The Perfection of Meditation
Oxford University Press eBooks August 28, 2009 DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195382013.003.0006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that meditation can be examined at three levels of consciousness—immediate experience, reflective experience, and reflexivity—and that this framework illuminates the connections between contemplative practice and philosophical inquiry in a globalized world. |
Abstract
Chapter 5 is divided into two sections. The first section presents an overview of the Mahayana Buddhist teachings on the perfection of meditation, dhyānapāramitā. The second section inquires into various ways to conceive of contemplative practice in the contemporary, global world. It analyzes meditation at three levels of human consciousness—immediate experience, reflective experience, and reflexivity, or self‐awareness. The chapter reflects on the relations between meditation and philosophy.