Bridge of Quiescence: Experiencing Tibetan Buddhist Meditation [Paperback]

B. Alan Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 1998

Consciousness is a riddle for Western science and philosophy, yet for centuries Tibetan Buddhist contemplatives have directly explored consciousness through carefully honed, rigorous techniques of meditation. This book brings together the findings of these Tibetan practitioners and the findings of Western scientists and philosophers on the nature of consiousness. The foundation of the Tibetan Buddhist science of consciousness was laid by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), acclaimed by some as the Martin Luther, and by others as the Thomas Aquinas, of Tibetan Buddhism. "The Bridge of Quiescence" gives a readable account of Tsongkhapa's thought, and includes an original translation (with detailed commentary) of Tsongkhapa's presentation of techniques for developing exceptionally high degrees of attentional stability and clarity. According to Tsongkhapa, enchancement and refining of one's attention is an indispensable prerequisite to fruitful introspective inquiry into the nature of the mind and of consciousness itself. The insights gleaned from such contemplative investigations can be used to identify and eliminate the inner sources of anxiety, frustration and discontent. To make the implications of Tsongkhapa's thinking clear, B. Alan Wallace provides an outline of Tsongkhapa's outlook and assumptions. Western science, influenced by what Wallace calls "the cult of objectivity", neglected consciousness for 300 years, and then turned to the study of consciousness employing methods devised for investigating the external world of physical objects. Introspection has often been dismissed as futile or unscientific yet, Wallace contends, trained introspection may yield important knowledge of consciousness. "The Bridge of Quiescence" provides valuable materials for the practice of meditation, and also affords a bridge from Eastern meditative practice to Western philosophy, science and religion. Wallace's discussion draws upon his knowledge of experimental psychology, such as the sensory deprivation studies, and relates Buddhist meditation to discussions of consciousness by such Western philosophers as William James, William Christian and John Searle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Open Court (December 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812693612
• ISBN-13: 978-0812693614
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,148,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Trained for ten years in Buddhist monasteries in India and Switzerland, Alan Wallace has taught Buddhist theory and practice in Europe and America since 1976; and he has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including H. H. the Dalai Lama. After graduating summa cum laude from Amherst College, where he studied physics and the philosophy of science, he earned a doctorate in religious studies at Stanford University.

He has edited, translated, authored, or contributed to more than thirty books on Tibetan Buddhism, medicine, language, and culture, as well as the interface between religion and science. He teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is launching one program in Tibetan Buddhist studies and another in science and religion. His published works include The Bridge of Quiescence: Experiencing Buddhist Meditation), Choosing Reality: A Buddhist View of Physics and the Mind, and Tibetan Buddhism From the Ground Up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prof. Wallace Does It Again, December 8, 2000

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"yourpal41" (Washington, D. C. suburbs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bridge of Quiescence: Experiencing Tibetan Buddhist Meditation (Paperback)

"The Bridge of Quiescence" is an excellent detailed discussion of the basic meditation technique of all schools of Buddhism, and even some non-Buddhist approaches. "Quiescence" refers to tranquility meditation, a way to attain a stabilized mind. The "Bridge" part of the title refers to the role of "restful attention" as a necessary basis for further spiritual development. The central chapter offers a translation from Tsongkhapa of the Gelungpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. This could be a tough slog but Wallace provides his own very helpful interpretation, sometimes making reference to Western psychology. So this book is definitely not an introductory text. But for those with some familiarity with meditation in general and Tibetan Buddhism in particular, you'll benefit immensely.