Running With the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham.

Copyright © 2012 by Mipham J. Mukpo All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. www.crownpublishing.com Harmony Books is a registered trademark and the Harmony Books colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Shambhala Media for permission to reprint “Freedom” from Snow Lion’s Delight: 108 Poems by Sakyong Mipham. Copyright © 2005 by Sakyong Mipham. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, 1962– Running with the mind of meditation : lessons for training body and mind / Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. —1st ed. p. 1. Meditation—Buddhism. cm. 2. Spiritual life—Buddhism. 3. Running—Religious aspects—Buddhism. I. Title. BQ5612.S235 2012 294.3`4435—dc23 2011029751 ISBN 978-0-307-88816-7 eISBN 978-0-307-88818-1 Printed in the United States of America Book design by Lauren Dong Jacket design by Jennifer O’Connor Jacket photography © Philip and Karen Smith/Getty Images 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Preface Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed some sport. In my role as a spiritual leader and a Tibetan lama, I have been trained in horsemanship, archery, and sacred dance, as well as martial arts. I have always felt that some kind of physical activ-ity was essential for well-being, as it gives a sense of confidence and enthusiasm. It was only later in life that I took up running in a serious way. Running has been a real joy for me, an opportunity to be outdoors and to meet new people. It has benefited my health and well-being and has allowed me to offer something back to the world. Meditation is something I have done throughout my whole life, and it is part of my cultural and spiritual heritage. Over the years, I have been asked on numerous occasions to put some thoughts down regarding the relationship between mind and body. Eventually I was asked to write a book on the topic of running and meditation. At that time, I felt I needed more experience as a runner, so I ran several marathons, which gave me some insight into the training process. To me, the relationship between meditation and running is natural, for one is a training of the mind and one is a train-ing of the body. However, I am hardly an expert on running. This book is therefore not a training manual, but a guide to integrating particular elements of meditation into the activ-ity of running. I offer basic meditation instruction and explain those fundamental principles I have found helpful in running. 14 Preface I also give pithy instructions and some themes that might be helpful in integrating running with the mind of meditation. Even though both activities can be complicated, I have kept the themes simple, trying to show where they overlap. Meditation is an essential and integral part of my life, and combining the principles of meditation with running has been a delightful experience. I certainly hope the reader enjoys both activities, as I have. Meditate with delight and run with joy. See you on the cushion or on the trails! ... - tailieumienphi.vn