Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan Buddhism

Nyingma Psychology Series #1

by Tarthang Tulku

Western psychology is engaged in an ever deepening investigation of the functioning of the human mind, the development of personality, and the interaction and integration of the body-mind complex. Reflections of Mind explores the remarkable Tibetan Buddhist approach to these concerns. From a first-hand point of view, it gives fresh insight into both Buddhist and Western understanding of human consciousness. Such well-known psychologists as Claudio Naranjo, Gay Luce, and Charles Tart combine personal experiences in Tibetan Buddhist practices with professional training in Western therapeutic methods to offer a unique perspective on current trends in Western psychology.

Reflections of Mind describes modern experiences of the vast psychological expertise of Tibetan Buddhism, detailing a wealth of practical tools handed down for centuries by the spiritual traditions of Tibet. As the authors attest, these techniques are proving to be greatly innovative in Western therapy. An excellent, comprehensive introductory article by Lama Tarthang Tulku provides substantial guidance for direct understanding of the depth and potential of one's own mind.

Genres: Psychology

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche (དར་ཐན་སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ dar-than sprul-sku rin-po-che) is a Tibetan teacher ("lama") in the Nyingma ("old translation") tradition. Having received a complete Buddhist education in pre-diaspora Tibet, he taught philosophy at Sanskrit University in India from 1962 to 1968, and emigrated to America in 1969, where he settled in Berkeley, CA. He is often credited as having introduced the Tibetan medicine practice of Kum Nye (སྐུ་མཉེ sku mnye་, "subtle-body massage") to the West.

In 1963, he founded Dharma Publishing in Varanasi, India, moving it to California in 1971. The main purpose of the publishing house is to preserve and distribute Tibetan Buddhist teachings and to bring these teachings to the West.

Neither Rinpoche nor Tulku are surnames; the former is an honorific applied to respected teachers meaning "Precious One," while the latter is a title given to those who have be recognized an the reincarnation of a previous lama.

Reviews

[Fraser]

One of the hardest books I have ever read. Very deep and well beyond my level of understanding....need a VERY good knowledge of Buddhist ideas which i do not.