Gelong Thubten

Buddhist monk, meditation trainer and author Gelong Thubten shares insights from his Sunday Times bestselling book, exploring how we can learn the skill of happiness.

What is the nature of happiness, and what are our personal and cultural attitudes around happiness and suffering? How can meditation and mindfulness practices help us train our minds, so that we can tap into our innate happiness and freedom? What should we do with our thoughts when we meditate? There will also be an explanation of how to develop compassion as a core value in our practice and our lives. The book helps to demystify the practices of meditation and mindfulness with easy-to follow-exercises, illustrating how such techniques can bring sustainable happiness to our busy lives. It also emphasises the practice of ‘micro-moments’ of mindfulness throughout the day.

Thubten became a monk 26 years ago at Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Scotland, and his training has included spending over six years in intensive meditation retreats, the longest of which was four years. Thubten provides meditation courses to Silicon Valley technology companies and many other global organisations. He also works with schools, major universities, hospitals, prisons and charities. He trains medical students in meditation at the National University of Ireland. Thubten is considered a world pioneer, as he introduced techniques to these sectors over 20 years ago, before the popularity of mindfulness. His approach places a strong focus on the development of compassion, which greatly enhances the benefits of the training. Thubten previously collaborated on the book How to be Human with Ruby Wax and neuroscientist Ash Ranpura, and his own book A Monk’s Guide to Happiness is a Sunday Times bestseller.