“The ability to sustain close mindfulness is a learned skill that offers profound benefits in all situations. This book explains the theory and applications of the practice the Buddha called the direct path to enlightenment. These simple but powerful techniques to cultivate mindfulness will allow anyone, regardless of tradition, beliefs, or lack thereof, to achieve genuine happiness and freedom from suffering. By closely minding the body and breath, we relax, grounding ourselves in physical presence. Coming face to face with our feelings, we stabilize our awareness against habitual reactions. Examining mental phenomena nakedly, we sharpen our perceptions without becoming attached. Ultimately, we see all phenomena just as they are, and we approach the ground of enlightenment.”—from the preface
Bringing in his experience as a monk, scientist, and contemplative, Alan Wallace offers a rich synthesis of Eastern and Western traditions, along with a comprehensive range of meditation practices interwoven throughout the text. The guided meditations are systematically presented, beginning with very basic instructions, which are then gradually built upon as one gains increasing familiarity with the practice.
“Alan Wallace is one of the great Western Buddhist thinkers of our day.”—Howard Cutler, co-author with H.H. the Dalai Lama of The Art of Happiness
“A comprehensive and rich teaching that combines skillful instruction and scholarly knowledge. Minding Closely draws on wisdom from both Theravada and Vajrayana traditions to offer a systematic and practical approach to liberation through mindfulness.”—Jack Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart
“B. Alan Wallace explores the Buddha’s discourse on the Four Applications of Mindfulness with an incisive and unique blend of scholarship, meditative wisdom, and scientific perspective. Minding Closely offers fresh and deeply illuminating insights into this seminal teaching, drawing on the breadth and depth of Alan’s many years of practice.”—Joseph Goldstein, Author of One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism and A Heart Full of Peace
B. Alan Wallace has taught Buddhist meditation and philosophy worldwide since 1976 and has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including the Dalai Lama. He graduated summa cum laude from Amherst College, where he studied physics and the philosophy of science, and earned his Ph.D. in religious studies at Stanford University. Wallace is the founder and president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies and has edited, translated, authored, and contributed to more than thirty books on Tibetan Buddhism, medicine, language, and culture, and the interface between science and religion.
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“I have just finished reading Alan Wallace’s Minding Closely and have to say it is the best book I’ve read on mindfulness in many years! As a Mahamudra practitioner, albeit not a very experienced or effective one, I found many of the insights in his book incredibly helpful. And I’ve been able to put them to use in meditation practice with immediate and positive results. For example, his suggestions of focusing on the location from which thoughts emerge, and separately, the background within which thoughts arise, are both really helping my practice. I loved a number of the illustrations he gave – e.g. the comparison of Laplace’s presentation to Napoleon to illuminate how we can explain out own functioning without reference to a Self. This is a wonderful, practical book and I plan to buy copies of it for several fellow Dharma students to read ahead of our next Mahamudra retreat in January. Please do pass on my warm congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Alan for his wonderful book!” –David Michie, author of Buddhism for Busy People
“Wallace encourages us to investigate, and meditate on, the challenging issues we face in life.”—Tricycle
“Buddhist meditation teacher and interpreter B. Alan Wallace presents a solid instructional about the practice of meditation. Guided meditation practices for a wide range of expertise, from beginner to expert, interleave with the helpful text. An excellent guide that will prove especially accessible, it is a highly recommended addition to Buddhist and meditation studies.”—Midwest Book Review
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