Foreword by Joseph Goldstein ix
Preface xi

1. APPROACHING SUFFERING
An Almost Perfect Dream 3
Beyond the Walls 8
The Spiritual Journey 13

2. OPENING TO SUFFERING 19
Suffering and Compassion 21
The Way of Insight Meditation 28
Instructions for Insight Meditation 34
Our Personal Drama and Beyond 48

3. ASPECTS OF MEDITATION 51
Beyond the Grip of Fear 53
Working with Pain 68
Face to Face with Mortality 81
Fear of Death 91
Working with Anger 94
Self-Hatred and Self-Love 109
Transforming the Legacy of Abuse 119

4. MEDITATIONS OF THE HEART 139
The Divine Abodes 141
Lovingkindness 145
Compassion 147
Sympathetic Joy 148
Equanimity 149
Forgiveness 151

5. QUESTIONING 167
Faith, Doubt, and Self-Acceptance 169
Karma: "Why Me?" 184

6. LIVING WITH LOVE 203
A Healthy Foundation for Meditation 205
Generosity and Selflessness 207
Introducing the Precepts 218
The First Precept: Refrain from Harming 222
The Second Precept: Refrain from Stealing 226
The Third Precept: Refrain from False Speech 229
The Fourth Precept: Refrain from Sexual Misconduct 238
The Fifth Precept: Refrain from Needless Use of Intoxicants 244
Family and Community 247
Dancing with Life and Death 257

Notes 269
Suggested Reading 273
Meditation Center Information 277
Acknowledgments and Credits 281
Index 285