The Power of Mind: A Tibetan Monk’s Guide to Finding Freedom in Every Challenge

Editors Landry, Ibby Caputo, and Paul Gustafson assemble in this superb manual the oral teachings of Tibetan monk T’hayé on lojong (“mind training”) practices in Buddhism. T’hayé expounds on the Buddhist text The Seven Key Points of Mind Training and distills its wisdom on “taming the mind” and “refining away mental afflictions until we aren’t ruled by our circumstances.” He proffers advice on how to follow each of the “key points” (which include practice, transformation, and commitment), suggesting that to integrate Buddhist teachings into one’s everyday life (point four), readers should adopt a mindset characterized by a resolve to develop such qualities as generosity and diligence. To practice taming one’s mind (point two), the author recommends continually reminding oneself that everything is an illusion and a construct of one’s perception. Practitioners will appreciate the emphasis on practical application and enjoy the thoughtful guided meditations on such questions as “What does it mean to have freedoms?” and “Does everything have a cause and is everything a result?” This sage volume offers something for Buddhism students of all levels. (Aug.)