Esoteric Theravada

The Story of the Forgotten Meditation Tradition of Southeast Asia

By: Kate Crosby

Narrated by: Kate Crosby

A groundbreaking exploration of a practice tradition that was nearly lost to history.

Theravada Buddhism, often understood as the school that most carefully preserved the practices taught by the Buddha, has undergone tremendous change over time. Prior to Western colonialism in Asia—which brought Western and modernist intellectual concerns, such as the separation of science and religion, to bear on Buddhism—there existed a tradition of embodied, esoteric, and culturally regional Theravada meditation practices. This once-dominant traditional meditation system, known as borān kammaṭṭhāna, is related to—yet remarkably distinct from—Vipassana and other Buddhist and secular mindfulness practices that would become the hallmark of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century. Drawing on a quarter century of research, scholar Kate Crosby offers the first holistic discussion of borān kammaṭṭhāna, illuminating the historical events and cultural processes by which the practice has been marginalized in the modern era.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Kate Crosby (P)2022 Shambhala Publications

Fascinating

Will re-listen -- really interesting material about a brank of Buddhist practice I had no familiarity with.

pretty cool, dense!

this was an unexpectedly awesome read. throws you into the story of Buddhism as it encountered the west, refers to some meditation texts that don't appear to be translated into English in whole. can't wait to see the author publish her translation of those texts I'm very intrigued. 10/10 because esoteric theravads is (or was) a thing—cool!

Historically oriented

Unfortunately I found this book incredibly dry however it’s a historical overview I would love to hear more about teachers in this practice or stories within this practice. The reading is good it should be titled as “ the history of early Buddhism “

No teachings here only history