Buddhism with an Attitude

The Tibetan Seven-Point Mind Training (Lo Jong) was composed by the 12th-century Tibetan monk Geshe Chekawa and is based on the oral teachings of the Indian sage, Atisha. It consists of a number of aphorisms that form a quintessential guide to the spiritual path. Several commentaries have been published in recent years, suggesting the growing interest in this set of teachings. With Wallace's commentary, which addresses many practical and theoretical issues that arise for modern readers, the Lo Jong arrives firmly in the 21st century.

As Wallace's title suggests, Lo-Jong can be translated as 'attitudinal' training. The 'objective' world is a given, and therefore, in a sense neutral to us. To effect positive change in our lives we need to alter our inner attitude to experience. According to Wallace, the Seven-Point Mind Training is 'the essence of Dharma, a concise array of methods to achieve genuine happiness no matter what our circumstances'. It guides the practitioner in how to transform adverse conditions and everyday experience into the path itself.