Stages of meditation: the Buddhist classic on training the mind

Description

What is the mind? -- Training the mind -- Compassion -- Developing equanimity, the root of loving-kindness -- Identifying the nature of suffering -- Wisdom -- Common prerequisites for meditating on calm abiding and special insight -- The practice of calm abiding -- Actualizing special insight -- Unifying method and wisdom.;The Dalai Lama explains the principles of meditation in a practice-oriented format especially suited to Westerners. Based upon the middle section of the Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila--a translation of which is included--this is the most extensive commentary given by the Dalai Lama on this concise but important meditation handbook. It is a favorite text of the Dalai Lama, and he often takes the opportunity to give teachings on it to audiences throughout the world. In his words, "This text can be like a key that opens the door to all other major Buddhist scriptures." Topics include the nature of mind, how to develop compassion and loving-kindness, calm abiding wisdom, and how to establish a union of calm abiding and special insight.