In the Lap of the Buddha

The book is organized into six main chapters. Chapter 1, “Approaching Suffering,” begins with the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the protected palace life, the encounter with suffering, and the decision to move beyond the walls of illusion; Harrison uses this narrative to reflect on modern denial, social conditioning, personal walls, and the beginning of the spiritual journey. Chapter 2, “Opening to Suffering,” introduces suffering and compassion, the way of insight meditation, practical instructions for meditation, and the movement beyond personal drama. Chapter 3, “Aspects of Meditation,” addresses specific areas of inner practice, including fear, pain, mortality, fear of death, anger, self-hatred, self-love, and the transformation of abuse. Chapter 4, “Meditations of the Heart,” presents the divine abodes and heart practices: lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity, and forgiveness. Chapter 5, “Questioning,” explores faith, doubt, self-acceptance, and karma. Chapter 6, “Living with Love,” develops the ethical and relational dimensions of practice through meditation foundations, generosity, selflessness, the five precepts, family, community, and the art of living with life and death.