Turning the Mind Into an Ally

"Turning the Mind Into an Ally" is a plainly-written introduction to meditation and Buddhist ideals by Sakyong Mipham, director of Shambhala International and son of Chögyam Trungpa, who is often credited with introducing Tibetan Buddhism to the West. Mipham spent his youth in the United States and makes his home here for part of the year, so he's fluent , not only in English, but in American culture and thinking. He communicates naturally with Westerners. He seems like a man who doesn't like to overcomplicate things. His writing is clear, his instructions simple, and explanations of the whys and wherefores of meditation are easy to understand. At a little over 200 pages, this is a quick read and an excellent place to start if you want to meditate or just to understand what it is all about, as Mipham addresses both the practical aspects and religious philosophy behind meditation.

The book has four parts. Part One answers the question "Why Meditate?". In order to control and use our mind, we must discover how it works and train it to not go bucking wildly around, have knee-jerk reactions, or be overburdened by stress and a smorgasbord of emotions all the time. He explains that Buddhists believes that humans are inherently peaceful and our minds joyous and calm by nature. Through discovering and accepting life's four inherent qualities -impermanence, suffering, selflessness, and peace- through meditation, we can put our mind in this natural state. Part Two, "The Art of Peacefully Abiding", tells us how to meditate beginning with getting the correct posture, then placing our mind on the breath. There are several chapters of advice on how to keep one's mind on the breath, including chapters on boredom, laziness, procrastination, and staying focused.

Part Three, "Turning the Mind Into an Ally", discusses contemplative mediation (AKA Vipassana), where the previous parts concerned Shamatha or "peaceful abiding". This part contains the most religious philosophy, about 75 pages of it in chapters 14-18. Mipham essentially presents a moral system, and we see how it relies upon meditation. Part Four is short and philosophical, concerning where meditation and its insights fit in the world. "Turning the Mind Into an Ally" is repetitive at times, but the author is probably just trying to be clear and emphatic. He gives good practical advice, anticipating all the pitfalls, difficulties, and questions that beginning meditators are likely to have. This was the first book I read about meditation, and I found it to be excellent practical advice on Shamatha and a nice introduction to the Buddhist beliefs behind it, whether or not you subscribe to them.

Sayong Mipham has produced an easy to digest book involving the basic principles of meditation. At the risk of being overly simplistic, "Turning the Mind into an Ally" involves removing the clutter that crowds the mind. To employ Mipham's own metaphor, our minds often run wild like a horse which needs to be corraled and trained. Even through simple techniques that only involve breathing, one can focus the mind. Yet Mipand's instruction does not stop here as he takes the reader through further levels. I am hesistant to summarize the book further as Mipham states his case much better than I ever could for him.

Although I am a Christian, I have long been interested in Buddhism and the principles of meditation. As Thomas Merton explored in his lifetime, Buddhism has more parallels with Christianity than one might think. In reality, this book is written for a wide audience and can appeal to divergent people including those with only the most basic knowledge of Buddhism.

I've read a number of wonderful Buddhist authors. I really enjoyed them. The reason I recommend this one so highly is that it was so effective at getting me to actually begin meditating and doing so on a regular basis.

I am by no means advanced in my practice, but just doing it has been of incredible benefit to me. I don't know how to better describe it. I really do owe it to the focused approach Sakyong Rinpoche explains in this book.

'Turning The Mind Into an Ally' was responsible for getting me from a wild, untamed mind - procrastining and reading one book after another - to actually sitting down and beginning my meditation.

As a friend who observed me reading alot of books once told me, "Just remember, the map is not the journey."

I do feel that this book will start you on your mindfullness journey.

"Turning the Mind Into an Ally" is a fantastic introductory text for those seeking to learn more about the meditation practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness practice (shamatha) is introduced here in a way that, while acknowledging the Buddhist roots of the practice, can appeal to anyone open-minded enough to engage it. I would recommend mindfulness to anyone regardless of their faith or philosophy, and this is a great place to take that first step. Also, the book is written in very clear, plain language that makes it a quick read the first time through, and a joyful reminder when you come back to it again...and again...and again.

Some people go to a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment; I turn to this book time and again when I'm in need of a mental and emotional adjustment. And even aside from the meditation itself, when I'm stressing too much over things I can't control, or spending too much time thinking about what or who is frustrating me, the teachings in this book have given me the tools to put things in perspective, not as I might wish them to be but as they are and that is a GREAT thing! It would not be overstated to say this book has changed my life in the three years since I first read it.

Multi-tasking with work, kids, home, etc., I began to notice my memory failing me more and more often. Though I probably don't meditate long enough or often enough, I am so uplifted afterward. When I meditate in the morning, my whole day is better for it. There is something about fucusing on the breath that makes it easier to focus on anything better. Whenever I find my thoughts wandering, I narrow things down to the breath and the thing I'm actually doing and everything else falls away. I've learned something about the discipline that's necessary to pay attention to the here and now and thus, my memory is improved because I'm now paying attention in the moment and everything has a better quality to it. It's really that simple.

Like other reviewers, I go through my phases of reading this book before bed. It's soothing and calming and I feel more optimistic. the philosophy is so well laid out here and accessable and useful to anyone, even if you don't practice the meditation - but I hope you will... I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this one!

I have read several helpful books on meditation and Buddhism. I've gotten a lot out of Steven Levine's 'A Gradual Awakening' and several books by Thich Nhat Hanh. I picked up Sakyong Mipham's book a few weeks ago thinking 'this looks pretty good.' It is far beyond pretty good. His writing is clear, concise and easy to follow. His instruction is precise and practical. For someone who is either a beginner or a seasoned practitioner I think 'Turning the Mind into an Ally' is a great tool for meditation practice.

I bought this book after reading "Running with the Mind of Meditation", which is a great book that inspired me to begin meditation. I did not have any experience in meditation so I bought Turning the Mind into An Ally to learn the basics of the practice. It is not as enjoyable read as Running w/the Mind of Meditation, but his instructions are very good, easy to understand and practical. He is a really great author--he keeps it simple. I strongly recommend this book to beginners wanting to learn the HOW of meditation.

Karen Armstrong's The Buddha is a beautiful exposition of the life of the Buddha, but has little to say about how to bring his wisdom and compassion into our lives. Turning the Mind into an Ally is a practical guide based on profound understanding of how to stabilize, clarify and strengthen the mind so that we can bring this wisdom and compassion into our lives. The author, Sakyong Mipham, writes with clarity, directness, and authority about how to live a life of true joy and deep compassion in our modern world. The book is a deceptively simple exposition of mind transformation through the meditation technique of calm abiding. The author is a direct intellectual and heart descendant of the wisdom teachings that go back more than 2500 years.
Sakyong Mipham follows the Buddha's tradition of piercing honesty about our predicament as sentient beings. He does not shy from telling the truth of suffering, impermanence, and selflessness of our existence. In these troubled times, it is wonderful to know that there is a practical and doable path of personal transformation by which we can live without deception and with loving kindness to benefit ourselves and all beings.

Wonderful introduction to mindfulness meditation by a practitioner schooled in the art by Eastern methods, but who grew up in the West. The author's instruction is simple and direct, made meaningful by useful analogies taken from his own experience. The emphasis on the importance of understanding paradoxes inherent in the meditation experience (such simplicity and complexity, and discipline and freedom) offers the beginner a powerful set of tools . . . and questions.

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As someone who voraciously reads any growing interest in a topic, when I first began my study of Buddhism I ready dozens of books from a variety of sources. "Meditation manuals" poetry, philosophy, religious text. But none of them connected the active practice of meditation in such a way that Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has in Turning the Mind into an Ally.

A few years after I began practicing I discovered the Sakyong's teachings and this book in particular. I was soon convinced.

He taps into imagery that resonates with the reader when they go a step further than just reading but applying the techniques. Many texts promise to impact your growth or knowledge or karma. But this book and recounting of a great beginning meditation technique really brought strong changes in implementing a more regular practice.

Excellent book to help you with your shamatha meditation practice, full of information on how to overcome different obstacles in meditation. The book also goes into contemplative meditation practice, which is different but a nice addition to peaceful abiding meditation. He writes in a way that makes you feel like he's right there with you, his voice is simple and direct. This book is totally worth gettting.

This book was written by the son of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He distills the wisdom of his father in a simple and easy to understand style of writing. After reading a few pages you will realize that the greatest enemy is your mind; the only obstacle that is making you unhappy. This book will show you how to turn your mind into your ally. A good book for anyone pursing peace of mind and harmony with others.

Insomnia was keeping me awake in the middle of the night. I had tried several different things, all to no avail. Mipham's book showed me how to stop my mind from jumping steadily from one subject to the next. With Mipham's meditation technique I can be asleep within a few minutes.

In Turning the Mind Into an Ally, Sakyong Mipham has provided a clear path to working with one's mind and life with sanity and compassion. Mipham's style is both folksy and profound. It is completely contemporary, and oriented toward a Western audience, yet it remains true to the integrity of the ancient tradition of meditation. As The Joy of Cooking is the standard for cooks everywhere, Turning the Mind Into an Ally should be for human beings.

Sakyong Mipham has written an excellent A to Z primer on basic meditation techniques. I will keep my copy in an accessible place, because I intend to read it again and again. I recommend this book to both experienced meditation practitioners as well as to those who are interested in exploring the benefits of meditation.

Powerful and delivered so sweetly. A poignent description of meditation and how it can free you from a discursive mind and enhance your quality of life. I would highly recommend this book to the non or practicing meditator alike.

Written with a mixture of deep wisdom, warmth and humor this book presents a crystal clear way of how to live ones life. How to face, not run from, reality. It is a teaching on the celebration of the adventure of life.

Long time ago I practiced meditation and it helped me a lot. I wanted to return to it again because I realized that it helped me a lot back then. I wanted a comprehensive guide, something like summarized teachings of Buddha, giving you the most important parts of the whole system, together with practical insights on meditation itself. And this is it.