Esoteric Theravada: The Story of the Forgotten Meditation Tradition of Southeast Asia

A groundbreaking exploration of a practice tradition that was nearly lost to history.

Theravada Buddhism, often understood as the school that most carefully preserved the practices taught by the Buddha, has undergone tremendous change over time. Prior to Western colonialism in Asia—which brought Western and modernist intellectual concerns, such as the separation of science and religion, to bear on Buddhism—there existed a tradition of embodied, esoteric, and culturally regional Theravada meditation practices. This once-dominant traditional meditation system, known as borān kammaṭṭhāna, is related to—yet remarkably distinct from—Vipassana and other Buddhist and secular mindfulness practices that would become the hallmark of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century. Drawing on a quarter century of research, scholar Kate Crosby offers the first holistic discussion of borān kammaṭṭhāna, illuminating the historical events and cultural processes by which the practice has been marginalized in the modern era.

[sergioisbananas]

i wish they would give me the video where they sourced this audio from its so awsome!!! (chanting in the beginign)

[harrygreen]

I can't wait to read this book. I've been looking forward to it. Can I ask where I can find the audio of the chanting in this video? It is sublime.

[oscargluja]

RITUALS are only agreggates to make a Philosophy more colorful and atractive.

[yuda]

Does she transmit the teachings in the book? Because as interesting as it is, if I cannot practice it this would just tease my soul.

[smlankau]

There are a lot of things to learn about meditations.

[nigelsheppard]

Jungle Buddhism, thanks to the Khmer Rouge this is virtually dead but whilst it remains on life support, it is still alive.

[Spectre]

A Theravadan monk explained this to me once.

[EpiphanyMindChange]

I was introduced to Zen from martial arts of Japan, Korea, and China (called Chan if I remember correctly). After studying buddhism more on my own, I discovered theravada. I actually like this better. Also, when you're facing your mic directly, the air from your P's, B's, and sometimes other strong sounds and bursts of air hurt my ear drums. Just FYI