Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Foreword to the 1980 Edition
This book is unusual among the numerous publications
available on Buddhist meditation. It is based upon the
experiences of a well-known Buddhist yogi, Chien-ming
Chen, (commonly known as Yogi C. M. Chen) who
practiced meditation alone in Kalimpong, India at the
foot of the Himalaya Mountains for over 28 years. This
book presents both doctrinal and practical aspects of the
subject. Furthermore, it explains and correlates the
Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions of
Buddhist meditation and offers detailed instructions on
undertaking the Vajrayana method for a Western student.
The main text is augmented by several appendices which
give more detailed information and instruction.
The manner in which this meditation manual was first
written in 1962 in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, is
described in the beginning of the Introduction of the
1966 edition and 1976 reprint: "In this book, the words of
our Buddhist yogi, C. M. Chen, have first been noted
down and particular care taken to preserve something of
his original expressions and peculiar style. So that
nothing is missed, two persons met him every week. One
listened, that is Venerable Sangharakshita Sthavira, and
another was the recorder, that is the writer (Khantipalo
Bhikkhu). The next day, the subject still being fresh in
mind, these notes were converted into a rough draft after
which they were given to the Ven. Sthavira for his
comments. After revising as he suggested they were
typed and then taken along to the next meeting with Yogi
Chen. He then read them carefully, adding or deleting
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