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Overview
This challenging new work examines practical techniques for training the attention. It will be of interest to seasoned contemplatives, to general readers concerned with meditation, to philosophers of mind, and to cognitive scientists. The book includes a translation, with commentary, of Tsongkhapa's classic fifteenth-century discussion of methods for developing exceptionally high degrees of attentional stability and clarity. Such enhancement and refining of the attention is an indispensable prerequisite to rigorous, introspective enquiry into the nature of the mind. Insights gleaned from such enquiry are instrumental in identifying and eliminating the inner sources of anxiety, frustration, and discontent. To place this training in its traditional context, Professor Wallace explains Tsongkhapa's methodology and presents an overview of Tsongkhapa's vision of reality. The Bridge of Quiescence affords a bridge from Eastern meditative practice to Western philosophy, science, and religion. Wallace's discussion draws upon his knowledge of experimental psychology (such as sensory deprivation studies) and relates Tibetan meditation to discussions of consciousness by such Western thinkers as William James, William Christian, and John Searle.Editorials
Booknews
Wallace (religious studies, U. of California-Santa Barbara) was a Tibetan Buddhist monk for 14 years in India and Switzerland. He combines the findings of western scientists and philosophers on the nature of consciousness, with those of Tibetan practitioners of meditation as a means of exploring consciousness directly. He includes an account of the founder Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and an original translation with commentary of his presentation of techniques. The Dalai Lama contributes a short foreword. Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.Book Details
Published
February 28, 1999
Publisher
Chicago : Open Court, c1998.
Pages
336
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780812693607