Awakening the Balanced Mind

Meditation is more than a practice—it is a way of living with balance, clarity, and compassion.

In Awakening the Balanced Mind, one of the first great Tibetan teachers to settle in the West offers a fresh

vision of meditation as presence, healing, and transformation. Originally published as Gesture of Balance in

1977, this newly revised edition features expanded guided practices and a new foreword by Ron Purser

(McMindfulness).

Blending warmth, insight, and direct guidance, Tarthang Tulku shows readers how to reconnect body,

breath, and mind; release anxiety and emotional tension; and trust the mind’s innate capacity for freedom.

Practical, non-dogmatic, and deeply authentic, Awakening the Balanced Mind is both a handbook for modern

living and a timeless classic of meditation—an essential companion for anyone seeking calm and clarity in

today’s unsettled world.

For centuries, Tibetan Buddhist masters have offered practical guidance not only to monastics but also to lay

people seeking meaning in everyday life. This book brings that timeless wisdom into modern, secular

language, showing meditation as a way of engaging fully with life rather than withdrawing from it.

Through accessible guidance and exercises, readers learn to cultivate relaxation, presence, and self-healing.

The text explores observation and engagement, connecting body, breath, and mind to open awareness, and

shows how meditation can unlock the true potential of human experience. The final sections explore finding

one’s inner teacher, deepening understanding, and expanding relationships with oneself and others.

Whether you are beginning a meditation practice or renewing an existing one, Awakening the Balanced

Mind demonstrates how meditation can transform everyday life—bringing clarity, calm, and connection into

every moment.