Traditionally, it is said that to achieve enlightenment one has to first listen to or study the dharma, next one has to contemplate it, and finally one has to actually practice what has been learned through meditation. All Buddhist schools share and emphasis on meditation, particularly on tranquillity and insight meditation. These are often called by their Sanskrit names: shamatha and vipashyana meditation. These basic sitting meditations have slight variations in different Buddhist schools, but they have always had the same goal; to tame the mind so that true understanding of the world can develop. This book is an important teaching given by Thrangu Rinpoche, one of the greatest living Buddhist teachers, on how to do shamatha and vipashyana meditation. Since Thrangu Rinpoche is from the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, he presents shamatha and vipashyana meditation from the vajrayana perspective. This style of meditation is extremely effective. Download the book here:

A Guide to Shamatha Meditation