Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to the Stages of Meditation [Paperback]

Dalai Lama (Author), Christine Cox (Editor), Geshe Thubten Jinpa (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1991

Outlines meditaiton practices that cultivate true potential and happiness.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Tibetan

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; First Edition edition (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937938920
• ISBN-13: 978-0937938928
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good for students of Tibetan culture, bad for new meditators, February 18, 2003

By 

I. Kant "ender314" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to the Stages of Meditation (Paperback)

I am new to meditation (though somewhat versed in Buddhism), and wanted a clear, understandable, and practical way to get introduced to the subject. I tried some other "intro" and "basics of" books, but they were full of philosophy and/or new age dribble (I wanted technique and fundamental concepts). I'd read some of the Dalai Lama's books on buddhism and appreciated his clarity and style, as well as his ability to bring his topics down to earth. So I thought hey, what better than a lecture by the Dalai Lama to teach me how to meditate. And the endless 5-star recommendations on this site made me even more enthusiastic. Boy was I wrong! This book is a prescribed description of the Lamrim practice. It is full of lenthy prayers and incantations to memorize and recite, various figures from the Tibetan pantheon to exort and pray to, and a litany of rites and rituals to follow. This is great for people wanting to understand specific aspects of Tibetan culture and Tibetan buddhism, but not a useful tool for learning meditation, especially if you are new to the subject or somewhat scientifically (rather than philosophically or religiously) inclined. Further research has led me to "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Gunaratana, and to the Insight Meditation books by Goldstein. Hope these work better.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Above all else, BALANCED!, May 29, 2001

By 

Jesse A Whyte (Loveland, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to the Stages of Meditation (Paperback)

I've read many, many books about meditation, and specifically above the integration of meditation into a Buddhist practice. Most books are either wholely theoretical or entirely practical in a way that fails to convey the depth of meditation in Buddhist tradition.

This books walks a fine line, and successfully I think, in dispensing both practical and theoretical knowledge to the reader in a way that enlivens and energizes the practices outlined inside. Well worth a couple of nights worth of study.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, September 26, 2008

By 

boo-koo "boo-koo" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to the Stages of Meditation (Paperback)

Very good stuff here especially for beginners and its a short book and a quick read.

But for people from the West with little expereince in Buddhism I would recommend books like "Transform your Life" by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. His writing style is much more sophisticated and articulate then HH.