Meditation in Action [Paperback]

Chogyam Trungpa (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 21, 1996

This classic teaching by a Tibetan master continues to inspire both beginners and long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life.

He explores the six activities associated with meditation in action—generosity, discipline, patience, energy, clarity, and wisdom—revealing that through simple, direct experience, one can attain real wisdom: the ability to see clearly into situations and deal with them skillfully, without the self-consciousness connected with ego.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

We learn that meditation is based on trying to see what is, rather than trying to achieve a higher state. It's not a retreat from the world but builds a foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of a person's mind and behavior.

About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (May 21, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570622027
• ISBN-13: 978-1570622021
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.3 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987)--meditation master, teacher, and artist--founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 120 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Small but Necessary Punch for Two Stong Punches! September 7, 2000

By Bill Butler

Format:Paperback

This is the first book I read of Trungpa's. This is the first time that I discovered that there was a "Chogyam Trungpa". I greedily took it home from the Bodhi Tree, read it, and then grimaced as I realized that you needed a teacher (not so today!). So I took some Valium and went into the Dharmadhatu Center in L.A. and received meditation instruction. This was 1977 so it was a brave deed. And since I had no feeling in my brain or body, I did quite well. A brunette sat down with me and taught me about the famous "outbreath". Chogyam Trungpa was officially my "teacher". Later, I would find out that he was an outrageous madman (no slander, Amazon.com. Even his present students admit this!) The book is a brillant way to begin to "read up" on Trungpa. It's a soft blow. It will give good insight into Trungpa's teachings. But this series of lectures were given in Scottland in 1968, I believe. Trungpa wouldn't hit his stride until years later. After reading this, read "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" and "The Myth of Freedom". The title is a bit misleading. In the Kagyu (just say "cog-you" and you will get away with it) Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, they more or less depend on sitting meditation to trigger off mindfulness. As one student told me, "They sit like pigs". They have been criticized by the other three Tibetan traditions for it. So if you are buying this book from Amazon.com because of the title "Meditation in Action" - forget it. Buy "The Miracle of Minfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh and vote for my review as you examine it! But if you are buying this book as an introduction to Trungpa's brillant teachings, then BUY THIS BOOK! Thank you.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It is everything and nothing you would expect! April 28, 2006

By Ivan Alfredo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I must confess I had to edit my initial review on this book, so here is the reason why:

When I purchased this book, I did it because a meditation teacher recommended it to me because he felt it would help me to understand the correct approach and attitudes towards meditation practice. As a westerner, I believed that I was going to buy an instruction manual, step-by-step ingredients and mixing and cooking instructions on how-to-meditate almost as if it were a recipe book. As I read on, at first I could not understand most of its teachings, since (according to my expectations) the book had little or nothing to do with meditation. Nowadays, I find these teachings inspirational, since they relate to the overall loving attitude that naturally arises towards meditation practice.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation in Action May 21, 2012

By L. Mansur

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was an amazing Tibetan teacher who escaped Tibet when he was 19 and came to the west and ended up in America. He had a short but a prolific life: he has created the Shambhala Centers - the main one being in Colorado and then branches all over the country plus he was the source creator of the Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.

This little book is a good way to start learning about his teachings. It is user friendly and helpful. Small in size and non threatening, you may just read it over and over until you grasp the teachings. If you like his style and you learn something, then you may explore him further. His Centers also offer trainings on "The Path of the Warrior" about five levels which are not exactly Buddhism but very helpful in living a meaningful and strong existence in life.

If you are on a spiritual path, I recommend his teachings highly and feel it is worthwhile to explore his other work and maybe even consider exploring the Warrior Trainings at one of Shambhala centers.