Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book - Revised and Expanded Edition Paperback – June 28, 2018

In "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha," 2nd edition (MCTB2), I finally discovered that for which I had been searching for awhile: a sufficiently clear, concise, detailed, and thorough road map and travel guide about the process of awakening. One that sufficiently matches my experiences (providing understanding and necessary context); is significantly free of historical cultural encrustations, complex symbolism, and interpretations (that for me many times have been impediments); and has provided crucial guidance in helping me refine my trajectories of practice and aim (intention).Just as scientific hypotheses do, this book offers ways of understanding that provide (1) sensible explanations of past discoveries (e.g., my previous experiences) and current experience/findings, and (2) means of accurately predicting actual and potential future outcomes that are testable via experimentation (e.g., spiritual practices, such as insight meditation and inquiry). It also offers guidance in ways to assess and refine one's practice(s), approach(es), attitude(s), etc. The many references to other books and sources of information (such as suttas/sutras) offer lots of opportunities for deeper, broader, alternative, and comparative study.While my scope of study in this area is limited, my impression is that MCTB2 represents a landmark resource for individuals seeking to delve deeply into and perceive with increasing clarity aspects of the human experience that are commonly obscured, if not completely unseen and unrecognized. In this book, the author has done the work of extensive study, practice, reflection, and synthesis that I might only have been capable of if I had begun it in my early 20s (and had access to necessary sources and resources). As such, he has offered me a great boon, "inventing a wheel" so that I don't have to. "Standing on the shoulders of this giant" (among others), I can now proceed further and faster down this path than would otherwise have been possible. For this service, I am deeply grateful.I have read criticisms of the author for expressing personal opinions in this book and ~"going off on rants." In those areas where I have encountered these, I have found them both instructive and useful. I greatly appreciate how the author delineates them, as relevant divergences from the primary material that a reader can choose to skip. He essentially says, "Now I'm going to rant. This is my rant. Now I am done ranting." For me, this demonstrates a keen interest in clearly identifying and marking distinctions between objective observations and potential or actual subjective bias. I find this particularly remarkable in a work that deals with the subjective experiencer utilizing oneself as the instrument and subject of inquiry as well as the observer and awareness that is undertaking the experiment/inquiry itself. An endeavor that has great potential for mistaking delusion, opaque perceptions, and inaccurate conclusions for what can feel like and seem to be clarity.Given its position in the historical timeline of the gathering, preserving, and passing on of accumulated knowledge and wisdom that is generally referred to as the wisdom traditions (some of which I have studied and practiced), I find this compendium to be amazingly free of "the trappings, doctrinal literalism, sectarianism... that are associated with institutionalized religion" [source: Wikipedia]. To my great relief! I find it to be a lantern that illuminates my way as I travel this territory--which is rocky and murky and boggy enough as it is without (what for me is) unnecessary and unhelpful confusion, obscuration, or complexities being added to the mix. In this way it reminds me of the Core Shamanism that Michael Harner developed. My sense is this could be a seminal work that touches multiple fields of human investigation and endeavor. Particularly in the area of the development and maturation of capacities that can lead to a more full flowering of the potentials inherent in human life.This review is subject to later revision, as I have only been reading the book and working with the material for three months (so I have only engaged with portions of it, and those to a limited extent and for a limited duration). This is the kind of work that can only prove its full worth over time. Feb. 5, 2022May you travel well and fruitfully.

I wrote a review for the first edition and said that it deserves 10 stars. Second edition made it almost impossible for any new dharma book to exist.To make it short, the second edition added a long-waited-for section for magic with all minor details that would be sufficient to start practicing it, with warning from the author to exercise restraint and morality and not to abuse its power.Also Dr. Ingram added a substantial section about his own experience till he attained the Arahatship. This was a very important thing to me personally and took the secrecy, taboo, divinity, and the intimidation that surrounded meditation. All my life I was looking to Buddhist teachers as gods having all the power and knowledge that we never dream of attaining a fraction of it. Well, I followed Dr. Ingram and attained the stream entry in few months.I attained the first stages of enlightenment by myself, and can repeat it almost every day at will till it became boring and lost its spirituality; there is no supreme knowledge or powers attainable. It was easy and anyone can do it. I realized that enlightenment uses the brain and the intellect which is incapable of realizing anything metaphysical, let alone leads to salvation.It is also a great discovery from Dr. Ingram that the steps and stages of insight, leading to fruition (enlightenment), follow well-defined cycling and harmonic curves.This observation of Dr. Ingram actually coincides with another book I recently read, “The Will’s Harmonic Moth- 4th Edition” by Fadel Sabry. In that book the author asserts that our essence follows a strict cycling harmonic motion, and that meditation doesn’t lead to salvation, but only suffering does. I recommend reading that book also along with MCTB 2.I consider MCTB 2 is a must read book and actually Fate will guide the honest seekers for truth to it, like it did with me. God bless Dr. Ingram.

This book is quite amazing. I have so much to say but will try to keep it short. Daniel has to be one of the most compassionate people I don’t-really-know. This book is literally for anyone. I wish Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other stores wouldn’t classify this as “spirituality” or “religion”. This should be in the “self-improvement” section. This was the book I was looking for in my young adult life.Daniel details, step-by-step, how to live your best life. It starts with improving your morality, then he shows you how to increase your concentration abilities like you’ve never done before, then lastly, he shows you meditations that show you The Truth of your reality. Daniel is no god and he didn’t discover any of this on his own, nor does he claim that. He simply translated ancient Buddhist texts into modern language.This book is seriously not about religion. If you’ve been looking for “that thing” that will change your life, you’ve found it.