Mind Training

by Ringu Tulku

This small accessible book contains the essence of the Seven-Point Mind Training, expressed in the intimate colloquial style that distinguishes Ringu Tulku's teachings. The Seven-Point Mind Training, a lojong practice, assumes no prior special training or preparation. It does not require practitioners to enter seclusion or change the way they live their lives. It asks that they examine their relationships with all those around them and make a strong determination to become enlightened for others' sake rather than for their own. It gives instructions for tonglen breathing practice that ties the concepts of lojong to the physical act of breathing. Mind Training focuses simply on giving up, self-cherishing, and transforming self-centered thinking into compassion, egoistic feelings into altruism, desire into acceptance, and resentment into joy.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Meditation, Religion

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2007

About the author

Karma Tsultrim Gyurmé Trinlé (Tibetan: ཀརྨ་ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་འགྱུར་མེད་ཕྲིན་ལས་, Wylie: kar+ma tshul khrims 'gyur med phrin las)—more commonly known as Ringu Tulku (Tib. རི་མགུལ་སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་, Wyl. ri mgul sprul sku) for the Ringu Monastery with which his incarnation line is associated—is a lama of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and proponent of the Rimé (non-sectarian) movement. In 1975 he was awarded the academic title of Khenpo, and in 1983 the that of Dorje Lopön Chenpo (Sanskrit: mahavajracarya; equivalent to a PhD). He served as Professor of Tibetology in Sikkim for 17 years, and since 1990 has been traveling and teaching Buddhism and meditation at more than 50 universities, institutes and Buddhist centers in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Asia.

Reviews

[Akshunya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Extra half star for the below line which shows the honesty of the author and also how he does NOT sugar coat his words to make the readers comfortable and give them false hopes and promises:

"Many people ask me if they can become enlightened. I do not know. I am not enlightened. May be you can, maybe not."

Collection of slogans/sutras seem to be rearranged and regrouped. Commentary is well suited for readers living in the modern world. There are a couple of QnA sections which explain a few necessary points.

The commentary could have been a bit more elaborated. A few explanations feel random and not proceeding in a coherent way.

Overall the understanding of Lojong and the way it is shared by the author is insightful, honest and if pondered over and appplied in life, definitely impactful.

[Jason Comely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most clearly written and organized Lojong guide I have seen.

[Rey Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

great centering book.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ringu Tulku presents the very practical Lojong, or mind training, teachings in a very digestible form. He has a very idiomatic style of writing and speaking, and gives clear explanations of this series of slogans designed to be memorized and used in daily life. The slogans themselves are not always as one might first read them so it definitely helps to have good explanations. Pema Chodron and Choygam Trungpa have also explicated these teachings, but I think this is a good addition to the anyone's library.

[Anand Vasudevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small and straightforward guide to Lojong. Explains the 58 aphorisms with examples and stories.

There are more scholarly commentaries on Lojong available, but this book is a valuable addition to the literature.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mind Training” is the first book related to Buddhism I ever read. In rereading it, it is even better than I remembered. It is plain English. It is pocket-sized. It introduces terms and techniques further developed upon in books that are more complex without compromising any meaning or value. A review risks being longer than the actual book! Ringu Tulku Rinpoche’s books appear to all have this approach.

The title comes from “Lojong”, a mind training practice from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As we can train our minds to be more optimistic or frugal, for example, we can also train our minds to be compassionate so that we become better, happier human beings. Every chapter concludes with a question-and-answer styled practical application of the chapter. Its principles are easily transferable to non-Buddhists, children etc. It’s a thought-provoking, deep and also gentle resource for personal development and character training that I highly recommend to any aspirant.