The internet includes the largest repository of spiritual writings that human beings have ever created. Esoteric texts that, throughout history, men and women have died to protect are now just a click away. It can be difficult to reduce the abundance of today’s spiritual marketplace into high-quality material worthy of your scarce time and attention. If your goal is waking up through the vehicle of meditation practice, here is some helpful guidance:

Books (PDFs)

Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana – Still the best introductory text for the study and practice of mindfulness. Concise, practical, elegant. A classic.

Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram – The book that broke the seal on pragmatic dharma. It stands alone. While I’d be cautious about trying to follow Ingram’s noting advice (he recommends noting far faster than I’ve ever felt comfortable with), this book is still an incredible resource for those looking to dive deep into the path of meditation. Geeky, articulate, empowering and engaging.

Gateless Gatecrashers by Ilona Ciunaite and Elena Nezhinsky – Enlightenment porn. Stories of exceedingly normal people waking up.

Super Resources

Teachers

Kenneth Folk – Along with Daniel Ingram, one of the progenitors of the pragmatic dharma world. Creator of the three-speed transmission and social noting.

Daniel Ingram – Along with Kenneth Folk, one of the progenitors of the pragmatic dharma world. Writer of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha and starter of the Dharma Overground.

Shinzen Young – Shinzen is the undisputed geek king of all geeky meditation teachers. Unbelievably productive, he has done an enormous amount of work on the interface of science and meditation. Check out his articles and youtube channel. If you dig his style you should also download yourself The Science of Enlightenment, Shinzen’s epic fourteen hour long brain dump on the topic of science and meditation.

Ron Crouch – A wonderfully approachable and wise person who helps people wake up over skype. Make sure to read his description of the progress of insight.

Vincent Horn – Creator of Buddhist Geeks and general digital dharma dude. Released Daniel Ingram and pragmatic dharma into the wild.

Rob Burbea – Rob Burbea consistently gives high quality talks on a variety of subjects. Manages to do the very impressive feat of talking about the relative while pointing to the absolute. He also has a very pleasing accent.

Adyashanti – For when you’re just…about…there…

Podcasts

Buddhist Geeks – Six years of conversations with some of the greatest minds in the contemplative world on a variety of geeky topics. NPR for contemplative geeks.

Insights at the Edge – Interviews with major spiritual figures. Some of the interviews are really mind-bending.

Buddha at the Gas Pump – Over 120 hours of interviews with ordinary people who woke up.

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Essays

Issues Surrounding Talking About Enlightenment by Daniel Ingram

Realistic Expectations by Kenneth Folk

The Three Characteristics by Jackson Wilshire

You are Expected to Wake Up by Owen Becker

Good Practice by Daniel Ingram

Essential Books on the Dharma Overground

Contemplation is Becoming an Information Technology by Vince Horn

Advice for Retreats

Daniel Ingrams Retreat Advice

A Reformed Slacker’s Guide to Stream Entry

What Should I Do to Get Stream Entry?

Misc

Buddhist Torrents

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work in progress