Introduction to Mental Development

The teachings of the Buddha contain clear and plain instructionsfor a mental development whose goal is the recognition of realityas it is. Of course reality is obvious and nothing is hidden, butan untrained mind will wander aimlessly and get caught up in allkinds of cravings, aversions, and imaginations. When reality andimagination collide, the result is suffering. Buddhist mentaldevelopment trains the mind in such a way that it can perceivereality clearly, thereby liberating it from its mental fetters. This book introduces the reader to the basics of Buddhism withemphasis on fundamental concepts, Pali terminology, and meditationpractice. Mental development is based on experiential knowledge,which can only be gained in meditation. This book provides enoughbackground and instructions for beginning meditation practice andguiding the practitioner until mental development matures. The text is a technical manual rather than an inspirational book. It is intended for people who already have decided to walk the path ofthe dhamma and look for concrete instructions. It may also be interestingto those who merely want to acquire a quick overview over Buddhistpractice.