Introduction
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and Notes

Part 1: The Happiness of Practice
1.
Basic Method of Practice I
Building a solid foundation through the first four stages of practice

2.
Basic Method of Practice II
Three Higher Stages of Practice for Beautiful Breathing

3.
Performance Obstacles I
Two of the five obstacles that stand between us and the deeper stages of practice - sensual desire and ill will.

4.
Performance Obstacles II
The remaining three obstacles: sloth and torpor, restlessness and regret, and doubt.

5.
The nature of awareness
Awareness, Gatekeepers, and How to Succeed in Practice

6.
Various ways to energize your practice
How to cheer up, relieve boredom, and create joy

7.
Beautiful breathing
The achievement of selection and the insight of enlightenment

8.
Four Focuses of Awareness
Using the focus of awareness to reach the jewel at the center of the lotus flower

Part 2: Bliss and Beyond
9.
Selection I: Bliss
The beginning of a journey: 'Beautiful Breath'

10.
Selection II: Bliss upon Bliss
Nimitta - the entrance to Dhyana

11.
Selection III: Bliss upon Bliss upon Bliss
The method of selection and the reality of selection

12.
The essence of deep insight
What prevents us from seeing 'what is truly'?
How does a mind strengthened by deep practice discover the truth?

13.
Deep insight that brings liberation
Deep insight that changes everything and leads to enlightenment

14.
Enlightenment: Entering the Flow
The Reality of Nirvana (Enlightenment) and the First Experience of Nirvana (Stream-entry)

15.
Towards complete enlightenment
The Four Stages of Enlightenment and How to Identify an Enlightened One
Conclusion: 'Letting Go' Until the End
The importance of 'letting go', the attachments or obstacles we encounter, and happiness in a busy life.

Translator's Note

When you know how to let go, life is not so heavy!

Ajahn Brahm, the author of this book, was an engineering student who studied theoretical physics at Cambridge University. He had a longing for a spiritual life, and after becoming a disciple of Ajahn Chah and practicing for a long time in Thailand, he moved to Australia and founded Bodhiniana Temple, the first temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
He is renowned for his deep experience and profound insights into Buddhist meditation, blended with clear explanations and a great sense of humor.
In particular, his sermons are so popular that millions of people around the world listen to them every year through the temple's website or YouTube.
His teachings, which penetrate the essence of life, provide great inspiration to those seeking true happiness and truth.


Monk Hyean, who translated this book into Korean, graduated from the Department of Oriental History at Seoul National University and became a monk under the tutelage of Monk Cheongun.
He practiced at various training centers in Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, and in particular, through his connection with this book, he practiced at the Bodhinna Monastery in Australia, where Ajahn Brahm was the commentator.


Ajahn Brahm, who soothed readers' hearts with the book "Taming the Drunken Elephant" a few years ago, has now published "Letting Go," which presents specific meditation methods and shows the deep spiritual stages reached through Buddhist meditation for those who wish to meditate for happiness or enlightenment in life.
Although the book progresses relatively briskly, with Ajahn Brahm's signature wit and humor, its content is not so light.
If you are a layman or beginner in Buddhist meditation, you may think of it as just a systematic and practical meditation book.
However, practitioners with some knowledge and experience in Buddhist meditation may be surprised when they read this book.
This is because this book presents many topics that have not been properly covered in any other book so far.
For example, there is a detailed description of the state of 'jhāna', which is a state of transcendental bliss through practice, and how to reach it.


On the one hand, this book is like a comprehensive gift set. If someone who wants to relieve the stress they experience in their daily lives properly understands this book and practices the step-by-step methods, they will not only relieve stress but also experience peace and happiness in their life.
Moreover, those who pursue a higher dimension will be able to experience a bliss that transcends everyday peace and happiness, and ultimately, even the ultimate happiness, enlightenment.

So what does "letting go" mean in this book? There are many different dimensions to "letting go."
Here, let's talk from the perspective of people living their daily lives.
In a way, 'letting go' can be said to be 'becoming truly rational'.
People regret and blame themselves for what they said and did in the past, and worry about what will happen in the future.
The past and the future are, of course, not visible before our eyes.
Why do we worry and agonize over things about the past and future, even though they are invisible to our eyes? It's because our minds cling to them.
If we hold on to it so tightly, the past and future, which were previously intangible, will take on form and weight and weigh us down.
If we observe our own minds closely, we will find that most of our perceptions and thoughts are related to the past or the future.
In this way, we make ourselves suffer because of the past and the future.


A truly rational person must let go of the unnecessary burden of past and future.
If you let go of the past and the future and stay awake only to the present moment, you will experience a spiritual fulfillment and happiness that you have never experienced before.
If you let go of what has been causing you pain, you will naturally become happy.
Letting go like this is one way to lighten the burden of life and bring happiness.


In today's competitive society, the stress felt by modern people is truly serious.
Basically, stress can be said to be a problem of the mind.
However, most people do not properly understand the mind, and trying to control and manipulate the mind as they wish is like pouring oil on fire.
For example, we all know that just tapping anywhere on a computer doesn't make it work the way we want it to.
But in the case of the mind, we have the illusion that if we just roughly knock here and there, things will turn out the way we want.
Just as you need to understand the principles and apply them in various ways to use a computer well, you need to become proficient in managing your mind by properly understanding the principles and applying them accordingly to use your mind well.


What is true letting go?

As the subtitle, ‘Ajahn Brahm’s Happy Meditation Manual’ suggests, ‘meditation’ can be applied to everyday problems as well.
People suffer from negative thoughts and emotions.
You may feel angry at your boss at work, or your heart may break when your lover announces a breakup.
Sometimes I get depressed for no particular reason, and sometimes I feel anxious about the future.
People try to escape from this painful state of mind by using willpower to drive away these painful feelings or thoughts, or by distracting themselves with sensory objects such as alcohol or television.
But these are just wrong methods.


So how should we deal with painful emotions or thoughts that arise? Most people, when they sense these negative feelings, tend to reject them and try to banish them.
It's a kind of battle with the mind.
But if we react like this, our hearts will be hurt and we will become more misguided.
You have to treat your heart like you would a five-year-old child.
What if every time a child misbehaves, the mother hits, scolds, and verbally abuses them? That child will suffer severe psychological trauma, making it difficult for them to grow into a normal adult.
The same goes for the mind.
If painful emotions or thoughts come flooding in, it is best to first accept them as natural and not reject or dislike them.
And then, as a mother looks at her five-year-old child, she should look at him warmly and not try to control or suppress his feelings.
Then, at some point, the painful feelings and thoughts will disappear on their own.
This is the sweetness experienced through ‘letting go’ or ‘stopping.’


Many practitioners make similar mistakes regarding the mind as ordinary people.
People constantly strive to control and manipulate their minds to do what they want.
Of course, it is very rare for their hearts to move as they wish.
They reproach themselves and scold their hearts.
And by finding various negative problems in the mind, we bring suffering upon ourselves.
Because the mind is not something we can do as we wish.
Breaking this vicious cycle can be said to be Buddhist practice.
Since the wrong mental attitudes of 'sensual desire' and 'anger' are the causes of all problems, the antidotes to removing them are peace, forgiveness, gentleness, and contentment.
Whether ordinary people or practitioners, whatever thoughts and emotions arise in the mind and whatever feelings arise in the body, let us peacefully coexist with them, forgive them, accept them, treat them gently, and be completely content with them.
Then, the poison in your mind will soon be detoxified and you will be able to enjoy happiness and peace.


Structure of this book
Part 1, “The Happiness of Practice,” is for those who want to practice to lighten the burdens of life, but are unable to pursue the state of bliss or enlightenment due to obstacles or unwillingness.
Here it is explained that if done properly, the practice can bring considerable happiness even to beginners.


Chapters 1 and 2 cover the initial steps of practice in a clear and organized manner.
Chapters 3 and 4 examine problems that may arise during practice and show how these obstacles can be easily overcome if recognized.

Chapters 5 and 6 explain awareness in a unique way.
And it expands the practitioner's repertoire by offering three more practices that are helpful to everyone on the path to inner peace.
Chapters 7 and 8 introduce the Buddha's original teachings, namely the Dharma talks on breathing meditation (awareness of breathing) and the Dharma talks on the foundation of awareness (the focus of awareness).
So, with the Buddha's insightful explanations, the teachings up to this point are verified and enriched.


Part 2, “Bliss and Beyond,” takes you on a journey into timeless Buddhist bliss.
Here we see how practice literally explodes internally into the highest bliss of meditation.
And it explains how this state of letting go lifts the veil of the five senses, revealing the wondrous world of the mind, the magical inner garden where enlightenment occurs.


Chapters 9, 10, and 11 reveal the world of pure mind through detailed descriptions of the experience of selection.
And it gives precise step-by-step instructions on how to attain this wondrous state.

Chapters 12 and 13 explain how insight based on selection opens the door to the orchard of wisdom.
So we continue to rise to the summit of spiritual experience.
Chapters 14 and 15 explain how the lifelong dream comes to a grand conclusion.
Here we speak precisely and definitively about what enlightenment is and how it is achieved.

The conclusion, 'Letting Go Until the End', guides us back to our daily lives from the other dimension of the world of meditation and nirvana.