Boundless Healing

Author: Tulku Thondup
ISBN: 170625743
Publisher: Shambala

The Twelve Stages of Meditation Thoundup offers would be an excellent companion study course for anyone who is following a twelve step program of living one day at a time.

Book Review

I had been carrying this book in my book bag with me for several weeks before I decided to sink my teeth into it. I think I was resisting reading it as the idea of reading yet another meditation instruction book was not especially appealing to me. Boundless Healing is one of those skinny bound books that one might think they could read in quick fashion, but the text is so rich with information that absorbing it all takes time. Still... the time it took me was well spent. Thondup's mind/body meditation connection was well received. Too often I think we equate meditation as a way to flee from the physical in order to get in touch with our loftier spiritual aspirations. Thondup's methods help us stay grounded and keep a wakeful awareness of our physical beings, directing our meditations toward a goal of attaining happiness and well being, both mentally and physically.

Boundless Healing is divided into three sections: 1) Introduction and Benefits of Meditation 2) Guided Meditations - Twelve Stages of Meditation 3) Buddha Meditations.

Thondup outlines the Four Healing Powers of the Mind: 1) Positive Images 2) Positive Words 3) Positive Feelings 4) Positive Belief. He explains that there is a right and wrong way of applying these four healing powers, explaining s that a "grasping attitude" can spoil our meditations or dilute its benefits. He defines a "grasping attitude" as being too forceful in our cravings to get results. Our desires to possess the beauty within our minds during meditation can cause us to attack our intellect too harshly... in other words, we try too hard. He recommends that we ease up a bit, and relax in our meditations..

Thondup emphasises in his introduction that his teachings and the universal meditatons he offers are meant to benefit anyone regardless of religious background. He feels following Buddhist dogma is not the only pathway to find peace and happiness or to reach spiritual enlightenment..

This book offers simple meditation techniques that will awaken healing energies in the body and mind. Using Buddhist principles as a basis, Tulku Thondup has created a universal guide that anyone can use. It will benefit those who want to preserve good health as well as those who need comfort and relief from illness or mental distress.

Boundless Healing offers:

• ways to employ the four healing powers: positive images, positive words, positive feelings, and positive belief
• detailed healing exercises that can be done individually or as part of a twelve-stage program
• exercises for dispelling anxiety
• healing prayers for the dying and the deceased, plus advice for helpers and survivors

About the Author

Tulku Thondup was born in Tibet and studied at the Dodrupchen Monastery. He fled to India in1958, where he taught for many years. In 1980 he moved to the U.S. as a visiting scholar at Harvard University. His many books on Tibetan Buddhism include The Healing Power of Mind, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Enlightened Journey, and The Practice of Dzogchen.


Read excerpt: Healing The Mind and Body

Review Dateline: March 2001