The essence of the teachings of the Buddha, is practice. The reason we practice meditation is to attain happiness. This means happiness in both the short term and the long term.

The short-term benefits of meditation are more than merely peace of mind, because our physical health as well depends to a great extend upon our state of mind. The ultimate or long-term benefit of the practice of meditation is becoming free of all suffering, which means no longer compelled to experience the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death.

In this remarkable teaching Thrangu Rinpoche presents all the important aspects of Buddhist meditation in general and from the vajrayana perspective in particular. In it are covered motivation, posture, mental technique, consciousness and wisdom, as well as creation and completion stages and mahamudra.
Teachings on the Practice of Meditation, Thrangu Rinpoche, Zhi-sil Cho-kyi Gha-Tsal, 90 pp, $14.95

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches extensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.

CONTENTS: Teachings on the Practice of Meditation
Biography of Thrangu Rinpoche	ix
Foreword	xi
Mahamudra Lineage Prayer	xiii
Introduction to Meditation	1
Generating Loving Kindness & Compassion	9
Correct Motivation	17
Posture	23
Mental Technique	29
Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom	33
The Tantric Path & Mahamudra	49
Notes	63
Glossary of Terms	65
Index	85
Meditation Centre Information	90
Long Life Prayer for Thrangu Rinpoche	91