The bridge of quiescence: experiencing Tibetan Buddhist meditation

Abstract

Consciousness is a riddle for Western science and philosophy, yet for centuries Tibetan Buddhist contemplatives have directly explored consciousness through carefully honed, rigorous techniques of meditation. This book brings together findings of these Tibetan practitioners and findings of Western scientists and philosophers on nature of consiousness. foundation of Tibetan Buddhist science of consciousness was laid by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), acclaimed by some as Martin Luther, and by others as Thomas Aquinas, of Tibetan Buddhism. The Bridge of Quiescence gives a readable account of Tsongkhapa's thought, and includes an original translation (with detailed commentary) of Tsongkhapa's presentation of techniques for developing exceptionally high degrees of attentional stability and clarity. According to Tsongkhapa, enchancement and refining of one's attention is an indispensable prerequisite to fruitful introspective inquiry into nature of mind and of consciousness itself. insights gleaned from such contemplative investigations can be used to identify and eliminate inner sources of anxiety, frustration and discontent. To make implications of Tsongkhapa's thinking clear, B. Alan Wallace provides an outline of Tsongkhapa's outlook and assumptions. Western science, influenced by what Wallace calls the cult of objectivity, neglected consciousness for 300 years, and then turned to study of consciousness employing methods devised for investigating external world of physical objects. Introspection has often been dismissed as futile or unscientific yet, Wallace contends, trained introspection may yield important knowledge of consciousness. The Bridge of Quiescence provides valuable materials for practice of meditation, and also affords a bridge from Eastern meditative practice to Western philosophy, science and religion. Wallace's discussion draws upon his knowledge of experimental psychology, such as sensory deprivation studies, and relates Buddhist meditation to discussions of consciousness by such Western philosophers as William James, William Christian and John Searle.