The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice contains translations of texts by two historically important Indian Buddhist scholars: Vasubhandhu's Summary of the Five Heaps and Sthiramati's commentary on Vasubandhu's root text. These works present the traditional Buddhist analysis of ordinary experience and provide rich resources for studying Buddhist interpretations of the psychology of spiritual development. An extensive introduction explores how the material contained in the two translations can specifically improve practice of the Tibetan teaching system known as Lamrim, or "Stages of the Path." Each of the levels of motivation described by the Lamrim teachings is examined in light of the doctrine of the five heaps--form, feeling, conception, formations, and consciousness--to show how greater understanding of the classical Buddhist doctrines can enhance practice of that portion of the instruction.
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