The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Chapter 5 of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying focuses on the essence of meditation and its role in understanding the nature of mind. It opens with the story of the Buddha’s enlightenment, which illustrates the theme of overcoming ignorance by recognizing the true nature of the mind. Rinpoche uses this narrative to emphasize the importance of meditation as a practice of calming the mind and as a path to understanding the root of suffering and the illusion of the self.

Rinpoche then elaborates on the process of meditation, describing it as a journey of bringing the mind home to its true nature. Rather than “subjugating or brainwashing the mind” (59), training the mind involves a shift from being caught up in distractions and delusions to a state of awareness and presence where the mind’s inherent clarity and peace are revealed. Rinpoche stresses that meditation is not about achieving a specific state but about cultivating a continuous awareness that permeates all aspects of life. Citing Buddha’s teachings, Rinpoche explains that the difference between the practice of meditation as mere relaxation and meditation as a path to enlightenment are three principles: “Good in the Beginning” (60) (dedicating one’s practice to all beings’ enlightenment), “Good in the Middle” (61) (practicing with a non-grasping mind), and “Good at the End” (61) (dedicating merit for all beings’ welfare).