Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight (Paperback)

by Kamalashila (Author)
Key Phrases: dhyána factors, six element practice, gross hindrance, Mettá Bhávaná, Muditá Bhávaná, Alexander Technique (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"a truly practical guide to read, enjoy and use."-Yoga and Health

Covers all you need to know to establish a meditation practice, with helpful advice and greater detail for those wishing to deepen their experience. A very valuable resource.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Windhorse Publications; 2nd edition (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1899579052
• ISBN-13: 978-1899579051
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #602,114 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here comes Enlightenment!, April 28, 2001

By A Customer

There are three types of spiritual and meditation books about. Firstly, and sadly most prolific, are New-Ageist one's. Such books are mindless and written by people in search of a 'high' and who have no real philosophic drive, Buddhist or otherwise. Then there are excellent and genuine thought provoking books such a 'Zen Mind Beginner's Mind' by Suzuki and 'Think on These Things' by Krishnamurti. But sadly, even these great books are often not much use to those wishing to establish a meditation practice and to those feeling the first, primary twinges of spiritual and philosophic introspection. Fortunately for such people, this book exists. It is perfect for those interested in starting meditation and finding a true understanding of Buddhism, an understanding that is beyond the intellectual. Each step of the way Kamalashila covers all aspects of meditation, from just sitting, posture and concentration of breath. He then moves on to reflection of the mind, recognition of the hindrances and the creation of there opposites. Then, he covers in great clarity and detail, the cultivation of Metta (friendliness and love, but not in a sick sentimental manner) and various forms of Vippassana meditation (ultimately true meditation) such as an observation on impermenance, conditionality, cause and effect and the confusion of such concept as life and death. This book is genuine, beautiful, thorough, very well written and extremely wise. For anybody wishing to establish a meditation practice or even gain help with their existing practice I recommend this above all others. Truly wonderful.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a practical handbook with a wealth of helpful detailed advic, June 3, 1997

By A Customer

Meditation: the Buddhist way of tranquillity and insight Kamalashila

Windhorse Publications

288 pages, p/b, £11.99

ISBN 090476656 X

This book is a comprehensive guide to the methods and theory of meditation. Written in an informal and accessible style, it provides a complete introduction to the basic techniques, as well as detailed advice for more experienced meditators.

Kamalashila, the author and long-standing member of the Western Buddhist Order, has been teaching meditation for over seventeen years. In 1979 he helped to establish a semi-monastic meditation community in North Wales, which has now grown into a public retreat centre. For more than a decade he and his colleagues have been developing approaches to meditation that are readily accessible to people with a modern Western background, but firmly grounded in Buddhist tradition. Their experience - as meditators, as students of the traditional texts. and as teachers - is distilled in this book.

The result is a practical handbook with a wealth of helpful detailed advice, complete with troubleshooting guides and maps of the places our practice might take us. But it is also an inspiring exploration of the principles underlying Buddhist meditation, and of its real aims: heightened awareness, emotional positivity, and - ultimately - liberating insight into the true nature of reality.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just a Fake, January 12, 2009

By	Rodrigo Ivan Ahumada Peña "Rodragor" (Chile) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This guy (author) is NOT Kamalashila, the indo - tibetan buddhist sage who wrote a Gom Rim treatise or a step by step Meditation book. Well I thought it was and I bought it. When I received I noticed it was written by Mr. Mathews... whose nickname is Kamalashila! and wrote about the same matter. Obviously he chose that nickname to increase his sales. Next time if I need money I will write a book about emptiness and I will use the nickname "Nagarjuna" I will surely sell a lot.