The Mind and its Functions

by Geshe Rabten, Stephen Batchelor (Translator)

Fundamental Buddhist Epistomology, including mental factors.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology

Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

Reviews

[Scott]

This is a concise description of important epistemology and psychology inherent in the Madhyamaka philosophical tradition. This is an important place to start to understand your own mind and your progress along the path. I recommend it both for the beginner and the more seasoned meditator for inspiration and understanding. Geshe Rabten does a great job of keeping it simple without sacrificing detail. I'm sure that I will be coming back to this work over the next few years. I suspect that this is an underrated reference and is not as well appreciated in the western Buddhist literature as some other longer and more difficult or dense philosophical works.

[r0b · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the teachings and advice that the Buddha gave had the sole aim of counteracting the unwholesome afflictions within the minds of his disciples. Hence, since attachment, hatred and bewilderment are the principle source of all afflictions, their direct remedies of detachment, non-hatred, and non-bewilderment become the very root of all that is wholesome...Thus, to develop them is the very heart of Buddhist practice.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and authoritative survey of how the human mind works, both structurally and behaviorally, or, in the author's terms, epistemologically and psychologically. One of the fascinating aspects of the mind is that it is able to examine its own operation in detail. For thousands of years Buddhists have done this minutely and objectively, and the fruits of their efforts are summed up admirably in this book.

[Deborah Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many beneficial points and favorite quotes to note here. Very wordy, and worth the read; the parts that should stand out to you, those that should be grasped by you, will stand out and be grasped :)

[bad · Rating 4 out of 5]

those tibetans do love to categorize.. in this case, mental phenomena.