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The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation (Shambhala Classics) Paperback – February 12, 2002

by CHOGYAM TRUNGPA (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 254 ratings
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Featuring a new foreword by Pema Chödrön, this Tibetan Buddhist classic explores the meaning of freedom and how we can attain it through meditation

Freedom is generally thought of as the ability to achieve goals and satisfy desires. But what are the sources of these goals and desires? If they arise from ignorance, habitual patterns, and negative emotions, is the freedom to pursue these goals true freedom—or is it just a myth? 

In The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation, Chögyam Trungpa explores the true meaning of freedom, showing us how our attitudes, preconceptions, and even our spiritual practices can become chains that bind us to repetitive patterns of frustration and despair. He also explains how meditation can bring into focus the causes of frustration, and how these negative forces can aid us in advancing toward true freedom. Trungpa's unique ability to express the essence of Buddhist teachings in the language and imagery of contemporary American culture makes this book one of the best, most accessible sources of the Buddhist doctrine ever written.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shambhala
  4. Publication date
    February 12, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    5.96 x 0.54 x 8.97 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570629331
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570629334
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"All is made painfully clear—we are routed out of our little 'cubby holes', all of our excuses are brought out into the open and exposed for what they are. . . . If it is reality you want and not illusion, this is it. . . . An ego-shattering experience."— The Middle Way

About the Author

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala (February 12, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570629331
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570629334
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.96 x 0.54 x 8.97 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 254 ratings

About the author

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Chogyam Trungpa

Chogyam Trungpa

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Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
254 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bird Maxine Trungma
5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is a Reflection of Its Author: It is Straightforward, Honest, and Exceedingly Kind
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2016
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This, together with Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, were the first books I read by Chogyam Trungpa, way back in the early 1970's. I read it, and then I read it again, and then I read it again. Now, four decades later, I purchased this book as a gift for a friend, and while waiting for him to pick it up, I availed myself of the opportunity for another re-read. Wow! It is as fresh and clearly written and as meaningful to me as ever! It is simple, Basic Buddhism 101. I feel proud not to have outgrown it at all..."In the midst of Vajrayana hoo-ha, basic Buddhism is breeze of delight."

This book is entitled The Myth of Freedom because it is about freedom's opposite; it is a description of the various mental/spiritual prisons in which we can find ourselves, and it looks at the questions we inevitably ask when we realize that we are "doing time": How did we get into this prison? How do we get out?

Chogyam Trungpa provides explanations and details which are simple to make sense of and make use of, and his book comes across in the same ways that its author did when he lived in this world: straightforward, honest, and exceedingly kind. I rate The Myth of Freedom a five star read, only because there is no such thing as a ten star read. Do I think you should buy it? Yes! Yes! Yes!

So happy not to have grown too sophisticated for this book. I rate this a five star read, only because there is no such thing as a ten star read.
29 people found this helpful
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Ani Dolma
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2023
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You just gotta learn about how to live well and know your mind. This is it
2 people found this helpful
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Peter Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2014
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Chogyam Trungpa is one of my all time heroes. This is for the simple reason of the example he gave to all by how he lived his own life, his searing insight into human nature and his amazing writing style and clarity. Every word in here resounds with the truth. You can't help but be enlightened by reading this already classic text by one of the great zen/mindfulness authors. I can't recommend this book highly enough and read everything he has written - you won't be disappointed. In fact it will change your life forever in the deepest of ways. Which is how Trungpa lived his.
One person found this helpful
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LittleGreyDog
4.0 out of 5 stars What is meant by 'The Myth of Freedom' ?
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2015
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All of Trungpa's books are worthwhile. It can be useful to contemplate what he means by freedom being a myth.
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Bill Moor
5.0 out of 5 stars No-Self Tibetan Buddhism
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2014
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Trungpa represents one of the several lines of Tibetan Buddhism. Though his personal and business life tends to turn-off Zen-lite acolytes, this book has an unassuming brief lectures with Q & A format that introduces the No-Self perspective simply and even peeks interest in checking out his Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, also well-worth the reading. The best and truly excellent, exposition and criticism of the No-Self position is Steven Collins' Selfless Persons, an Oxford dissertation requiring a serious interest and dedication to the intricacies and contradictions (or paradoxes). Henry Fingarette's The Self in Transformation and the latter essays in his Mapping Responsibility present a penetrating analysis of the concept and experience of the self within a Confucian sense of resolution.
3 people found this helpful
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W. Pulling
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
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Chogyam Trungpa is one of the best presenters of Buddhist teaching in English I have ever read. He understood the mind of western students and is able to point out the essential points very concisely.
8 people found this helpful
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John
3.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, yet it does not fully bridge the gap to the West. Study the author before reading.
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2022
An insightful read on the whole, though many portions may be inaccessible to those unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhist tradition (like me). Frequent appeals to intelligence, “sanity,” and truth fell flat, as I do not consider them to be valid concepts on a spiritual journey. However, Trungpa’s emphasis on forming a direct relationship with our environment, including our thoughts and emotions—and expanding the “space” in which the relationship occurs—is a new practice I intend to incorporate. Moreover, I embrace Trungpa’s notion of “crazy wisdom,” which he defines as feeding from the basic energy of attack or praise equally, and transmuting both to nourish life. In this way, daily problems become a source of insight.

”The problems of everyday life are a way of destroying our credentials, our comfort and security, and they present us with an opportunity to relate with our emotions.”

I encourage potential readers to study the life of the author before delving into Trungpa’s teachings too deeply.
2 people found this helpful
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Gail
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book, very simple it is from his teachings ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2017
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This is a wonderful book, very simple it is from his teachings and conversations, and for any Buddhist student, very easy to understand, much better than some of the other Lamas and Rinpoches.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation is the greatest tool for travelling life's road and staying equanimous
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2017
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Extra reading for a course I am taking. Meditation is the greatest tool for travelling life's road and staying equanimous. Have not finished reading it but highly recommend.
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Barbara
5.0 out of 5 stars This engages the reader more easily and encourages the mind to be more open to ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
The classic work by Trungpa Rinpoche. Rinpoche's tone is very down to earth and personal as though he is talking to you alone. This engages the reader more easily and encourages the mind to be more open to the ideas and explanations Rinpoche uses. I would definitely recommend it both to those already on the Buddhist path and those who are interested in it.
One person found this helpful
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Kenneth Husband
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2017
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This is one of the most insightful and provoking books that I have ever read
One person found this helpful
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Lars
5.0 out of 5 stars In Good condition. The book is a classic that should ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2017
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Arrived quickly. In Good condition. The book is a classic that should be read, if you are interested in Tibetan Buddhism , Zen Buddhism or even psychology.
One person found this helpful
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Mark L
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful work by Trungpa
Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2019
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