Training the Mind: And Cultivating Loving-Kindness

This is my second book from Trungpa, and I am not disappointed. Trungpa has a way of rationalizing things that resonates well with me. His perspectives are intelligent and creative, yet not complex and easy to digest. This book is mostly about Slogans. My concept of Slogans is that they are short statements that expound a particular Budhist idea. Since the statements are short, they are easy to remember, and therefore you may use them whenever necessary to calm yourself or gain control. After the slogans are stated, they are discussed by the author. Since most slogans are briefly discussed, you can complete the reading of an idea in a relatively short time. This makes it excellent for mornig readings or for carrying it in your briefcase. I strongly recommend this book.

What do salty sailors, communists, ad execs, and Tibetan Buddhists have in common? The Power of Slogans! From `Have a Coke and a Smile' to "Be all that you can Be", the brain loves a good saying. This book is Trungpa's translation of the 59 slogans used to instruct Tibetan Buddhists, with his commentary on each. Trungpa is unassailable as an instructor: the 11th generation of a line of chosen Tibetan Trungpas, he went to oxford on a scholarship and then moved to the US in the 1970's where he founded what remain as among the foremost Buddhist/meditative institutions in the country. I tend to believe Buddhism gained a little more than it lost en route to japan, so I prefer the zen stuff, but this book has a lot to offer anyone. Some nitpicking: For a guy who dedicated his life to bringing jargonless Buddhism to the west, the book is a little full of `mystical-sounding foreign words' though thankfully the glossary is very fine. And plenty of important Buddha concepts don't shine through (cause and effect, and the big mirror concepts don't get too much play here) so just make sure this isn't the only book you read on the topic. And some of the slogans are simply not too memorable and consequently lose their force; `always be grateful' is dandy, though `the mahayana instruction for ejection of consciousness at death is the five strengths' seems like an important one that alas probably won't be dancing off too many tongues at the critical moment. Still this is a fine book, a great book for beginners or advanced alike, coming from any tradition whatsoever. & the small format fits well, making it a great book for commutes or travels. Enjoy! ( & remember: just because I didn't like the book as much as you doesn't mean you should vindictively vote against my review!)

Bringing Buddhist teachings to a western mind is no easy task. I find that the material in this book clearly allows one to understand Dharma in a crisp and refreshing light. The ability to apply this to the western life is well stated.

Have you ever had trouble bringing the Buddhist path into everyday usage? Well this book provides one with the ability to do so. I highly recommend it.