Having identified early material that goes back to the Buddha himself, the author argues that the two teachers of the Buddha were historical figures. Based on the early Brahminic literature, namely the early Upanishads and Moksadharma, the author asserts the origin of the method of meditation learned by the Buddha from these teachers, and attempts to use them to identify some authentic teachings of the Buddha on meditation.

Stimulating debate within the field of Buddhist Studies, the following claims are put forward:

* the Buddha was taught by Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta, as stated in the literature of numerous early Buddhist sects, is historically authentic * Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta taught a form of early Brahminic meditation * the Buddha must consequently have been trained in a meditative school whose ideology was provided by the philosophical portions of early Upanishads

Shedding new light on a fascinating aspect of the origins of Buddhism, this book will be of interest to academics in the field of Buddhist studies, Asian religion and South Asian studies.

1. Introduction 2. Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta 3. Formless Meditation and Early Brahminism 4. The Philosophy of Early Brahminic Yoga 5. Meditation in the Parayanavagga 6. Conclusion: The Origin of Buddhist Meditation and Early Buddhism