The Art of Listening: A Guide to the Early Teachings of Buddhism

An accessible introduction to the teachings of the Buddha told through the oral tradition of the Dīghanikāya--the preeminent text of the Pali canon.

The Dīghanikāya or Long Discourses of the Buddha is one of the four major collections of teachings from the early period of Buddhism. Its thirty-four suttas (in Sanskrit, sutras) demonstrate remarkable breadth in both content and style, forming a comprehensive collection. The Art of Listening gives an introduction to the Dīghanikāya and demonstrates the historical, cultural, and spiritual insights that emerge when we view the Buddhist suttas as oral literature.

Each sutta of the Dīghanikāya is a paced, rhythmic composition that evolved and passed intergenerationally through chanting. For hundreds of years, these timeless teachings were never written down. Examining twelve suttas of the Dīghanikāya, scholar Sarah Shaw combines a literary approach and a personal one, based on her experiences carefully studying, hearing, and chanting the texts. At once sophisticated and companionable, The Art of Listening will introduce you to the diversity and beauty of the early Buddhist suttas.

Author: Sarah Shaw
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 06/15/2021
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d
ISBN13: 9781611808858
ISBN10: 1611808855
BISAC Categories:
- Religion | Buddhism | Rituals & Practice
- Body, Mind & Spirit | Mindfulness & Meditation
- Religion | Buddhism | History

About the Author
DR. SARAH SHAW is a faculty member and lecturer at the University of Oxford. She has taught and published numerous works on the history and practices of Buddhism, including Mindfulness, An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation, and The Spirit of Meditation.