Buddhist Meditation: Theory, Components, and Practice Across Traditions

This book offers a comprehensive account of Buddhist meditation, tracing its historical development, doctrinal foundations, and practical applications across the Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions. Beginning with the life and enlightenment of the Buddha, it examines key philosophical principles, including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the concepts of Dhamma and Nibbana, and the formation of the Buddhist Sangha.

Drawing on primary canonical sources and contemporary scholarship, the book critically analyses key meditative practices across the three major traditions of Buddhism in order to foster a broader understanding and overcome sectarian perspectives. It also discusses how Śamatha and Vipassanā function as foundational practices within all these traditions.

Further, the text reflects on Buddhist meditation in the modern context, examining the challenges it faced in gaining recognition during India's struggle for Independence and how, in recent years, its applications have increasingly been incorporated into modern scientific discourse.

Designed for students, scholars, and practitioners alike, this text seeks to bridge classical Buddhist thought with contemporary contemplative inquiry, offering both theoretical depth and practical clarity.

Dr. Sonam Lamo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Buddhist Studies at Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda, where she teaches Buddhist Philosophy, History, and Buddhist Meditation. Deeply rooted in both textual study and contemplative traditions, her academic work reflects a sustained engagement with the theory and practice of Buddhist meditation.

Dr. Lamo pursued her initial education in her native birthplace, Ladakh, a region shaped by centuries of Buddhist cultural and spiritual heritage. Thereafter, she moved to Jammu and pursued her Master's and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Jammu. Her research focuses primarily on Buddhist Philosophy and Buddhist Meditation, including the Samatha and Vipassanā meditation, exploring their doctrinal foundations, historical development, and practical relevance across Buddhist traditions.

Dr. Lamo has actively participated in several national and international conferences and has authored numerous research articles in Buddhist Studies. Her recent publications include "Types of Adherences as Enumerated in the Digha Nikāya" (2023) and "Revisiting the Sacred Stories of Gurpa: A Buddhist Site in Bihar" (2024).