Cloudless Mind: Conversations on Buddhahood, Volume 1

by Daniel P. Brown

Every Wednesday Night, for over six years, Dan Brown answered questions by students and colleagues about positive and negative experiences in life and mind, integrating the perspectives of both Western psychology and Eastern traditions of spiritual practice -- most notably Vajrayana Buddhism, Dzogchen, and then the Bon tradition. While Dan had no idea what questions might be asked on any given night, he answered them often with rather astonishing detail, while also making his answer relevant and helpful to the person asking the question. The basis of Dan’s knowledge and communication was not from scholarship. His history of treating people psychologically for over 40 years, with a long-time focus on trauma, as well as teaching Buddhist meditation with a high Lama appointed to teach with him by H.H. the Dalai Lama for 15 years, and then on his own using the style of “pointing out” while teaching, and with oversight by living lineage masters, for another 30 or more, gave him a basis of understanding founded in direct experience, in relationship to others, both as a healer and a teacher.

357 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Daniel P. Brown was the director of the Center for Integrative Psychotherapy in Newton, Massachusetts, and an associate clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. Trained in Buddhist philosophy and languages at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he did his dissertation on mahamudra meditation texts, he maintained close relations with Tibetan teachers of the Gelug, Kagyu, and Nyingma lineages for more than thirty-five years as well as exploring the Theravada mindfulness traditions in Burma and Thailand. Dan was the author of fourteen books, including Transformations of Consciousness and he lived in San Francisco, California with his wife, Grethen Nelson.

source: publisher's site

Reviews

[Susan Pottish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depth and breadth of Dan's talks are just amazing. One might think that it's just because of his decades of training and experience both as a clinical psychotherapist and a teacher of Buddhist meditation -- the clarity, the detail, the descriptions of psychological and non-psychological experience including the various states and stages of the path, making sense of emotions, and the ultimate value of "the view" that you take as a function of practice. But, what stands out even more to me is his heart and soul dedication to each and every person's understanding. What does it mean? What does it take? How do you get it? How can you mess it up? How do you start? How far does it go? What are the signs of genuine realization? Enlightenment? How do you tell? Like that. So, if you care about any of that, Dan is a teacher who gives accessible, usable answers, including references to modern research and ancient texts, thus encouraging you to explore all those areas with your best intelligence.

[JFrederick Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a spiritual teacher, Dan Brown was a remarkably gifted lecturer, able to answer questions with great detail, integrating his vast knowledge of the Tibetan wisdom tradition, Western psychotherapy, and modern neuroscience, in ways that were not only intellectually illuminating but also of great value for spiritual practice. Cloudless Mind captures him at his best.

A major focus for Dan was on the efficacy of spiritual practice. While he greatly honored and respected the tradition, he was always focused on what works best in meditation and how to make it work better for modern people. I personally vouch for the high efficacy of Dan's teachings.

Here you will find the best written record of Dan's Three Maps To Buddhahood, his integration of Attachment Theory with Buddhism, his emphasis on metacognition for both spiritual freedom and psychological healing, his explanations of the stages of practice from beginner up to Buddhahood, etc.

Highly recommended!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are rare moments when encountering a teacher's work fundamentally shifts one's perspective on life. For me, Dan's teachings have been that transformative force, guiding me through years of spiritual growth and deepening my meditation practice in ways I never imagined possible.

I attended years of lectures and feel excited to read this book, as the lectures were deeply profound and significantly benefited my meditation practice. Based on the depth and clarity of his spoken teachings, I can only imagine how powerful it will be to have his wisdom captured in written form, available to revisit and contemplate at my own pace.

[Ronald Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Dan Brown was one of the most talented, wise and articulate meditation teachers, clinical psychologists and philosophers of our time. His writing from the Wednesday evening classes ever so elegantly captures his deep wisdom, clinical insights and humor. Dan was a lama at heart who took many of us to profound states of awakening and Rigpa. These books are rare gems that will stimulate your spiritual and psychological awareness. Dr Ronald Alexander, Santa Monica, CA

[Emily Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The work of acclaimed Buddhist teacher Daniel P Brown has touched the lives of so many people. These volumes do great justice to his legacy. Reading this work, I felt transported into a more gentle and equanimous state of being. Highly recommend!

[Reader]

Dan Brown is one of the masters of the mind. Incredibly intelligent and easy to understand. Highly recommended for a meditator wanting to understand non-duality and awakened awareness