Stages of Meditation: The Buddhist Classic on Training the Mind

by Dalai Lama XIV, Kamalashila, Geshe Lobsang Jordhen (Translator)

An accessible translation of the ancient classic handbook on Buddhist meditation by Kamalashila—with commentary from everyone’s favorite Buddhist teacher, the Dalai Lama   Based upon the middle section of the Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila—a translation of which is included—this is the most extensive commentary given by the Dalai Lama on this concise but important meditation handbook. It is a favorite text of the Dalai Lama, and he often takes the opportunity to give teachings on it to audiences throughout the world. In his words, “This text can be like a key that opens the door to all other major Buddhist scriptures.”   Topics include the nature of mind, how to develop compassion and loving-kindness, calm abiding wisdom, and how to establish a union of calm abiding and special insight.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation, Philosophy

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2019

About the author

Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.

Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.

On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.

After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.

Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.

Reviews

[Zolbayar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Камалашила гэгээний "Бясалгалын Зэргэмж" гэх судрын энэ тайлбарыг Далай лам 90 -ээд оны эхээр Парист айлджээ.

Ер нь тайлбаруудын тайлбарын тайлбар гэсэн үг. Камалашила гэгээн эртний судруудаас их жишээ авч, тэдгээрийг тайлбарласанг нь Далай лам орчин цагийн хүмүүст бүүр ойлгомжтойгоор тайлбарлажээ.

Амирлан оршихуйн бясалгалаас өгсүүлээд Үлэмж үзэхүйн бясалгалыг хэрхэн хийх талаар, тэдгээрийг хэрхэн хослуулах талаар заасан байна.

Бясалгал хийж байгаа бол заавал унших ном ажээ.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Dalai Lama meditation books I've read are very watered down seeming texts for general American audiences, but this was not and I loved it! He also tells the steps needed for attaining omniscience, which I didn't know I was interested in, but I'm going to try it.

[Juan Laboy Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dalai Lama skillfully teaches the Stages of Meditation and how one can develop a state of mind that is focused on compassion as a way to achieve enlightenment. This book has a holistic approach to meditation. Nevertheless, is not necessarily a book for beginners in Buddhism.

[Luis Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Is actually very philosophical and dense to understand but I liked it.