Turning the Mind Into an Ally

published

2011-02-05

rating

4

Turning the Mind Into an Ally is a great book about meditation for those who don't like my mysticism and unnecessary confusion. Sakyong Mipham is the head of the Shambhala lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and leader of a worldwide network of Buddhist centers. Though he was born in India, he moved to the West when he was 7 years old and it is perhaps because of this relocation that his writing has a particularly rational style for this genre. He focuses on practical issues in a way that speaks to Western audiences. He provides straightforward guidance on how to meditate and precisely describes the sequence of stages that one progresses through when meditation is done properly and consistently. The religious mysticism is entirely omitted, while many of the valuable insights of Buddhism are presented, making this an excellent resource for rational-minded students of meditation and Buddhism.