Books by Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw
Dhamma teachings by Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma.
I find these books highly useful and would recommend anyone interested in this tradition and technique to read everything the author has written (except sections on the stages of insight knowledge). Of course the studying cannot stand alone and has to be coupled with the practice of Vipassana meditation in order to truly understand and realize what is being taught.
This website offers free books by Mahasi Sayadaw on Vipassana meditation and how to develop insight knowledge. This is a quote from the website regarding the free books:
"… The books in this section are free for downloads and personal uses. However, commercial uses are not allowed. The Buddha Sasana Online has acquired permission from Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization to post the books for free downloads as a gift for the Internet community. Therefore please keep these resources free, and if you wish to link to these files, please do not do so. Please copy the files to your own webspace, and save our bandwidth for other people. If you wish to distribute these books, you also need to ask permission from the publishers. Thank you …"
An extensive guideline through the practice of Vipassana meditation and explanation of the Satipatthana medthod, including how Nibbana is realized through this method of practice.
Fundamentals of Vipassana Meditation
This book includes an explanation of the difference of Samatha and Vipassana meditation, how Vipassana is practiced, the theory behind the practice, and how the practice achieves the goal of Nibbana and fulfills the Eightfold Noble Path.
Practical Vipassana Meditational Exercises
This is a brief look to the Vipassana meditation along with a few exercises to begin with.
Purpose of Practicing Kammatthana (Buddhist) Meditation
Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw explains the two kinds of meditations taught by the Buddha as well as a brief teaching on how to practice the two methods.
Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation
This book explains the Satipatthana Vipassana meditation method that's taught by the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta. It explains extensively the instructions given by the Buddha in the Satipatthana sutta, the practice, and the theory behind it.
Summary of Discourses on Purity and Insight (Visuddhi-Nana-Kattha)
This is a collection of discourses given by the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw on the subjects of purity and insight.
This is yet another discourse to extensively discuss the Satipatthana meditation method prescribed by the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta.
