Meditation in Action (Shambhala Library) [DELUXE EDITION] (Hardcover)

~ Chogyam Trungpa (Author) "IT IS A CLEAR, hot summer's day, and the thick branches of the sal trees are brilliant with flowers and heavy with their load of..." (more)
Key Phrases: Manure of Experience

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This classic teaching by a Tibetan master continues to inspire both beginners and long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. In Meditation in Action, Chögyam Trungpa teaches that meditation is based on trying to see what is, rather than trying to achieve a higher mental or physical state. Trungpa describes the life of the Buddha, emphasizing that, like the Buddha, we must find the truth for ourselves, rather than following someone else's example. Meditation in action might also be called "working meditation," for it is not a retreat from the world. Rather, it builds the foundation for tremendous compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of a person's mind or behavior. Trungpa 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 to deal with them skillfully, without the self-consciousness connected with ego.

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.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; Gift edition edition (November 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301595
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301593
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #332,974 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 98 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 "Bill Butler" (Tarzana, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Meditation in Action (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.

8 of 8 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 (Ecuador, Latin America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meditation in Action (Paperback)

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.

12 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation Makes Sense, February 28, 2000

By	Marpo Ri "marpo ri" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meditation in Action (Paperback)

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.