Table of Contents
Foreword Tsultrim Lodrö xi
Translator's Guide for How to Read This Book xiii
Introduction: Why Tame the Mind? 1
Part 1 Building a Foundation for Freedom: The Preliminaries 11
1 This Precious Human Life: The Power of Being Human 13
2 Impermanence: No One Lives Forever 23
3 Karma, Cause, and Result: Actions Have Consequences 34
4 Suffering: The Unsatisfying Nature of All Things 41
Part 2 Mind Freeing Mind: The Practice 51
5 Ultimate Bodhichitta: The True Nature of Reality 53
6 Relative Bodhichitta: The Awakened Heart 74
Part 3 Transforming Adversity: Turning Hardships into Opportunities 117
7 Using Relative Reality for Transformation 119
8 Using Ultimate Reality for Transformation 132
9 Using Creative Methods for Transformation 139
Part 4 Training in Living and Dying: Applying the Practice in All Circumstances 153
10 How to Train during This Life 155
11 How to Train While Dying 164
Part 5 Assessing Proficiency: Recognizing the Signs of Progress 171
12 Four Ways to Measure Your Growth 173
Part 6 Living in Harmony with Practice: Commitments of the Path 181
13 Sixteen Actions to Avoid That Contradict Mind Training 183
Part 7 Support for Taming the Mind: Key Advice 203
14 Twenty-One Actions to Adopt That Support Mind Training 205
15 The Excellent Conclusion 227
Acknowledgments 231
Appendix 1 Atisha's Life Story and the Lineage of Mind Training 233
Appendix 2 The Root Text of the Seven Key Points of Mind Training 239
Appendix 3 The Six Classes of Beings 243
Appendix 4 Tonglen Meditation 246
Appendix 5 Dedication and Aspiration Prayers 248
Glossary 250
Notes 256
Index 265
About the Author 277