"Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders off. We try to keep stress at bay, but anxiety keeps us awake at night... We can create an alliance that allows us to actually use our mind, rather than be used by it. This is a practice anyone can do." – Sakyong Mipham ___________________________________________________________ Strengthening, calming, and stabilizing the mind is the essential first Step in accomplishing nearly any goal. Growing up American with a Tibetan twist, Sakyong Mipham talks to Westerners as no one can: in idiomatic English with stories and wisdom from American culture and the great Buddhist teachers. Turning the Mind Into an Ally makes it possible for anyone to achieve peace and clarity in their lives. ___________________________________________________________ "In language totally fresh and jargon-free, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche distills the wisdom of many centuries. Simple as it is profound, his book bears reading many times." – Peter Conradi, author of Iris Murdoch A Life "With warmhearted clarity and wise simplicity, Sakyong Mipham offers some of the best advice you can find for establishing and sustaining a strong dedicated, and genuinely transformative meditation experience." – Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart "Like Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, this book addresses the complexities, obstacles, and joys of meditation with a simple and extraordinarily generous voice. It's an amazing guidebook for a beginner, in the sense that one is always a beginner and that the journey never ends." – Rudy Wurlitzer, author of Hard Travel to Sacred Places "One of the best of the Buddhism-for-Westerners genre." – Publishers Weekly