I would say the history of meditation manuals goes way back, in India, China, and Japan. By meditation manual, I mean the attempt to provide practical instructions in meditation, as opposed to metaphysical instructions. Here’s an excerpt from “Two Shores of Zen” by Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler, that illustrates the conflict between ...
I’m Ok with Bowing
In the speeches recorded close to his death, Gautama said:
“Therefore… be ye lamps unto yourselves. Be ye a refuge unto yourselves. Betake yourselves to no external refuge. Hold fast to the Truth as a lamp. Hold fast as a refuge to the Truth. Look not for refuge to any one besides yourselves. And how… is (one) to be a lamp unto (oneself), ...