We all wish to gain greater understanding of ourselves. This ideal follow-up to the author's extremely popular Buddhism for Beginners explains in clear and simple language the essence of Buddhist philosophy and psychology, together with practical tools for immediate implementation in our daily lives.

We all want to have good relationships with others. Chodron offers practical techniques to help us gain a more spacious perspective on relationships, whether they be between lovers, parent and child, employer and employee, friends, or spiritual teacher and student. Guidelines are given for how to practice, freeing ourselves from habitually blaming others for our problems, and learning to be on the spot and take responsibility for our lives. This book describes how our mind/heart, not the external world, is the ultimate source of our happiness. We learn how to look at people and situations in an entirely new light. The book concludes with a discussion of common misconceptions about Buddhism.

The author's down-to-earth language and examples invite us to not only engage the material, but to implement it in our own lives. The author's open-minded approach makes this book suitable for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

Taming the Mind, Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications, Paperback, 2004, 217 Pages, $22.95

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun, has studied and practiced Buddhism in India and Nepal since 1975. Ven. Chodron travles worldwide teaching and leading meditation retreats and is known for her clear and practical explanations of the Buddha's teachings. She is the author of Buddhism for Begijnners, Working with Anger, Taming the mInd, and Open Heart, Clear Mind.

Foreword	vii
Introduction	ix
An Outlook on the World and a Way of Life
Mind Is the Creator of Our Experience	3
The Four Noble Truths: Creatively Dealing with Difficulties	13
From Confusion to Enlightenment: A Step-by-Step Method to Transform Our Minds	29
The First Step: Preparing for the Future	33
The Second Step: The Wish for Freedom	41
The Third Step: Seeking Enlightenment for the Benefit of All	42
Practical Guidelines for Good Living	59
Precepts: Directing Our Energy Positively	69
Our Relationships with Others
Spiritual Mentor: Relating Realistically to a Spiritual Guide	79
Parent and Child: Being Close While Letting Go	87
Friendship: Sharing and Caring	95
Colleagues and Clients: Working Together and Resolving Differences	103
Marriage: Helping Each Other Grow	107
Taming Bad Habits, Cultivating Good Ones
Complaining: A Favorite Pastime	115
Speaking of the Faults of Others: How to Make Ourselves and Others Miserable	121
Ruminating: Living in the Past and Future	127
Being Responsible for Our Lives: Lesson from an Inmate	133
Cultivating Beneficial Habits: Practicing Dharma in Daily Life	137
The Spread of the Buddha's Teachings
The Life of the Buddha: An Inspiration for Us All	149
Buddhist Traditions: Finding What Suits Us	157
Theravada, the Tradition of the Elders: Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia	159
Mahayana, Pure Land, and Zen: Buddhism in the Far East	163
Integration of Sutra and Tantra: Tibetan Buddhism	173
Buddhist Temples and Dharma Centers: What Happens There?	181
Buddhist Festivals and Rites: Holidays, Birth, Marriage, and Death	187
Buddhism Today
What Is Buddhism, What Is Superstition?: What Buddhism Says about Ghosts, Fortunetelling, and Psychic Powers	193
Religious Harmony: Diversity Is Beneficial	201
Glossary	209
Additional Reading	215