The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating a Boundless Heart [Paperback]

Alan B. Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2004

This book is a rich suite of practices that open the heart, counter the distortions in our relationships to ourselves, and deepen our relationship to others.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . a one-of-a-kind book that helps educate as well as inspire. -- in Inquiring Mind

From the Back Cover

This book is a rich suite of practices that open the heart, counter the distortions in our relationships to ourselves, and deepen our relationships to others. Alan Wallace presents a unique interweaving of teachings on the Four Immeasurables (the cultivation of loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, and empathetic joy) with instruction on quiescence or shamatha meditation practices to empower the mind and render it "fit for service." The book includes both guided meditations and lively discussions on the implications of these teachings for our own lives.

"Alan Wallace is one of the great Western Buddhist thinkers of our day." --Howard Cutler, co-author with H.H. the Dalai Lama of The Art of Happiness at Work

"These four immeasurables are underlying essentials on the path of freedom. Any person on a spiritual path, Buddhist or not, will find in this book fresh, practical insights for 'cultivating a boundless heart.' A thought-provoking, useful, encouraging read."-- Sophia Tarila, ForeWord Magazine

"...provides an excellent roadmap on how to develop the Four Immeasurables that empower the mind--lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity... a one-of-a-kind book that helps educate as well as inspire."--Inquiring Mind

B. Alan Wallace trained for many years as a monk in Buddhist monasteries in India and Switzerland. He has taught Buddhist theory and practice in Europe and America since 1976 and has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including H.H. the Dalai Lama. He has published many books on Tibetan Buddhism, including Buddhism with an Attitude, and currently lives in Santa Barbara, CA.

Formerly titled: Boundless Heart.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; Revised Edition edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559392096
• ISBN-13: 978-1559392099
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, October 21, 2006

By 

M. Spinella (Atlantic County, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating a Boundless Heart (Paperback)

This book focuses on cultivating the brahma-viharas: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Wallace offers incisive insights on these topics, as well as a nice summary of the meditation practice of samatha. Samatha is geared towards sharpening one's attention, which on the surface may not seem to have much in common with the four positive emotions that are the core of this book. Wallace demonstrates however that they are inextricably linked, and cultivation of attention serves as a foundation for achieving greater emotional virtue. He gives several examples for deepening understanding and practicing guided meditation.

Wallace trained in the east but he is a westerner and also a scholar. Nonetheless, his writing is very articulate and reader-friendly. As such he is very qualified to bring these practices to the west. If these types of practices were made widely available, my guess is that many psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, anger-related problems, and ADHD would significantly diminish.

P.S. I meant to give this 5 stars.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Applying the wisdom found in Buddhist faith, July 17, 2004

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating a Boundless Heart (Paperback)

Knowledgeably written by an instructor in Tibetan Buddhist theory and practice who trained for many years in monasteries in India and Switzerland, The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating A Boundless Heart is an inspirational collection of guided meditations, and reflections upon the "Four Immeasurables" (cultivation of loving kind-ness, compassion, equanimity, and empathic joy) that touch upon the lives of readers of all faiths. A deeply spiritual discussion offering a gateway to applying the wisdom found in Buddhist faith and practice to dilemmas of daily reality.