A maior parte destas instruções podem ser levadas a cabo quer estejamos sentados, de pé ou a andar. Contudo, a técnica da Plena Atenção da respiração (ānāpānasati) mencionada nos primeiros capítulos é geralmente realizada na postura de sentado, uma vez que aquela é potencializada quando realizada num estado físico de quietude e estabilidade. Para este estado a ênfase é em sentarmo-nos de forma a que a coluna esteja erecta mas não em esforço, com o pescoço alinhado com a coluna e a cabeça em equilíbrio de forma a não pender para a frente. Muitas pessoas acham que a postura de Lotus de pernas cruzadas (sentados numa almofada ou num tapete, com um ou ambos os pés colocados na coxa oposta, com as solas para cima) confere um equilíbrio ideal entre esforço e estabilidade – após alguns meses de prática. É bom treinarmo-nos gentilmente nesta direcção, um pouco de cada vez. Uma cadeira de costas direitas pode ser usada se esta postura for muito difícil.

A Palavra do Buddha, cuja primeira edição foi publicada em língua alemã, constituiu a primeira explanação sistemática das linhas mestras do Ensinamento do Buddha, apresentada pelas palavras do próprio Mestre, tal como encontradas no Sutta-Pitaka do Cânone Pāli Budista.

Embora possa servir como primeira introdução para o principiante, o objectivo principal deste livro é oferecer ao leitor que já se encontra mais ou menos familiarizado com as ideias fundamentais do Budismo, uma síntese clara, autêntica e concisa dos seus diversos ensinamentos, no enquadramento das “Quatro Nobres Verdades”, respectivamente as verdades do sofrimento (inerente a toda a existência), da origem do sofrimento, da extinção do sofrimento e do caminho que conduz à extinção do sofrimento. Verifica-se pelo próprio conteúdo do livro, como os ensinamentos do Buddha, em última análise, convergem todos para uma realização final: a Libertação do Sofrimento.

The title of this book refers to the image of the Buddha’s teaching, the Wheel of Truth (or Dhamma). It is a wheel that he set rolling in his first discourse by proclaiming the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of practice. This teaching remains as the axis of Ajahn Sumedho’s teaching and personal contemplative work. This particular collection of his Dhamma talks and dialogues is composed of material that has appeared in various newsletters and magazines before; it derives from different periods in Ajahn Sumedho’s teaching career, but it has been gathered into three parts to address overarching themes.

The following pages offer some means to find clarity and calm within a few minutes. They can be put into practice in a range of non-specialized situations – in the time it would take you to drink a cup of tea. If you live a busy life, this guide may help you come out of the momentum of the day and give you more time. These suggestions may also offer you a way to meditate – but that’s up to you and another guide.

The chapters in this wonderful book are edited transcriptions of talks given by Ajahn Sundara between 2003 and 2011. Many of these talks and teachings were given at Insight Meditation Center of the Mid-Peninsula in Redwood California. Some were from public talks and retreats held at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in the United Kingdom. It Can Be Very Simple is taken from an interview given to The Insight Journal of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Our Nature is from a talk given at Seattle Insight Meditation Society.

Do you ever find yourself dominated by a chain of thought that tells you that you’re not good enough, that you don’t deserve much, and that other people look down on you or tolerate you out of politeness? Do you find yourself snagging on memories of things you did wrong, or relationships that you didn’t get right? Do you feel that you have to be a success in life like you think someone else is – and are consequently critical of yourself? This piece of psychology is called ‘the Inner Tyrant’. The good news is that it’s not just you who has this, and that you can get free of its grip. And the key to this is through establishing, and continually re-establishing, right intent.

Let’s look at the idea of concentration, or samādhi. When you hear those four little syllables, con-cen-tra-tion, what do they imply to you? It may take a few moments to articulate it, but you might immediately feel a particular set of energies starting to take over. You probably get a sense of doing something, working hard at it to get it right. That’s the normal take. We clench up, get tight, and go for it. It’s intensive practice, a ‘concentration’ camp. No slacking! With this kind of thinking, we rev up the controlling systems, the duty systems, the work systems, and the ‘get-it-right’ systems. Right there is stress. A line of tension starts to form across your brow.