Buddism is a religion with sound scientic answers to problems growing in Western society. This fact has attracted many Western scholars, including American educators, to the ranks of Buddhism.

           Buddhism is taught as a subject in American high schools, colleges and universities. Thai Buddhists in the United States of America are establishing Buddhist temples with Sunday schools to serve Buddhist communities in all parts of the country. The author of this book works and lectures in Sunday school at Wat Dhammaram, the Thai Buddhist Temple of Chicago, in tha USA.  Due to the growing interest and demand for Buddhist studies, he has been asked to give lecture on Buddhism and meditation practice in high school, colleges, universities as well as state prison in Chicago and its surrouding areas since 1987.

           As the result of a growing need, this book, originally designed to meet the requirements of curriculum at Wat Dhammaram Suday school, was expanded to be used as a primer on Theravada Buddhism for all interred persons as well as students.

           In the past, Americans have most often learned about Buddhism through Japannese, Chinese and Korean Zen instructors and also through Tibetan teachers. In this book reders will find an easy to follow format of Buddhist practice from the viewpoint of the Theravada Tradition. It should be noted here that Buddhism of any tradition accepts students without cultural, ethic or religions discrimination. Buddhism is Buddhism, the law fo Nature. That is to know the Four Noble Truths and train oneself in the Eightfold Path, also called the Middle Way.

           Buddhism provides scientific answers to life's problems for todays world. The teachings of the Enlightened One can show you the path of truth and answer questions such as, who am I ? What is the purpose of life ?  In this book the author has introduced a simple way of teaching the Dhamma to the young and others who are new to Buddhism. If you mindfully and intelligently study and follow the Dhamma, practice the Dhamma and meditation, peace fo mind is yours of the asking.

           Hopefully this book will proved useful for all those who are beginners of Buddhist studies.

May all beings be free from enmity.
May all beings be free from ill treatment.
May all beings be free from suffering.
May all beings be free from troubles bodily and mentally.
May all beings be happy.
 

Chuen Phangcham, Ph.D.
                05-09-1997
 

          What is Meditation ? In the Buddhism the word “Meditation” is translated from the Pali language. The pali word is “bhăvană” which means to develop, to improve. to cultivate mindfulness and awareness, so the mind becomes healthy and strong. Meditation is he way to cultivate the mind so it becomes calm, clear, peaceful, stable, bright, light, and pure. 

          A concentrated mind can focus clealy on a paticular object. Such a developed and be purified when defiling mental 
obstructions such as  hatred, greed, craving, delusion 
unwholesome thoughts, ignorance, and so on are released from tension, worry and stress. 

           Meditation is the way to psychologically train the mind to 
develop the tool of insight, or Vipasană enabling meditators to 
realize enlightenment, the highest wisdom for ordinary persons to becaome complete humman beings so that human being can 
become “noble ones” or ariya puggala (Pali). 

Coming  soon