Product Description

This book offers a deep insight into the nature and functions of the human mind. The first part describes different types of mind in detail, revealing the depth and profundity of Buddhist understanding of human psychology, and how this can be used to improve our lives. The second part is a practical guide to developing and maintaining a light, positive mind -- showing how to recognise and abandon states of mind that harm us and replace them with peaceful and beneficial ones. The inspiring discovery we make is that we can attain a lasting state of joy, independent of external conditions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38667 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'Astonishingly, what has been produced here is actually a new and self-explanatory Buddhist commentarial text composed in English'. - Buddhist Studies Review

About the Author
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was born in Tibet and is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism. Resident in the West since 1977, he is the author of a series of highly acclaimed books that transmit perfectly the ancient wisdom of Buddhism to our modern world. He has also founded many Buddhist centres throughout the world.

Customer Reviews

Excellent presentation of a difficult subject
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains the nature of mind from the point of view of his tradition. The book is divided into two main parts. The first deals with specific types of mind and how they function. The second is a more practical account of which states of mind bring happiness and peace. Throughout the text the author suggests how knowledge of this particular system may be used to bring greater peace of mind. A splendid guide to the mind from the buddhist point of view. Be warned this is a difficult subject!

An Extraordinary Book
This book explains the nature and functions of the mind. As Geshe Kelsang says, normally we only have a vague (and probably wrong!) idea of what our mind is and what it does. Buddha taught that the mind is the key to both happiness and suffering and that by realizing our own mind, through meditation, we can become permanently free from suffering. This book explains how to do that.

However, I have to temper my enthusiasm with a warning: The subject of this book is very profound and it's difficult to realize without a solid background in Buddhist teachings. This is not a book I would recommend for beginners, but for those who have already some experience of Buddha's teachings, it's a unique, invaluable and challenging read.

I'd have to go as far as to say there isn't another book like this in the world because it explains how the mind works from the point of the view of Buddha's highest philosophical view, something that's not normally done, and it also explains how to apply this knowledge practically. It's rare to find this blend of scholarship and practical advice. It's a book to come back to again and again and every time I read it I learn something new!

A good start but there are better books on this topic
This book offers an understanding about what is known in Tibetan Buddhism as Lorig - the teachings on the mind and its function.

The author in general follows the classic Tibetan Buddhist teachings on this subject although in some points he differs, and it is not clear who is the author - what is the origin Buddhist source - of the given definitions or if the definitions were made by the author himself. Especially the definition on 'faith' or 'non-faith' are rather fuzzy and not very practical. Therefore other texts should be consulted to deepen one's understanding, to verify or to refine what the author states.

The book is - like all of the author's books are - highly self-referential. This means the author suggests always his own books for further English readings and there is no bibliography of works by other authors than himself nor is there any suggestion or reference to a translated origin Buddhist text on this subject of mind and its function.

The author offers also some of his personal views which form the basis of the religious and study approach within his own organisation the New Kadampa Tradition - IKBU (also advertised nowadays by him as 'Kadampa Buddhism'). Kelsang Gyatso states on page 162:

"The practices taught by one Teacher will differ from those taught by another, and if we try to combine them we shall become confused, develop doubts, and lose direction. If we try to create a synthesis of different traditions we shall destroy the special power of each and be left only with a mishmash of our own making that will be a source of confusion and doubt. Having chosen our tradition and our daily practices we should rely upon them single-pointedly, never allowing dissatisfaction to arise. At the same time as cherishing our own tradition we should respect all other traditions and the right of each individual to follow the tradition of their choosing. This approach leads to harmony and tolerance. It is mixing different religious traditions that causes sectarianism. This is why it is said that studying non-religious subjects is less of an obstacle to our spiritual progress than studying religions of different traditions."

That "mixing different religious traditions causes sectarianism" is not tenable and the complete passage should be understood with respect to what he urges his followers to do: not to read books by other authors than him and to keep his personal school of thought 'pure' by not 'mixing' it with views or practices by other authors, not even from his own school the Gelugpas.

Books I can recommend without hesitation on that subject of mind and its function (Lorig) include:

- Mind in Buddhist Psycology: Neklace of Clear Understanding by Yeshe Gyaltsen (Tibetan Translation Series) by Yeshe Gyaltsen (Tibetan Translation Series), translated by Herbert V. Guenther
- Cutting Through Appearances by Geshe Lhundup Sopa
- Mind in Tibetan Buddhism by Lati Rinbochay
- The Mind and Its Functions by Geshe Rabten, translated by Stephen Batchelor

Although I use all of them my favourite is Mind in Buddhist Psycology: Neklace of Clear Understanding by Yeshe Gyaltsen (Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan') because it is one of the most clear and precise presentation I read and it is based on the Abhidharma, the teachings of Asanga, and Je Tsongkhapa and includes proper referenced citations, as well as charts, tables of reference, terms, index to sources cited, and general index. This book is also much used at different universities.