Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition

Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition Synopsis

This book provides important contributions to understanding the teaching of awareness or mindfulness (Pali sati, Sanskrit smr?ti) in Buddhism and in related traditions, examined in original ways in a collection of articles that approach this theme from different perspectives: philosophical, philological, exegetic, anthropological, as an aspect of meditative practice, and so on. The volume is dedicated to Corrado Pensa, a well-known Buddhist scholar and practitioner who has had an important role in spreading Buddhist practice in Italy as well as internationally. The main part of this book is based on the scholarly output of his former students who engage in research on various topics concerning Buddhist awareness and other related topics, whereas the last section consists of essays by contemporary meditation teachers offered as tribute to Corrado Pensa through reflections on practical topics such as developing attention in ordinary life, mindful of breathing, and awareness as wisdom. A valuable feature of this book is thus the integration of two aspects of the Buddhist tradition, i.e., theory and practice, the volume thereby appealing to both academics and practitioners.