Buddhist Meditation: Theory, Components and Practice Across Traditions

This book offers a comprehensive account of Buddhist meditation, tracing its historical development, doctrinal foundations, and practical applications across the Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions. Beginning with the life and enlightenment of the Buddha, it examines key philosophical principles, including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the concepts of Dhamma and Nibbana, and the formation of the Buddhist Sangha.

Drawing on primary canonical sources and contemporary scholarship, the book critically analyses key meditative practices across the three major traditions of Buddhism in order to foster a broader understanding and overcome sectarian perspectives. It also discusses how Śamatha and Vipassanā function as foundational practices within all these traditions.

Further, the text reflects on Buddhist meditation in the modern context, examining the challenges it faced in gaining recognition during India's struggle for Independence and how, in recent years, its applications have increasingly been incorporated into modern scientific discourse.

Designed for students, scholars, and practitioners alike, this text seeks to bridge classical Buddhist thought with contemporary contemplative inquiry, offering both theoretical depth and practical clarity.