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Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human
Rediscover the Promise of Enlightenment
As Western culture has embraced practices like meditation and yoga, has something been lost in translation? "What we see in America today in both the yoga boom and mindfulness fad," writes Dr. Miles Neale, "is a presentation of technique alone, sanitized and purged of the dynamic teachings in wisdom and ethics that are essential for true liberation." For anyone seeking a path dedicated to both authentic personal growth and the overthrow of the nihilism, hedonism, and materialism that are threatening our planet, this compelling teacher presents a well-conceived, sustainable solution with Gradual Awakening.
The core of this book is Tibetan Buddhism’s "gradual path"―or Lam Rim―interpreted with fresh insights from modern scientific research. Offering an illuminating new presentation of Tibet’s deep psychology, meditative techniques, and virtuous rituals, Dr. Neale presents a time-honored path of enormous transformational potential. Each chapter serves as a practical manual that will allow you to experiment with and actualize the benefits of role-modeling visualization, affirmations, contemplative themes, textual recitation, prayers, altars, offerings, and meditation. Here you’ll
• Uprooting the "sickness of paradigm"―why a complete spiritual practice must directly confront the fundamental human suffering caused by the modern ethos of scientific reductionism
• The Lam Rim path―the history, heritage, and power of this 30-step "hero’s journey" of awakening
• Evolutionary self-care―understanding the Buddhist concept of renunciation as a form of self-love and healing
• Radical altruism―awakening Bodhicitta, our innate aspiration to evolve fully in service to others
• Quantum vision―how the teaching of "emptiness" allows us to pierce the illusion of materialism and accurately perceive the subtlest nature of reality
• Dr. Neale’s MAPS process (Maturity, Acceptance, Possibility, and Seeds) to integrate and manifest key insights and skills in your everyday life
The mass-market dilutions of Eastern wisdom that focus on symptom relief and easy answers have left behind the ultimate promise of spiritual enlightenment. "Enlightenment is an unfolding process―open to everyone ." writes Dr. Neale. For most of us, this path to awakening must be realized through a gradual building on incremental insights into who we truly are, learning to care for ourselves and others, and discovering creative ways to engage the problems we all face. Gradual Awakening will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone willing to embrace a new paradigm that integrates science with spirit, theory with practice, and personal meditation with the desire to transform the world.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Buddhist nuns of Kopan Nunnery in Nepal.
As Western culture has embraced practices like meditation and yoga, has something been lost in translation? "What we see in America today in both the yoga boom and mindfulness fad," writes Dr. Miles Neale, "is a presentation of technique alone, sanitized and purged of the dynamic teachings in wisdom and ethics that are essential for true liberation." For anyone seeking a path dedicated to both authentic personal growth and the overthrow of the nihilism, hedonism, and materialism that are threatening our planet, this compelling teacher presents a well-conceived, sustainable solution with Gradual Awakening.
The core of this book is Tibetan Buddhism’s "gradual path"―or Lam Rim―interpreted with fresh insights from modern scientific research. Offering an illuminating new presentation of Tibet’s deep psychology, meditative techniques, and virtuous rituals, Dr. Neale presents a time-honored path of enormous transformational potential. Each chapter serves as a practical manual that will allow you to experiment with and actualize the benefits of role-modeling visualization, affirmations, contemplative themes, textual recitation, prayers, altars, offerings, and meditation. Here you’ll
• Uprooting the "sickness of paradigm"―why a complete spiritual practice must directly confront the fundamental human suffering caused by the modern ethos of scientific reductionism
• The Lam Rim path―the history, heritage, and power of this 30-step "hero’s journey" of awakening
• Evolutionary self-care―understanding the Buddhist concept of renunciation as a form of self-love and healing
• Radical altruism―awakening Bodhicitta, our innate aspiration to evolve fully in service to others
• Quantum vision―how the teaching of "emptiness" allows us to pierce the illusion of materialism and accurately perceive the subtlest nature of reality
• Dr. Neale’s MAPS process (Maturity, Acceptance, Possibility, and Seeds) to integrate and manifest key insights and skills in your everyday life
The mass-market dilutions of Eastern wisdom that focus on symptom relief and easy answers have left behind the ultimate promise of spiritual enlightenment. "Enlightenment is an unfolding process―open to everyone ." writes Dr. Neale. For most of us, this path to awakening must be realized through a gradual building on incremental insights into who we truly are, learning to care for ourselves and others, and discovering creative ways to engage the problems we all face. Gradual Awakening will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone willing to embrace a new paradigm that integrates science with spirit, theory with practice, and personal meditation with the desire to transform the world.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Buddhist nuns of Kopan Nunnery in Nepal.
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2018
58 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Miles Neale
8 books13 followersDr. Miles Neale is among the leading voices of the current generation of Buddhist teachers and a forerunner in the emerging field of contemplative psychotherapy. He is a contemplative psychotherapist in private practice, faculty member of Tibet House US and Weill Cornell Medical College and former Assistant Director of Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science.
Miles is author of Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human along with it’s companion audio course The Gradual Path (Sounds True, 2018) and coeditor of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy (Routledge, 2017). He is based in New York City.
For the last twenty years Miles has trained in an authentic lineage of Tibetan Buddhism transmitted from His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, to preeminent American Buddhist scholar Professor Robert Thurman to pioneering contemplative psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Loizzo.
Miles has studied with Tibetan masters the late Gelek Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Zopa. He earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a masters degree in meditation research from NYU’s Gallatin School.
Miles' teachings cover two broad areas: 1) Meditation training grounded in contemplative science and 2) Contemplative psychotherapy grounded in neuropsychology. He offers guest talks, workshops and retreats as well as longer intensives such as a 50-hour meditation module for yoga teacher trainings and the nine-month Mindfulness-based Contemplative Psychotherapy online program he co-developed for health-care professionals.
Miles is author of Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human along with it’s companion audio course The Gradual Path (Sounds True, 2018) and coeditor of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy (Routledge, 2017). He is based in New York City.
For the last twenty years Miles has trained in an authentic lineage of Tibetan Buddhism transmitted from His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, to preeminent American Buddhist scholar Professor Robert Thurman to pioneering contemplative psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Loizzo.
Miles has studied with Tibetan masters the late Gelek Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Zopa. He earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a masters degree in meditation research from NYU’s Gallatin School.
Miles' teachings cover two broad areas: 1) Meditation training grounded in contemplative science and 2) Contemplative psychotherapy grounded in neuropsychology. He offers guest talks, workshops and retreats as well as longer intensives such as a 50-hour meditation module for yoga teacher trainings and the nine-month Mindfulness-based Contemplative Psychotherapy online program he co-developed for health-care professionals.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 9, 2020
I know, this might look a bit too intense for some, but just read my thoughts first before passing on this one!!
I've been interest into Buddhism for over a decade now, fifteen years might be more accurate, more or less intensively but always into it. I read about it, try to introduce it into my life, because for me this is way closer to a philosophy than religion. This is a way of life and being 33 years old now, I realize that a bunch of the best things that have happen in my life, were in some way related to those principles that I try to live by. So I've been willing to take it to another level for some time and this book was the tool I needed to do so.
Maybe a bit dense for beginners, but amateurs who have a good basic knowledge and want to dig a bit more will find something to think about here. It takes you on into more precise way to live by Buddhism standard, take you into a more deep reflexion about meditation and guide you on how to do it better. It seems to me that meditation have become more and more popular, but people just do it in a relaxing way, which is fine if that's just what you need, but if you want to deep dive into meditation you might need more help, more guidance, and this book is there for it.
Good step by step guide, easy to understand and follow, a lot of thoughts and thinking materials, good Buddhism source, reference and knowledge share through those lines and a book I will reread, maybe not cover to cover again, but use it as a reference book to go back into from time to time to «readjust myself».
This is the book I was looking for for quite some times! And of course when you read it, some might seem a bit overwhelming, but you don't have to bring it all on your life automatically. i sure take a lot, but I left some too, might bring it in some years, if I want to commit even more to it.
Take some or leave some, there sure is a lot to help you, maybe not awaken instantly, but maybe have a time of introspection and taking the time to rethink your life and how, and why, you want to life it!
I highly recommend it if the subject is of some interest to you!!
I've been interest into Buddhism for over a decade now, fifteen years might be more accurate, more or less intensively but always into it. I read about it, try to introduce it into my life, because for me this is way closer to a philosophy than religion. This is a way of life and being 33 years old now, I realize that a bunch of the best things that have happen in my life, were in some way related to those principles that I try to live by. So I've been willing to take it to another level for some time and this book was the tool I needed to do so.
Maybe a bit dense for beginners, but amateurs who have a good basic knowledge and want to dig a bit more will find something to think about here. It takes you on into more precise way to live by Buddhism standard, take you into a more deep reflexion about meditation and guide you on how to do it better. It seems to me that meditation have become more and more popular, but people just do it in a relaxing way, which is fine if that's just what you need, but if you want to deep dive into meditation you might need more help, more guidance, and this book is there for it.
Good step by step guide, easy to understand and follow, a lot of thoughts and thinking materials, good Buddhism source, reference and knowledge share through those lines and a book I will reread, maybe not cover to cover again, but use it as a reference book to go back into from time to time to «readjust myself».
This is the book I was looking for for quite some times! And of course when you read it, some might seem a bit overwhelming, but you don't have to bring it all on your life automatically. i sure take a lot, but I left some too, might bring it in some years, if I want to commit even more to it.
Take some or leave some, there sure is a lot to help you, maybe not awaken instantly, but maybe have a time of introspection and taking the time to rethink your life and how, and why, you want to life it!
I highly recommend it if the subject is of some interest to you!!
November 16, 2018
It’s about time someone wrote this book!
As a serious dharma geek I’m usually more interested in more scholarly dharma books but Gradual Awakening is a true gem not to be overlooked.
Miles Neale creatively, and with ease navigates challenging concepts such as karma and the two truths. What’s really unique and valuable about his presentation is that he readily draws on science and reason as evidence.
A self professed critic of the ‘McMindfulness’ movement, Dr. Neale doesn’t make any of the look good, feel good promises so common in the marketplace. Neither does he work to fit the dharma to fit fashionable ideologies of the day. Instead, Dr. Neale offers straight up dharma, direct from it’s source in the Tibetan tradition. He’s upfront and honest that Awakening doesn’t happen overnight. It’s hard work and takes a lifetime. Who wants to hear that? Everyone is looking for a quick fix. But he’s also genuine and assuring of how very possible it is and I believe him.
You wouldn’t go on a trip without a map and the same is true for a spiritual journey. Dr. Neale presents not just the map but a beautiful landscape of Awakening rich with rituals, visualization practises, prayer, contemplation, virtues and action of which meditation is only a part of - and not how you might expect it.
Gradual Awakening should be of interest to spiritual seekers of any background or level of experience. I highly recommend it!
As a serious dharma geek I’m usually more interested in more scholarly dharma books but Gradual Awakening is a true gem not to be overlooked.
Miles Neale creatively, and with ease navigates challenging concepts such as karma and the two truths. What’s really unique and valuable about his presentation is that he readily draws on science and reason as evidence.
A self professed critic of the ‘McMindfulness’ movement, Dr. Neale doesn’t make any of the look good, feel good promises so common in the marketplace. Neither does he work to fit the dharma to fit fashionable ideologies of the day. Instead, Dr. Neale offers straight up dharma, direct from it’s source in the Tibetan tradition. He’s upfront and honest that Awakening doesn’t happen overnight. It’s hard work and takes a lifetime. Who wants to hear that? Everyone is looking for a quick fix. But he’s also genuine and assuring of how very possible it is and I believe him.
You wouldn’t go on a trip without a map and the same is true for a spiritual journey. Dr. Neale presents not just the map but a beautiful landscape of Awakening rich with rituals, visualization practises, prayer, contemplation, virtues and action of which meditation is only a part of - and not how you might expect it.
Gradual Awakening should be of interest to spiritual seekers of any background or level of experience. I highly recommend it!
December 10, 2018
Thank you Sounds True Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I have been truly enjoying dipping in and out of this fantastic book over a number of weeks. This is a great book for anyone interested in Buddhism, mindfulness and the slow path to enlightenment.
I especially appreciated the authors pragmatism coupled with scientific evidence throughout the book. It isn’t the easy path some Westerners may be seeking, but it is a worthwhile one.
A lovely gift for any dharma friend to receive.
I have been truly enjoying dipping in and out of this fantastic book over a number of weeks. This is a great book for anyone interested in Buddhism, mindfulness and the slow path to enlightenment.
I especially appreciated the authors pragmatism coupled with scientific evidence throughout the book. It isn’t the easy path some Westerners may be seeking, but it is a worthwhile one.
A lovely gift for any dharma friend to receive.
November 15, 2020
A beautiful and inspiring introduction to the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim), Tibet's ancient spiritual art & science of awakening and transformation. The key insight I gleaned from the book: „Enlightenment is possible - for everyone“. The Buddha's advice comes to my mind: APPO DEEPO BHAVA (Be a light unto yourself). We can only reap the fruits of enlightenment in our life if we truly walk the path to enlightenment, step by step. Success depends on our own devotion, mastery of self-discipline and mind training. In order to achieve anything, discipline and dedication is a must. We will need regularity of practice, longing in our heart and patience. But if we are steadfast, then we will eventually succeed because we walk our path with enlightened spiritual friends, guides and companions like Lama Atisha and Lama Je Tsongkhapa. The book of Miles Neales motivates the reader to redesign his life according to the principles of the Hero‘s journey and the living example of the great saints and sages of human history. The book ends with this wonderful poetic vision of Oneness:
“One day we will feel the great winds and sky in all directions as our own breath; the streams, rivers, and oceans as our own veins, arteries, and blood; the natural habitats and continents as our own organs and body; and all sentient creatures and beings as our very own limbs. We will recognize the world is within us, and we are the world. With this recognition, having turned our hearts inside out, we will naturally work for the benefit of others and the planet (p. 227)”
― Miles Neale, Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human
“One day we will feel the great winds and sky in all directions as our own breath; the streams, rivers, and oceans as our own veins, arteries, and blood; the natural habitats and continents as our own organs and body; and all sentient creatures and beings as our very own limbs. We will recognize the world is within us, and we are the world. With this recognition, having turned our hearts inside out, we will naturally work for the benefit of others and the planet (p. 227)”
― Miles Neale, Gradual Awakening: The Tibetan Buddhist Path of Becoming Fully Human
January 6, 2019
I savored this book in bite-size morsels, per the prescription in the foreword. There's a lot of ancient wisdom here, distilled and interpreted by teacher, Buddhist psychotherapist, and US Tibet House faculty member Miles Neale.
These ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings are dense, but Dr. Neale does a fine job of making them accessible and this book serves as a fine primer for those new to the Buddhist path or for those of us who have been on it for some time but welcome reminders and fresh perspectives. The concept of karma, in particular, was crystallized in a manner I've never read before, and broke through the 'what goes around comes around' myth that often surrounds this misunderstood phenomenon.
I will say I was not taken by the visualizations that ended each chapter, but I know that for many, that will be a powerful draw. I just have a bit of a wall up around visualizations, whether it be in meditation, yoga classes, or those acting workshops I took in my younger days. I think that's my issue, however, not the author's, and I recognize they may very well serve as the opportunity for spiritual connection for many readers. And perhaps myself as well someday if I can keep an open mind around them and come back to them.
Overall, however, the book served as a valuable tool and one I'm grateful I encountered. I would certainly recommend it to those who are interested in learning more about the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism in a manner that neatly threads the lines between the original ancient text and accessible, contemporary language.
These ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings are dense, but Dr. Neale does a fine job of making them accessible and this book serves as a fine primer for those new to the Buddhist path or for those of us who have been on it for some time but welcome reminders and fresh perspectives. The concept of karma, in particular, was crystallized in a manner I've never read before, and broke through the 'what goes around comes around' myth that often surrounds this misunderstood phenomenon.
I will say I was not taken by the visualizations that ended each chapter, but I know that for many, that will be a powerful draw. I just have a bit of a wall up around visualizations, whether it be in meditation, yoga classes, or those acting workshops I took in my younger days. I think that's my issue, however, not the author's, and I recognize they may very well serve as the opportunity for spiritual connection for many readers. And perhaps myself as well someday if I can keep an open mind around them and come back to them.
Overall, however, the book served as a valuable tool and one I'm grateful I encountered. I would certainly recommend it to those who are interested in learning more about the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism in a manner that neatly threads the lines between the original ancient text and accessible, contemporary language.
September 20, 2020
This book was absolutely life changing. A great way to find acceptance for what can’t be changed and a lesson in how to actually choose happiness and positivity in a logical, rational way. The author blends science and spirituality in an accessible way I never thought was possible. The entire book is tied into “The Hero’s Journey” to help every reader awaken the hero within. I am working to institute the meditations recommended by the author in my everyday life to fulfill my own Hero’s journey.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews