<p>This attitude is completely wrong; thinking something can crudely be manipulated for Nirvana. The Buddha  taught one primary method for the Noble Path; which was letting go or "surrender": </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong><em>There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, making it his object to let go, attains concentration, attains
  singleness of mind.</em></strong> </p>
  
  <p><strong><em>SN 48.10</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The is no "cookbook". It is the very opposite. The Buddha taught to stop "cooking" ("sanhkara"). </p>

<p>"Cooking" is shown below, which the Buddha taught to stop:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/22zgt.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/22zgt.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:09:35.277Z
I am massively confused by this comment. I never suggested that I was searching for Nirvana. I am interested in the historical teachings of Buddhist meditation techniques. Unless you're suggesting that only Buddhists and those seeking Nirvana, and only those subscribing to your particular sect of Buddhism, are permitted to show interest in Buddhism, or ask questions on this site.
Sermo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:11:40.523Z
Was your answer posted on the wrong question?
Sermo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:14:21.593Z
Buddha taught the path to Nirvana. So what meditation are you interested in? What destination or purpose?
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:16:04.147Z
In this question, I am not at all interested in the destination at all. I am interested, as I stated, in the "techniques" of meditation. Meaning, mindfulness, breathing, sitting posture, etc.
Sermo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:16:44.457Z
And my comment about cookbooks was an analogy. It had nothing to do with Buddhism or Buddhist practices.
Sermo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T06:06:07.927Z
2018-11-24T06:12:00.927Z
2018-11-24T06:12:00.927Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Please see the English translation of the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anapanasati Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 118 or MN 118)</a> on the Buddhist mindfulness of breathing technique. The transliterated Pali version can be found <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn118/pli/ms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>Please see the English translation of the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Satipatthana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 10 or MN 10)</a> on the four foundations of mindfulness technique. The transliterated Pali version can be found <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn10/pli/ms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>These two texts come from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutta_Pitaka" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sutta Pitaka</a>, the volume of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li_Canon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pali Canon</a> that contains the Buddha's discourses (suttas). According to tradition, these discourses were delivered by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha#Biography" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Buddha</a>, during the Buddha's lifetime (c. 563/480 – c. 483/400 BCE).</p>

<p>These texts, translated to English by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanissaro_Bhikkhu" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Thanissaro Bhikkhu</a>, are originally in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pali language</a>, which is a partially Sanskritized variant of Prakrit. The Buddha spoke either Magadhi Prakrit or another dialect of Prakrit. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakrit" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Prakrit</a> is closely related to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sanskrit</a>.</p>

<p>If you want to read a modern guide and explanation on the techniques mentioned in MN 118 and MN 10, please see <a href="http://buddhistinsights.com/yuttadhammo-bhikkhu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu</a>'s book "<a href="https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">How to Meditate</a>". If you're actually interested to learn Buddhist meditation, this is a great place to start.</p>

<p>Another newer text that you may read is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visuddhimagga" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Visuddhimagga</a> or Path of Purification, a text written in the 5th century CE in Sri Lanka by the monk <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhaghosa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Buddhaghosa</a>. You can find a <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PDF version here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T16:34:33.403Z
Precisely what I was looking for. Excellent answer. Appreciate it.
Sermo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-24T07:11:14.257Z
2018-11-24T07:39:29.280Z
2018-11-24T07:39:29.280Z
ruben2020
<p>I have read a decent amount on modern meditative practices, but I am curious to read the way in which ancient monks described their techniques.</p>

<p>This is not suggesting that modern meditative practices differ from their originators, as I wouldn't know if they do.</p>

<p>I am simply curious about the ancient texts as one would be to read an ancient cookbook. </p>

<meditation><history>
Ancient texts on Meditation Techniques?
# Ancient texts on Meditation Techniques?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-24)

I have read a decent amount on modern meditative practices, but I am curious to read the way in which ancient monks described their techniques.

This is not suggesting that modern meditative practices differ from their originators, as I wouldn't know if they do.

I am simply curious about the ancient texts as one would be to read an ancient cookbook.

**Tags:** meditation, history


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-24. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Please see the English translation of the [Anapanasati Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 118 or MN 118)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html) on the Buddhist mindfulness of breathing technique. The transliterated Pali version can be found [here](https://suttacentral.net/mn118/pli/ms).

Please see the English translation of the [Satipatthana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 10 or MN 10)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html) on the four foundations of mindfulness technique. The transliterated Pali version can be found [here](https://suttacentral.net/mn10/pli/ms).

These two texts come from the [Sutta Pitaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutta_Pitaka), the volume of the [Pali Canon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li_Canon) that contains the Buddha's discourses (suttas). According to tradition, these discourses were delivered by [the Buddha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha#Biography), during the Buddha's lifetime (c. 563/480 – c. 483/400 BCE).

These texts, translated to English by [Thanissaro Bhikkhu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanissaro_Bhikkhu), are originally in the [Pali language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali), which is a partially Sanskritized variant of Prakrit. The Buddha spoke either Magadhi Prakrit or another dialect of Prakrit. [Prakrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakrit) is closely related to [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language).

If you want to read a modern guide and explanation on the techniques mentioned in MN 118 and MN 10, please see [Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu](http://buddhistinsights.com/yuttadhammo-bhikkhu/)'s book "[How to Meditate](https://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/)". If you're actually interested to learn Buddhist meditation, this is a great place to start.

Another newer text that you may read is the [Visuddhimagga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visuddhimagga) or Path of Purification, a text written in the 5th century CE in Sri Lanka by the monk [Buddhaghosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhaghosa). You can find a [PDF version here](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Precisely what I was looking for. Excellent answer. Appreciate it.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-24. Score: 0

This attitude is completely wrong; thinking something can crudely be manipulated for Nirvana. The Buddha taught one primary method for the Noble Path; which was letting go or "surrender":

> ***There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, making it his object to let go, attains concentration, attains
> singleness of mind.***
>
> ***SN 48.10***

The is no "cookbook". It is the very opposite. The Buddha taught to stop "cooking" ("sanhkara").

"Cooking" is shown below, which the Buddha taught to stop:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/22zgt.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/22zgt.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I am massively confused by this comment. I never suggested that I was searching for Nirvana. I am interested in the historical teachings of Buddhist meditation techniques. Unless you're suggesting that only Buddhists and those seeking Nirvana, and only those subscribing to your particular sect of Buddhism, are permitted to show interest in Buddhism, or ask questions on this site.  
> **username_0**: Was your answer posted on the wrong question?  
> **username_1**: Buddha taught the path to Nirvana. So what meditation are you interested in? What destination or purpose?  
> **username_0**: In this question, I am not at all interested in the destination at all. I am interested, as I stated, in the "techniques" of meditation. Meaning, mindfulness, breathing, sitting posture, etc.  
> **username_0**: And my comment about cookbooks was an analogy. It had nothing to do with Buddhism or Buddhist practices.  

---

