Attention Revolution, The

If you are new to meditation, then I would not start with this book. The first couple of chapters would be helpful but I think the chapters after that would be a little bit mysterious or perhaps discouraging. If you have meditated for some time, perhaps at least a couple of months or so, then you might want to approach this book at that time.Alan Wallace's walkthrough to Shamatha in this book is not so much "step one", "step two", "step three", etc., type approach although the chapters are organized in this regard and this type of framework is present. Instead, the book feels more like a conversation or teaching from Alan Wallace in which all of the steps are fluidly tied together and one can take aspects of some of the later chapters while still working earlier on their path to Shamatha. For example, in step 9 Wallace recommends focusing the concentration intently and then relaxing, then asking "who/what was it that focused the concentration?". Likewise, releasing the mind and body into its natural state, alternating between concentrating on observing the body releasing and the mind focusing increasingly more inwardly and then asking oneself, "who/what is releasing or focusing inwardly?". This one practice out of a number of practices in the book has allowed me to achieve a new awareness of my own awareness. Likewise, his teachings on lucid dreaming are more practical and approachable than many I have read.Thus, I highly recommend the book but I would not start here if you are new to meditation. For all intents and purposes, this book is a doorway to Shamatha, a more advanced meditation concept, and from there on to the path of Dzogchen. If that is something that is of interest, then this book should fit the bill.

What a wonderful work from professor Alan Wallace, an authentic yogi, buddhist expert and scientist.There are some books promising "practice of jahnas" or "jahna achievemeny"; but I only trust in this one coming from a true realized practitioner and academic expert like him.What Wallace has gave us is a complete manual explaining the path of shamatha practice until the attainment of the first Dhyana (Jahna in pali).Using the ten stages system established by the indian scholar Kamalashila, Wallace directs detailed instructions for the practice at the same time developing a very skillful dialogue between buddhist contemplatives methods and the scientists's one.Each chapter corresponds to one shamatha stage, each ends with a contemplative practice including the Four Immeasurables and Dream Yoga.In chapter 8 and 9 the Professor introduce another two differents methods of shamatha as preliminaries to Dzogchen.According to Wallace without attainment of shamatha it is impossible the achieve vipashyana neither advanced stages of Vajrayana. Shamatha is the foundation stone of all those practicesWallace has the neurosurgeon precision when meditative instruction is about. The book itself is a supporting tool for all those who has the capacity to enter into several years of strict retreatment. And you can complement it with Dreaming Yourself Awake: Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and TransformationI'm very grateful to him for have written this book, which us fundamental text for all of us following the Yogi path.

Absolutely fantastic, unbelievable, life changing, no words to express … but, if I’ve bumped into this book earlier in my life, probably I would have not understood it. Because, you still need to be kind of ready to the message, to be ready at least a little bit even for the pre-step of his first 10-step meditation-enlightenment-nirvana program. And, unfortunately, I don’t know how to do that. I guess, very first thing should be the desire to change something in your life … maybe … hope this feedback helps a bit, but don’t know how to express better.… probably, I haven’t read anything so profound in my life … (and, reading is what I do when I have even a one free minute)

This book is only 165 pages long and I read it in one day. I can meditate up to stage 2 of the 9 stages. I liked the detailed explanations of how to meditate and how to go into deeper levels of meditation. However, I don't have the desire or energy to meditate for 12 hours a day for several years to reach stage 9. At about stage 6 there is an explanation of the nasty side effects of long periods of mental focus. You may start to see a floating light orb and you may not be able to distinguish your awake meditative thinking from your nighttime lucid dreaming. You might suffer the effects similar to a prisoner held in solitary confinement. That is a scary thought. You might lose control of your own mind. The author has gone to India and spent long periods of time alone in a cave on a mountain side to meditate in privacy. He had bed bugs and lice in his clothes while surviving on a very simple ration of local food. He did have an older Buddist mentor on a nearby mountain that he visited to ask questions and get guidance. Dr. Wallace has an interesting personal story to tell of his adventures in India and his experience in exploring his own mind. He was an explorer of the mind because he did not know how the subconscious mind worked when he started bringing up old memories or old feelings from the inner core of his mind. There was no safety switch he could flip if something went wrong. I am fascinated by what I read about the human mind and how it works. I recommend reading this book.

Great information in the book, I just had difficulty connecting to it and, ironically, keeping my attention on the book since it's a bit hard to grasp. I was a beginner at meditation when I started the book so as a basic foundation for meditation, I don't recommend it. I see this more as a guide to meditation after you already have had some experience with it or if you're looking for the straight up Buddhist way to meditation. But again, it was very informative just not what I was seeking as a beginner at meditation.

This is an exceptional book, from an exceptional writer. Alan Wallace has a deep training as both a Buddhist scholar and an advanced practitioner. Both qualities shine through in this book. Samatha (developing a calm and clear mind) is really the foundation, not just of Buddhist meditation, but of any activity. In this book Alan Wallace takes us step by step through developing these qualities. Mindfulness is now one of the fastest-growing research areas of clinical psychology (and indeed now practiced by millions). But many mindfulness courses only touch on the beginnings of mind training, as understood in the Buddhist tradition. Wallace shows us how much farther this can be taken. I own hundreds of books on the topic of meditation (I do research in the area) and this is one of the top two or three that I have found of greatest personal value in my practice. Thoroughly recommended.

very clear introduction to Shamata and mindfulness meditation. Theory and practice laid out simply and lucidly. There's obviously a huge amount of theoretical understanding in the background but this book is mercifully free of the mumbo-jumbo that requires a couple of decades in a monastery in Dharamsala to understand. There's is a whiff of elitism through the book, and the message that anybody that leads a normal life can only hope to get to stage 3 (out of 9) is a good way of depressing 99.9% of your audience. Nonetheless if you are interested in meditative practice this is an excellent read.

This is an excellent book on the nine stages of shamatha (mental quiescence) as taught in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. If you are interested in developing single-pointed concentration, then this would be an excellent way to do so. I have known the author nearly forty years and completed a one year shamatha retreat with him (as translator) back in 1988. You will not get a better and/or more knowledgeable Western guide to this practice.I highly recommended this book.

Very good book about stages of calm abiding, Academic level but still accessible

Great Book 5*

Wonderful book. Useful and clear!

The book is really amazing. After reading the first chapter that was available online for free, I bought the Kindle version. Just while reading the book, I could feel very calm and felt improvement in my attention. After keeping the book away as well, I continued feeling improved attention.The author suggests practicing Shamatha over a period of time, which makes sense. The problem I faced was, once I started reading the book, I couldn't keep it away for few months while I meditated on a certain stage of meditation.Other benefits include disassociating yourself from materialism, need for other people, getting ridding of hatred and anger, etc. The book is excellent and is worth a read for someone who is interested in meditation and clearing the head of unwanted thoughts of worry, anxiety, anger, frustration, etc.

The is an excellent, practical introduction to meditation from a secular point of view - great for both beginner and advanced practitioner.

This book is well written in a logical format. It leads the reader through the various levels of meditation and mindful states. The majority will reach level three at best, but it is valuable to be aware of what lies ahead if one should choose to dedicate themselves. It is not a five minute read, It takes time to assimilate the content and absorb it before taking a few more steps.. Some might describe it as 'heavy going', which is understandable. Taken in bite sized chunks it is enlightening and rewarding. I commend it.

This is for acquiring attention at a deeper level - balancing life both material and spiritual ends.

Excelente libro, totalmente recomendado para cualquier persona que quiera un acercamiento confiable a las enseñanzas budistas relacionadas a la meditación del Samatha.

Conventional truths are empty. Meditation cultivated with wisdom will deliver the disposition required to be a better humanitarian. Go for it.

Excellent instructions and advice on Shamatha and the importance of achieving Shamatha as a building block to other contemplative practices.

Wonderful. Should be required reading for anyone aspiring to be a buddhist or on the path.

This book I would recommand to any novice or hard core meditator... It is really exellent...The Shamata practices are perfect for beginners on the spiritual path...