Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.8 / 5)
Genre: Buddhism, Meditation, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

Book Review:
Calming the Mind is a rare and precious gift: a practical, step-by-step guide to the ancient practice of shamatha (meditative quiescence) from a master who lived it. Gen Lamrimpa, a Tibetan monk and close disciple of H.H. the Dalai Lama, spent decades in solitary meditation in the mountains. In 1988, he emerged to lead a one-year retreat for Western meditators, and this book is a record of the profound teachings he gave at its outset.

What makes this book so special is its grounded, experiential nature. This is not abstract philosophy; it is a direct transmission from a teacher with deep personal experience. Gen Lamrimpa explains with warmth, clarity, and even humor how to develop attentional stability, overcome mental dullness and agitation, and cultivate the inner peace that leads to profound insight.

Translated by the renowned scholar-practitioner B. Alan Wallace, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone on the meditative path. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, a psychologist or simply a curious mind, Calming the Mind offers timeless wisdom and practical techniques for developing greater clarity, stability, and peace.

As Joe B. Wilson wrote in The Tibet Journal, this book provides ''very practical and experientially grounded teachings.'' It is a true companion for the journey inward.