Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness Paperback – April 1, 2012

I have been a meditation practitioner for around 6-7 yrs now, and up until I bought this instructional guide I haven't been cultivating my spiritual practice to it's full potential. Although I have briefly touched the subject of loving kindness meditation and emptiness meditation, I was always more focused on breath meditation... Breathe meditation is an excellent way to start any meditation but as Geshe Gyatso points out, breathe meditation will surely calm the mind and stop wandering thoughts but it will never bestow everlasting changes that will cultivate compassion and awakening... He teaches us something I think is the most difficult and by far the most important characteristic any of us can learn, "To destroy our self cherishing", he teaches that all unhappiness comes from cherishing ourselves and all happiness comes from cherishing others... This book/Audio program is a must have in any meditation practitioners library, not only does this program pretty much come with every tool you'll need to overcome our delusions and cultivate bodhicitta, but he also gives many references to books to further your practice more deeply... Two thumbs up, The information in this book is priceless and for the price it is a steal... A must have for everyone....

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has provided a easy to read and understand classical Tibetan Buddhist commentary on "Training the Mind in Eight Verses" by 11th Century Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa. This is serious spiritual advice, suitable for those who want to make progress on the path to enlightenment. But it is also very helpful and useful for anyone who wants to explore the reality of a spiritual life, with beautiful meditations that will help anyone willing to really try them to develop true compassion, lovingkindness, and bodhichitta (the mind seeking enlightenment), and also to overcome delusions, especially obsessive self-concern; gain merit; and begin to develop real wisdom. This book is a precious jewel.

This edition of Eight Steps has many important teachings not found in the previous edition. Those of us who study this text at the Kadampa Center, Foundation Program, are most fortunate. So much meaning is derived from each sentence, by reading, contemplating and meditating the teachings as interpreted by Geshela Kelsang Gyatsohas brings great relief.My wish and dedication is for all to have the opportunity to read and benefit from the eight verses of Bhodisattva Langri Tangpa, the basis of the teachings found Eight Steps to Happiness.

This is a wonderful commentary on Geshe Langri Tangpa's (1054-1123) "Eight Verses of Training the Mind." With our current human life, we can either keep striving as usual (which leads only to occasional temporary happiness), or keep working diligently but change our intention and learn to cherish all living beings leading to permanent happiness. "All the happiness in the world arises from those wishing others to be happy." -Shantideva (8th century Buddhist master

One of the best books I've read...helps you to understand and analyze , body , mind , self ( I ) and outward phenomena in a analytical way ....so a person can achieve self realization and a greater understanding of ultimate truth....emptiness of all phenomenon and lack of are inherent exstance

I recently started to meditate and this book is just so amazing. If you haven’t read it then it is a definitely a must!

It is a great book if you are into Buddhism. If you are like me and come to and accept the idea that you no longer believe in that stuff because it makes no sense; don't buy it. Not a good book for an Objectivist like myself, goes against my principles.

This book is guaranteed to change your life. As always Geshe Kelsang Gyatso presents Dharma in a very clear, understandable way that even novice practitioners can understand.

I very much enjoyed this book, I know there is some people who are not convinced about the New Kadampa Tradition and I understandy why but still a good book with lots of interesting Dharma points.Goes into much more detail about the true nature of things which are they don't exisit - this theory is a little like nailing jelly to a wall. Good luck with it.

A remarkable explanation of how to develop bodhichitta and attain enlightenment by improving our compassion and meditating on emptiness. Based on an original text by a great Tibetan scholar and meditator. Written in plain English in a way we can actually put into practice in daily life.

Love this book.I haven't read it all but so far it's fantastic

If you like this sort of thing, you'll like the book. If you don't then you will not like it.

Bought for a Christmas present for my son