Customer Reviews

Meditation in Action (Shambhala Library)

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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.

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.

Great teaching from one of the Tibetan masters of our age. Perfect book to give to those interested in Buddhism and meditation, and to re-read periodically.

This is the basis of all of Rimpoche's teachings. Amazing and I also refer to it regularly. Arrived in perfect condition and very quickly.

This books clearly and simply describes the process of meditation. It explains many of my experiences. I have found this book to be very helpful and inspirational.