Guided Meditations on The Stages of the Path

By Thubten Chodron
Snow Lion Publications

Thubten Chodron is renown for her ability to make Tibetan Buddhism accessible to those looking for a starting place. Her book Buddhism for Beginners is recommended reading for anyone interested in the basic concepts of Tibetan Buddhism, and this latest text is a perfect next-step practice guide. The main goal of this book, and accompanying MP3 CD, is to help the practitioner begin and develop a regular, daily meditation and dharma practice. It is also extremely helpful for beginners especially to have an advanced practitioner as an auditory guide.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, reading and studying are equally as important as meditation; therefore, it is wholly appropriate to have a text and MP3 CD combination such as this, which emphasizes understanding and study, as well as practical experience. These teachings and meditations are taken from the lamrim, or the Tibetan Buddhist Path to Enlightenment. The longest chapter in the book is entitled “Lamrim Meditation Outlines,” and it is the chapter where the majority of the text accompanying the meditations on the MP3 CD are contained. These are analytical meditations, that is, Chodron presents questions about different aspects of and obstacles to the path, including such basic emotions as love and anger, and the core Buddhist concept of attachment. Chodron also includes canonical Tibetan texts such as “The Three Principal Aspects of the Path” by Je Tsongkhapa, “The Foundation of All Good Qualities” by Je Tsongkhapa, and the “Long Life Prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama." These readings provide the foundations of the practice, as Chodron continues to take the reader deep into these concepts.

I have found few guides through the sometimes-complex practices of Tibetan Buddhism that are this thorough, accessible, and practical. The questions Chodron presents throughout the book and MP3 CD are the types of questions you might want to tape to your bathroom mirror, and she provides enough of them that you could easily start your day contemplating a different question for months. This is not the sort of book that requires a sequential reading; it is superbly organized to provide quick and easy access to any of the concepts you are currently working with, and there is plenty for those at each stage of the path. Even if you are not strictly a student of Tibetan Buddhism, there are enough core spiritual and ethical concepts covered in this book as to make it a worthwhile read for anyone who seeks to develop her mind and spirit, and enlarge her compassion and wisdom, whatever your primary spiritual practice.

Review by Shana Scudder

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Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path