The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon

Introduction The introduction presents the Buddha’s Awakening as the foundation for understanding the entire book. It discusses Prince Siddhattha’s realization of aging, illness, and death; his renunciation; his search for the deathless; and his discovery of liberation through skillful practice, mindfulness, concentration, and discernment. Part I: Basic Principles This part explains two core principles: Skillfulness and Kamma & the Ending of Kamma. It presents Buddhist practice as a skill that must be developed through intentional action, careful attention, and the abandonment of unskillful qualities. Part II: The Seven Sets This part presents the seven classical sets of the Wings to Awakening: Four Frames of Reference, Four Right Exertions, Four Bases of Power, Five Faculties, Five Strengths, Seven Factors for Awakening, and The Noble Eightfold Path. These sections show how the Buddhist path is structured as a complete training in mindfulness, effort, concentration, wisdom, and liberation. Part III: The Basic Factors This part reorganizes the seven sets under five fundamental faculties: conviction, persistence, mindfulness, concentration, and discernment. It gives special attention to right concentration, the abandonment of hindrances, the relationship between concentration and discernment, equanimity, right view, and the Four Noble Truths.