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7 Treasures of Awakening: The Benefits of Mindfulness
Among the Buddha's many teachings, his instruction on the Seven Factors of Awakening stands alone for the cumulative benefits it makes available to us. When we are firmly established in mindfulness, the Buddha explained, these seven "treasures" serve to steer the mind away from delusion and the causes of suffering, guiding us to the realization of freedom. In 7 Treasures of Awakening, Insight Meditation Society cofounder Joseph Goldstein reveals how each one of these qualities of enlightenment sequentially develop and support each other as our practice of mindfulness matures.
Program
Mindfulness, discrimination of states, energy, rapture, calm, concentration, and the seven "treasures" of awakeningThe four qualities of mindful attentionDhammavicaya, or "knowing what's what"Viriya (or energy), the root of all accomplishmentWell-balanced effortPīti, the antidote to anger and ill willReflecting on the Buddha, Dhamma, and SanghaThe role of calm on the path to awakeningJhāna and the four developments of concentrationSīla, ethical conductEquanimity versus indifferenceThe "great way" of non-preferential awarenessThe deep delight born of peaceExcerpted from A Practical Guide to Awakening, Joseph Goldstein's masterwork on the Buddha's instructions for a life lived consciously
Program
Mindfulness, discrimination of states, energy, rapture, calm, concentration, and the seven "treasures" of awakeningThe four qualities of mindful attentionDhammavicaya, or "knowing what's what"Viriya (or energy), the root of all accomplishmentWell-balanced effortPīti, the antidote to anger and ill willReflecting on the Buddha, Dhamma, and SanghaThe role of calm on the path to awakeningJhāna and the four developments of concentrationSīla, ethical conductEquanimity versus indifferenceThe "great way" of non-preferential awarenessThe deep delight born of peaceExcerpted from A Practical Guide to Awakening, Joseph Goldstein's masterwork on the Buddha's instructions for a life lived consciously
57 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2014
188 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Goldstein
83 books548 followersJoseph Goldstein (born 1944) is one of the first American vipassana teachers (Fronsdal, 1998), co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism (see publications below), resident guiding teacher at IMS, and leader of retreats worldwide on insight (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta) meditation.
While the majority of Goldstein's publications introduce Westerners to primarily Theravada concepts, practices and values, his 2002 work, "One Dharma", explored the creation of an integrated framework for the Theravada, Tibetan and Zen traditions.
While the majority of Goldstein's publications introduce Westerners to primarily Theravada concepts, practices and values, his 2002 work, "One Dharma", explored the creation of an integrated framework for the Theravada, Tibetan and Zen traditions.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 5, 2018
To say that Joseph Goldstein is a great teacher of the Dharma is an understatement. I really enjoyed how clearly Goldstein explains so many different layers of what unfolds through the practice of mindfulness, including energy, rapture, calm, concentration and equanimity. What I especially enjoyed in this book is the idea that yogis mistakenly prefer the allure of rapture or the undoubted power that comes with great concentration, and tend to undervalue simple tranquility. In fact working with tranquility, based on reading this book, made me discover unexpected peace. I highly recommend this book for this, and because it has such immediate, practical value for anyone who meditates, Buddhist or otherwise.
July 16, 2023
Bullet points to awaken yourself
You read everything Goldstein has written. You listen everything Goldstein has spoken. You follow all the guided meditation courses. If you do all those things, add this book as a motivating refined guide to awaken yourself.
You read everything Goldstein has written. You listen everything Goldstein has spoken. You follow all the guided meditation courses. If you do all those things, add this book as a motivating refined guide to awaken yourself.
April 29, 2020
Very helpful, great summary. Easily read :)
September 20, 2021
Needed insight.
For me this book is very good at pointing the benefits of a mindfulness practice for a day to day life. It's more practical than theoretical. Will read this again.
For me this book is very good at pointing the benefits of a mindfulness practice for a day to day life. It's more practical than theoretical. Will read this again.
August 28, 2022
Readable and insight laden walk though of the 7 factors of awakening, perfect for the western audience. Many practical tips for practice.
January 9, 2023
Good Insights On Mindfulness
Most of this of beyond me at this point in my life, but no reason to stop trying to reach equanimity.😀
Most of this of beyond me at this point in my life, but no reason to stop trying to reach equanimity.😀
January 2, 2026
A Beautiful Book.
I’ll be coming back to this one. There are some great, practical ideas about meditation here. I highly recommend this, in addition to “Mindfulness”
I’ll be coming back to this one. There are some great, practical ideas about meditation here. I highly recommend this, in addition to “Mindfulness”
February 19, 2026
deepen your practice
helpful in regards to understanding the defilaments and five hinderances and working with them.
would recommend for those practicing meditation!
helpful in regards to understanding the defilaments and five hinderances and working with them.
would recommend for those practicing meditation!
September 25, 2016
I have read through this short book twice and I think I have a basic grasp of the author's intent. I have never meditated, know little or nothing about Buddhism, and may be unqualified to review this book. Let's say I'm giving my impressions of it.
The author has been studying, practicing, and teaching meditation for almost fifty years. His book MINDFULNESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AWAKENING was published last year and continues to be a Kindle bestseller in its field. Mindfulness is a term much used today, and Goldstein traces it back to its origins in Buddhist philosophy. In this small book, he specifically addresses the 7 Factors of Awakening, which he believes have the greatest cumulative benefits of all the teachings of Buddha.
I think it would be a mistake to dismiss this as an attempt to simplify or "dumb-down" Buddhism. It is a scholarly piece of work (with footnotes at!) that seeks to shine light on an aspect which the author considers to be of particular importance. If it serves as an introduction to Buddhism to those of us who would be intimidated by a 500 page book, so much the better.
I was particularly struck by his discussion of the importance of mindfulness in developing and strengthening one's inner moral compass. He cites the two mental states that Buddha called "the guardians of the world" - hiri and ottappa, which translate as "self-respect" and "conscience." As he points out, in modern Western culture the idea of shame is the ultimate anathema, which prevents us from seeing the value of what he calls "wise shame." He talks about the suffering (both for self and others) that can be avoided if the individual thinks and acts in such a way as to avoid shame. "No deed is good that one regrets having done."
The second factor of enlightenment is discrimination of states, which he describes as the thorough investigation of your emotions and the basis for those emotions. In typically humorous style, he talks about meditating at a retreat and realizing that his thoughts had strayed to his favorite meditation sweatshirt and how nice it would be to have several of them in different colors. Further investigation of this emotion convinced him that this idea would not lead to enlightenment.
I was particularly interested in this because I think many Americans equate Buddhism with the "New Age" philosophy that feelings are always the best indicators of morality. This author's description of discrimination of states sounds like the venerable Catholic practice of "examination of conscience."
I found another charming example of his modesty and humor in the section on equanimity (emotional balance.) He talks about the publishing of his first book and how elated he was at the good reviews and how depressed and embarrassed by the bad reviews, one of which said flatly, "This is pretty silly stuff." He reminded himself that he must practice equanimity and not be blown around like a leaf in the wind by the opinions of others. I am very much in favor of equanimity, especially for authors. Reviewing can be a hazardous hobby.
Someone told me about a Christian minister who meditated in secret for years, knowing that many in his flock would think he had lost his mind or gone over to the dark side. Even today, I notice that many meditation retreats are rather aggressively labeled as"Christian meditation." But surely making use of a technique which enhances spirituality is simply common sense and acknowledging the origin of that practice is common courtesy.
I enjoyed this book and feel that I learned from it. I hope that no one is offended by my comments. I certainly mean no disrespect and if I have misinterpreted anything I'm happy to be corrected. I remember an old book in which a character says, "When you stop getting excited about new ideas you might as well be measured for your coffin." I suspect this author would agree.
The author has been studying, practicing, and teaching meditation for almost fifty years. His book MINDFULNESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AWAKENING was published last year and continues to be a Kindle bestseller in its field. Mindfulness is a term much used today, and Goldstein traces it back to its origins in Buddhist philosophy. In this small book, he specifically addresses the 7 Factors of Awakening, which he believes have the greatest cumulative benefits of all the teachings of Buddha.
I think it would be a mistake to dismiss this as an attempt to simplify or "dumb-down" Buddhism. It is a scholarly piece of work (with footnotes at!) that seeks to shine light on an aspect which the author considers to be of particular importance. If it serves as an introduction to Buddhism to those of us who would be intimidated by a 500 page book, so much the better.
I was particularly struck by his discussion of the importance of mindfulness in developing and strengthening one's inner moral compass. He cites the two mental states that Buddha called "the guardians of the world" - hiri and ottappa, which translate as "self-respect" and "conscience." As he points out, in modern Western culture the idea of shame is the ultimate anathema, which prevents us from seeing the value of what he calls "wise shame." He talks about the suffering (both for self and others) that can be avoided if the individual thinks and acts in such a way as to avoid shame. "No deed is good that one regrets having done."
The second factor of enlightenment is discrimination of states, which he describes as the thorough investigation of your emotions and the basis for those emotions. In typically humorous style, he talks about meditating at a retreat and realizing that his thoughts had strayed to his favorite meditation sweatshirt and how nice it would be to have several of them in different colors. Further investigation of this emotion convinced him that this idea would not lead to enlightenment.
I was particularly interested in this because I think many Americans equate Buddhism with the "New Age" philosophy that feelings are always the best indicators of morality. This author's description of discrimination of states sounds like the venerable Catholic practice of "examination of conscience."
I found another charming example of his modesty and humor in the section on equanimity (emotional balance.) He talks about the publishing of his first book and how elated he was at the good reviews and how depressed and embarrassed by the bad reviews, one of which said flatly, "This is pretty silly stuff." He reminded himself that he must practice equanimity and not be blown around like a leaf in the wind by the opinions of others. I am very much in favor of equanimity, especially for authors. Reviewing can be a hazardous hobby.
Someone told me about a Christian minister who meditated in secret for years, knowing that many in his flock would think he had lost his mind or gone over to the dark side. Even today, I notice that many meditation retreats are rather aggressively labeled as"Christian meditation." But surely making use of a technique which enhances spirituality is simply common sense and acknowledging the origin of that practice is common courtesy.
I enjoyed this book and feel that I learned from it. I hope that no one is offended by my comments. I certainly mean no disrespect and if I have misinterpreted anything I'm happy to be corrected. I remember an old book in which a character says, "When you stop getting excited about new ideas you might as well be measured for your coffin." I suspect this author would agree.
June 15, 2014
Goldstein's approach has an intellectual simplicity that I found attractive. He focuses on seven stages or steps to enlightenment, providing concrete examples and descriptive explanations. Perhaps most instructive for me was the reminder of the importance of mindfulness. To be truly present to another person or to a situation naturally elicits respect -- for oneself and the other. Therein lies the key.
January 10, 2015
Good, but not easy for beginners
I enjoyed the book. It was difficult in places because of unknown concepts and words. I still learned from it and think its worthwhile.
I enjoyed the book. It was difficult in places because of unknown concepts and words. I still learned from it and think its worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews