Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

1. Personal Conditions of Preparation
At least some of the following conditions should be
well-fulfilled by all who follow the Buddha's Way. The
last four in the list should certainly be practiced upon
opportunity by those in whom resolve and renunciation
are strong; the former should be practiced by all
Buddhists.
a. Two thoughts necessary for everybody's deep and
long recollection: the fear of death and the
impermanence of the body.
b. One must believe that after death there is some
afterlife or rebirth. It is a false and harmful view to
imagine that at the death of a "person" there is no
continuity of actions and their results. Holding this view
(ucchedavada), a man sees no reason for any
preparation; but with the prospect of future lives ahead,
there is the greatest incentive to prepare oneself.
c. Also one must search for a good future birth (not
merely passively accept its existence). This can best be
done by thoroughly knowing the Buddha's instructions.
For many people, the easiest way to learn what these are
is to read some of the reliable books on Buddhism and
translations now available. All the publications of the
Pali Text Society of London should be read and
thoroughly absorbed; then one will know well the
doctrine of the Hinayana. For the Mahayana, study
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