Meditation On The Nature Of Mind

"We all have the same human mind - each and every one of us has the same potential. Our surroundings and so forth are important, but the nature of mind itself is more important... To live a happy and joyful life, we must take care of our minds." - His Holiness the Dalai Lama At the heart of this book is The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel of the Oral Tradition, an accessible and nonsectarian treatise on penetrating the nature of mind by Khonton Peljor Lhundrub, a teacher of the Fifth Dalai Lama. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama's broad-ranging overview of this work insightfully distills some of the most central themes of Buddhism: why the mind is so essential to the tradition, what distinguishes the levels of consciousness, and how different schools of Tibetan Buddhism elaborate those distinctions. Profound and erudite, it brings the reader closer to a fresh and direct experience of Buddhism's central truths. Along with his lucid translations, Jose Cabezon provides an introduction to the root text and presentations of the life and works of Khonton Rinpoche, all richly annotated.

"We all have the same human mind - each and every one of us has the same potential. Our surroundings and so forth are important, but the nature of mind itself is more important... To live a happy and joyful life, we must take care of our minds." - His Holiness the Dalai Lama At the heart of this book is The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel of the Oral Tradition, an accessible and nonsectarian treatise on penetrating the nature of mind by Khonton Peljor Lhundrub, a teacher of the Fifth Dalai Lama. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama's broad-ranging overview of this work insightfully distills some of the most central themes of Buddhism: why the mind is so essential to the tradition, what distinguishes the levels of consciousness, and how different schools of Tibetan Buddhism elaborate those distinctions. Profound and erudite, it brings the reader closer to a fresh and direct experience of Buddhism's central truths. Along with his lucid translations, Jose Cabezon provides an introduction to the root text and presentations of the life and works of Khonton Rinpoche, all richly annotated.

The Mind Illuminated is a comprehensive, accessible and - above all - effective book on meditation, providing a nuts-and-bolts stage-based system that helps all levels of meditators establish and deepen their practice. Providing step-by-step guidance for every stage of the meditation path, this uniquely comprehensive guide for a Western audience combines the wisdom from the teachings of the Buddha with the latest research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Clear and friendly, this in-depth practice manual builds on the nine-stage model of meditation originally articulated by the ancient Indian sage Asanga, crystallizing the entire meditative journey into 10 clearly-defined stages. The book also introduces a new and fascinating model of how the mind works, and uses illustrations and charts to help the reader work through each stage. This manual is an essential read for the beginner to the seasoned veteran of meditation.

"This book, if studied well, has the capacity to transform lives, and connect people back to the state of mind that kept us joyful for thousands of generations."- Craig Foster, author of Sea Change: Primal Joy and the Art of Underwater TrackingNature, the original mindfulness teacher...Amidst the stress and distraction of the Digital Age, it's easy to overlook the fact that our brains are adapted to thrive in close connection with the Earth, our senses keenly attuned to Nature's subtle signals. Meditating outdoors soothes the psyche, nourishes the body, and elevates creativity to new heights.Meditation on Nature's patterns reawakens our deepest instinctive power and brightens our curiosity, as we journey into realizing our interdependence and connection with the larger web of life. Today, it's time for a reboot -- and to once again invite the wisdom of the wild into our daily lives.Through entertaining stories and over 36 engaging practices, expert outdoors mentor Josh Lane shares a pathway to exploring your own relationship with Nature for greater well-being and daily inspiration.Drawing upon lessons from his ten-year apprenticeship in the ancient art of wildlife tracking, combined with insights gleaned from the latest research in brain-based learning and neuroscience, Josh demonstrates step-by-step how to develop your own complete practice of outdoor meditation, so that you can experience a richly rewarding personal connection with the world of Nature.Journey with Josh on- and off-trail through the thickets and vistas of the inner and outer landscapes in this fun and highly practical guide to meditating in Nature.Learn & Discover:-How to find a Meditation Spot, your own "outdoor mindfulness studio"-Transformational techniques for harnessing the Five Key Brain States of Awareness for more peace, joy, and well-being-How to read the "secret" language of the animals, while blending in with the rhythms of Nature-Why birdsong is Nature's original mantra: how attunement to Nature's patterns can transform your consciousness, awakening renewed creativity and a deeper sense of grounding-How to unlock the power of questioning and the art of journaling to expand your awareness in Nature-The many health & cognitive benefits you can enjoy from meditating outdoors, and how these practices literally rewire your brain and reprogram your cells for greater wellness-Learn a complete four-part meditation sequence that enlivens the mind, heart and senses-Explore over 36 awareness practices and techniques you can apply in the backyard or in the deepest wildernessWho This Book is For:-You want to bring mindfulness into your nature experience, learn techniques to to ditch stress and enjoy the moment, with more peace and grounding in your life-You long to understand Nature's language, and feel more connected with all of your senses awakened-Perfect both for seasoned Outdoor Guides & also for new practitioners of nature connection, forest bathing (shinrin yoku) & forest therapy who want a deeper understanding of the beneficial changes arising in the brain and body through sensory awareness, meditation & connection to the Nature within and around us- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"...the new gold standard for the how and why of mindfulness... Josh offers tangible takeaways for personal nature connection, helping relieve stress and increase health. Backed by science and story, Josh's writings are an easy, informative and fun read. This book is the perfect place to start your journey to...

Mark Watts compiled this book from his father s extensive journals and audiotapes of famous lectures he delivered across the country. In three parts, Alan Watts -- the author of The Way of Zen and The Joyous Cosmology -- explains the basic philosophy of meditation, how individuals can practice a variety of meditations, and how inner wisdom grows naturally."

The true nature of our minds is enlightened and peaceful, as the depth of the ocean is calm and clear. But when we mentally grasp and emotionally cling to our wants and worries with all our energy, we lose our own enlightened freedom and healing power, only to gain stress and exhaustion, suffering and overexcitement, like the turbulent waves rolling on the surface of the ocean. Our minds possess the power to heal pain and stress, and to blossom into peace and joy, by loosening the clinging attitudes that Buddhists call "grasping at self." If we apply the mind's healing power, we can heal not only our mental and emotional afflictions, but physical problems also. This book is an invitation to awaken the healing power of mind through inspiring images and sounds, mindful movements, positive perceptions, soothing feelings, trusting confidence, and the realization of openness. The healing principle on which these exercises are based is the universal nature and omnipresent power envisioned in Mahayana Buddhism. Yet for healing, we don't have to be believers in any particular faith. We can heal body and mind simply by being what we truly are, and by allowing our own natural healing qualities to manifest: a peaceful and open mind, a loving and positive attitude, and warm, joyful energy in a state of balance and harmony.

This book offers us deep insight into our mind, and shows how an understanding of its nature and functions can be used practically in every day experience to improve our lives. Part 1 is a practical guide to developing and maintaining a light, positive mind - showing how to recognize and abandon states of mind that harm us, and to replace them with peaceful and beneficial ones. Part 2 describes different types of mind in detail, revealing the depth and profundity of the Buddhist understanding of the mind. It concludes with a detailed explanation of meditation, showing how by controlling and transforming our mind we can attain a lasting state of joy, independent of external conditions.

An explanation of the nature and functions of the mind * What is the mind and how does it work? * Which types of mind lead to inner peace and happiness, and which do not? * How can an understanding of our mind be applied to our daily life? Understanding the Mind provides a practical explanation of the mind in a unique combination of profound philosophical exploration and practical psychology. Part One explains how Buddhist psychology is based on an understanding of the mind as a formless continuum that is related to, yet separate from, the physical body. Though understanding the nature of the mind and the process of cognition we can attain a lasting state of inner peace and happiness that is independent of external circumstances. Part Two explains the many types of mind and shows how we can abandon those that harm us, while increasing those that lead to personal joy and fulfilment. Throughout the book Geshe Kelsang skilfully shows how we can apply our understanding of our mind to improve our daily life.