Table of Contents
Foreword Matthieu Ricard vii
Acknowledgments xiii
Part 1 Entering the Path
1 First Steps 3
2 Meditation: The Essential Tool 27
3 Glimpses of My Gurus 57
Part 2 The Four Common Foundation Practices
4 The First Thought That Turns the Mind: Precious Human Existence 71
5 The Second Thought That Turns the Mind: Impermanence 93
6 The Third Thought That Turns the Mind: Karma 113
7 The Fourth Thought That Turns the Mind: Suffering 131
Part 3 The Four Unique Foundation Practices
8 The First Unique Practice: Taking Refuge 163
9 The Second Unique Practice: Purification 229
10 The Third Unique Practice: Mandala: The Accumulation of Wisdom and Merit 257
11 The Fourth Unique Practice: Guru Yoga 289
12 After Ngondro 337
Glossary 345
Recommended Reading 354
Credits 355
Author Biographies 357
About the Tergar Meditation Community 358
Index 359