Exploring the meditative practices of compassion and emptiness, Analayo casts fresh light on their earliest sources in the Buddhist tradition.

Contents:IntroductionChapter I Cultivating Compassion1 The Nature of Compassion2 Compassion and Morality3 Compassion and the Four Noble Truths4 Compassion and Teaching5 Compassion and Seclusion6 Compassion in Meditation7 The Objects of Meditative Compassion8 SummaryChapter II Contextualizing Compassion1 Benevolence2 Kindness in Daily Conduct3 Facing Aggression4 Mental Beauty5 Compassion and Sympathetic Joy6 Compassion and Equipoise7 Compassion and the Other Divine Abodes8 SummaryChapter III Maturing Compassion1 The Benefits of Benevolence2 Compassion and Absorption3 Compassion and Karma4 Compassion and Insight5 Compassion and the Awakening Factors6 Compassion and Infinite Space7 SummaryChapter IV Empty Matter1 The Nature of Being Empty2 A Gradual Meditative Entry into Emptiness3 Earth4 Infinite Space5 Infinite Space and Compassion6 SummaryChapter V Empty Mind1 Infinite Consciousness2 The Nature of Consciousness3 Dependent Arising4 The Bahiya Instruction5 Emptiness in Daily Life6 SummaryChapter VI Empty of Self1 Nothingness2 Imperturbability3 Not-self4 Signlessness5 Realization of Emptiness6 The Dynamics of Emptiness7 SummaryChapter VII Practical Instructions1 Laying the Foundation2 Compassion and the Other Divine Abodes3 The Radiation Practice4 Emptiness Meditation5 SummaryChapter VIII Translations1 The Madhyama-agama parallel to the Karajakaya-sutta2 The Madhyama-agama parallel to the Cuasuññata-sutta3 The Madhyama-agama parallel to the Mahasuññata-suttaAbbreviations and References