Book Recommendation: Ruling Your World

I have been into Tibetan Buddhism and spiritual practices lately. I find their point of view fascinating. Their style of writing is very simple and easily palatable. However the actual execution of their belief patterns, while working when you apply it, is very difficult.

Ruling Your World: Ancient Strategies for Modern Living by Sakyong Mipham is a fantastic, well written book that is very challenging. One of the things that I enjoy about his writing style is how he would include small pop-culture references to let you know that he is in touch with the world and knows what is going on (of course I am open to the possibility that he has a great editor as well).

Mipham talks about lungta, which is translated into “windhorse” which is the ability to attract success, prosperity, health, etc. He teaches that the way to raise windhorse is to let go of the ‘what about me’ paradigm, and through several meditation practices allow you to be able to focus in selflessness. I have read in other books that the ancient Tibetans used to be one of the most brutal warriors on the face of the planet, and through practice have evolved into one of the most spiritual. Maybe that is the reason why their way of speaking is so spiritual and unusual.

He discusses several approaches that are symbolized by four animals – the tiger, the lion, the garuda and the dragon. Each of them symbolizes contentment, joy and discipline, expanding vision and selflessness. After checking out their website www.shambhala.org I find that this book is a small encapsulation of their beliefs, which makes sense because Mipham is the head of the organization.

Their view of karma in terms of positive thinking is very similar to the new wave of positivity a la The Secret, but with much deeper implications. One of my questions is about their point of view of death. They believe that in meditating on death it gives our lives deeper meaning. However, I wonder how that works within the collective consciousness of the west which says what you focus on increases. I remember I used to always be afraid to think about death because I thought it meant I was going to die. On the other hand if I told this concern to Mipham he would probably say “so what? you are right! You are going to die and it could be anytime now. You are right to think of it! In fact you should think of it more!