Turning the Mind into an Ally

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Summary: Attaining Stability, Clarity, and Strength of Mind
Review: As a student of Sakyong Mipham, I am delighted to see the publication of his first book on meditation. The writing has the very qualities of stability, clarity, and strength that it helps one to cultivate. The Sakyong completely avoids the technical jargon of meditation without sacrificing any of the depth of knowledge and experience he brings to the subject. I was able to read it quickly and easily, but I am sure I will return to it again and again, to enrich my own meditation practice and to help me in my work as a meditation instructor. Thanks are due to this wonderful teacher for his kindness and generosity in producing this volume.

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Summary: excellent meditation book
Review: for the beginning meditator, it would be difficult to find a better book. clear, deep, concise -- it covers a wide range of issues and will become a reference manual you will read more than once.

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Summary: Good book for beginners
Review: I found this book to be very useful to me as a beginner when it comes to meditation. It is written in language that I can understand. The references to horseback riding where helpful even though I don't personally ride horses (my wife does). I have read all but the last two chapters so far.

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Summary: Meditation's Joy of Cooking
Review: 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.

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Summary: U need a good foundation before the deep stuff
Review: 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.

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Summary: Makes Meditation Relevant
Review: Sakyong Mipham's writing style is simple and to the point. Sometimes you don't even know you're being hit with deep wisdom until the 2nd or 3rd time you read it, which is the way most good books seem to work. His style is very different from his father Chogyam Trungpa's. What's great about this book is that he actually explains in precise detail, using simple but profound metaphors, exactly why somebody would want to do meditation, and exactly what the benefits are for you and the people around you. His instructions are never vague and mushy the way so many new-age teachers seem to be. He makes it all accessible and the barriers to actually starting to practice meditation seem to fall away in a hurry. It's not some ancient tradition of mystic-worshippers; it's something that can inform and aid our lives right here and right now, no matter what kind of lifestyle we lead.

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Summary: A Portable Zabuton!
Review: The Sakyong's book is like a portable Zabuton (cushion for meditation). The book provides a solid, yet comfortable, base for the practice of meditation: it's not too soft and not too hard. While 'Turning the Mind Into an Ally' does not provide an in-depth philosophy of Buddhism, it does offer a great overview of meditation practice for beginners. For this reason alone, it is unfair to evaluate the book against the work of the Sakyong's father, Chogyam Trungpa. 'Turning the Mind Into an Ally 'is simply a new route down a very old path. Some may actually prefer this to some of the more celebrated texts on Buddhism, many of which can be confusing or intimidating to those new to practice.

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Summary: Great for everyone, new and old
Review: This book is great for those both brand new to the teachings, and not so new to the teachings. We all get stuck in our practice sometimes, and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche gives very practical advice on how to overcome distractions and get unstuck. It's been a joy for me to share this book with friends totally new to the teachings and learn from it together. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has translated the teachings into the language that Americans speak. The clarity that I have gained from this has been pivotal to my dharma study and practice. This book is a must have for any dharma student.

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Summary: Excellent for all religions and all levels of meditation.
Review: 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.

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Summary: Turning the Mind into an Ally
Review: This is a good book for those who are beginning meditators, those looking for information on meditation, or those who have been practicing meditation for some time. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche uses more Western language versus Tibetan or Shambhala language, which makes this easier to read and understand. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche also has expanded the traditional Shambhala meditation practice to include "contemplation" meditation.