formal meditation	117
Daily activities	120
One activity at a time	123
Changes in attitude	125
Literature	134
Appendix	A 1
Meditation – Preparation	A 2
Attitude	A 2
Posture	A 3
Meditation – Techniques	A 6
The short cut method of Anapanasati	A 6
Concentration meditation	A 6
Insight meditation	A 10
Loving kindness meditation	A 13

Enjoy Hatha-Yoga

The exercises taught in this A 5 size booklet are generally easy to learn and to practice, suitable for beginners and seniors. They are described in much detail, supported by informative graphics. Some have different degrees of difficulty and variations are given for advanced students or for beginners.

It is sensible to pick some exercises out of the large number available and arrange them in an evenly balanced sequence to train the entire body without straining it unevenly. Three different sequences are introduced. These series may be altered according to personal likes or restrictions.

Price:  5.95 Euro or 8.95 US$ (plus costs for shipment, approx. 2 Euro or 3 US$, for the paper­back version only).

CONTENTS			CONTENTS (continued)
	page			page
FOREWORD	i		Postures while lying on the front	35
INTRODUCTION	9		Diagonal arm and leg lifting	35
EXERCISES – ASANAS	12		Cobra	35
Relaxation postures and transitions	13		Locust	36
Relaxation while lying on the back	13		Bow – for advanced students	37
Relaxation while lying on the front	13		Pose of a child	38
Transition from lying on the back to a sitting posture	14		Following the prone postures	40
Standing postures	15		On hands and knees (I)	40
Mountain posture – basic standing posture	15		On hands and knees (II)	40
Neck and throat	16		Spinal twist – lying on the back	41
Shoulders (I) (dynamic)	17		Spinal twist – sitting (I)	43
Shoulders (II) (cow face)	17		Spinal twist – sitting (II) – for advanced students	44
Body stretch	18		Sitting postures	45
Tree (I)	18		Butterfly (I)	45
Triangle – for advanced students	19		Exercises for groin and hips	45
Backward bend	19		Burmese sitting forward bend	47
Forward bend	20		Butterfly (II)	47
Spinal twist – standing	21		Final relaxation	48
Hip rotation	21		BREATHING	49
Loosening joints and muscles of the legs, balancing exercise	22		Complete Yoga-Breathing	49
Tree (II)	23		Coordination of breathing and bodily movements	52
Sun salutation	24		Welcome, hands in and out breathing	53
Postures while lying on the back	27		Hands stretch breathing	53
Shoulder stand – partly for advanced students	27		Ankle / Body stretch breathing	54
Plough – for advanced students	28		Tiger breathing	55
Unsupported bridge	29		Unsupported bridge – breathing exercise	55
Fish	30		Straight leg raising breathing	56
Nose to the knee	30		Nose to the knee – breathing exercise	57
Raise the trunk	31		Diagonal arm and leg lifting	57
Penknife – partly for advanced students	32		Spinal twist – lying on the back	58
			EXERCISE SEQUENCES	59

The page numbers given above refer to the paperback version. Due to a different formatting the page numbers of the eBook differ from the paper­back. The contents of both versions are identical.