Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Really Good
What I like about the Dalai Lama's books is that he goes far beyond treating the material as a philosophical object of interest.In the Dalai Lama's view, the teachings are tools for developing compassion, relieving suffering and attaining enlightenment.The Dalai Lama speaks of spiritual phenomena as matter of fact realities that are in the same continuum of knowledge and experience as the detailed logical analyses that are the subject of this book.There's a reason for reason, and that is to support spiritual development.The Dalai Lama's authority, credibility, personal conviction, and mastery of the material are always underspoken...he knows, and he describes what he knows with such caring that we should understand.I found Guy Newland's "Introduction to Emptiness" and Jay Garfield's translation of Nagarjuna's "Fundamental Stanzas of the Middle Way" to be excellent philosophical works, that gave me great insight into the philosphy of the Middle Way, and that were transformative to my thinking and perception."Faith Grounded in Reason" gives me something much closer to the experience of what can be done with those insights and transformations.

Faith Grounded in Reason
The Dalai Lama explores ideas of karma, reincarnation, and the like, along with the totality of Buddhist beliefs and practices. As you can imagine by the subtitle, the testing of beliefs through reason, our intellects, is most important, a most impressive work!

Buddhism is followed by many around the world, but it has been much like most religions: if born into a family we follow it as our parents have done. But on closer study we find our beliefs are not founded on reason, more on blind faith with little certainty. If we can bear it the Dalai Lama states in language that many can understand just what Reality is, how 'steam of consciousness' comes to be a continuum of conscious from 'nothing' to multiplicity, how the 'eternal' changes as the effects change. To read such requires us to understand what words mean.

One Master of Buddhist Philosophy Explains Two
In "The Middle Way" His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama takes on the daunting task of explaining works by two of the greatest figures in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, NagarjunaThe Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika and Tsongkhapa.His explication of their ideas is both clear and concise.The evident good heart and humor in his voice comes through the written word, and will be familiar to anyone who has had the good fortune to attend any of his teachings.As usual, he begins with an overview of the basics of Buddhism, which helps to make the overall work more accessible to those without an extensive background in Buddhist philosophy or practice.None the less, this is probably not the best choice for an overall introduction to Buddhism.Thupten Jinpa, his long time translator, and a distinguished scholar in his own right, once again shows his facility for finding the right blend of technical accuracy and readability.

great book
I bought his book for my wife and myself, she loves it so far, and I can't wait to start it myself. We have never read a bad book by the Dalai Lama, and this one definitely does not disappoint ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

if only we did this it would be a harmonious world
The Dali Lama presents many very useful suggestions for things that we can and must do to make this world more harmonious.the ideas are elegantly simple, but so brilliant.it is very easy to read the text, written for high schoolers and beyond.if you are an avid reader, you won't get bored.it's 160 pages in length, so, it's well within the scope of reading in one afternoon.don't!take your time and reflect on words, sentences, paragraphs.the earth and diverse groups of its people are inter-connected, so, it's not possible to separate out these topics.thus, these topics are addressed all the while addressing specific suggestions for compassionate action!i give this an "A-" and it comes highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a unique collection of authentic teachings by the Dalai Lamas on Tantric Buddhism and tantric practice.The clarity and power of their tantric writings is unparalleled.Glenn H. Mullin is an internationally renowned Tibetologist, author, and expert on Buddhist meditation. Glenn lived in Dharamsala, India, the home of the Dalai Lama, for many years, where he studied Tibetan language, literature, yoga, and meditation under twenty-five of the greatest masters of Tibet. He is the author of over fifteen books on Buddhist topics and has led many pilgrimages to Nepal and Tibet in the last five years. He now divides his time between writing, lecturing, giving workshops, and leading pilgrimages to the power places of Central Asia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Beautiful Collection of Tantric Texts


Besides Buddhism itself, the Dalai Lamas are Tibet's greatest legacy. This beautiful collect of poems and short texts on Buddhism by various Dalai Lamas gives us a rare glimpse into its enlightened legacy.

We are extremely fortunate to have access to these rare texts, that in Tibet would have only been accessible to the privileged and the monastics, are available to us in beautiful and accessible language.

The Dalai Lamas on Tantra is an exceptional compilation of Tantric texts on a variety subjects within the Tantric path as uniquely preserved in the rich Tibetan Tradition. There are ten different texts on Tantra covering a variety of subjects from the most esoteric to the more well know. Each text is accompanied by a brilliant introduction by the translator, and provides an exceptional companion bringing relevance to each text and placing it within the context of the Buddhist path as a whole.

The Texts:

The Thirteenth Dalai Lama's A Brief Guide to the Buddhist Tantras is a wonderful and compelling overview of the Tantric path. In the second chapter the Seventh Dalai Lama provides a beautiful poem in relation to Heruka Chakrasamvara. In chapter three there is a wonderful commentary on the esoteric and profound practice of completion stage called the Six Yogas of Niguma by the Second Dalai Lama. In the next chapter we see a brief but beautiful text concerning Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, in the form a poem. Next are the two texts related to the popular Kalachakra Tantra; the first is an introduction by the present Dalai Lama and the second is the First Dalai Lama's commentary on the generation and completion stages of Kalachakra. In chapter seven we find a rare glimpse into the highly esoteric from of transmission called Tantric Initiation into the life-practice of Hayagriva. Generally this text would be reserved solely for those who have received initiation into this very specialized and profound form of transmission. In chapter eight is the illuminating commentary to the two stages of Yamantaka or Vajrabhairava, this commentary although highly specialized penetrates deeply into the methods of progressing to enlightenment through this profound practice. Next is the Second Dalai Lama's explanation on how to survive solely small balls of flowers so that one may maintain strict meditation retreat under the harshest of conditions. And finally there is the Eight Dalai Lama's A Tantric Prayer.

There is few alive today who could translate these texts with the accuracy and eloquence that Glenn Mullin has provided. Not only is he one of worlds foremost Tibetologist - living most of his adult life amongst the Tibetans - but he has the experience of a life-time of Buddhist practice, making him uniquely qualified.

I would give this book the highest recommendation for anyone interested in Buddhist Tantra, the Dalai Lamas, or Tibet's mystical culture.

This text is a must-have for anyone interested in the practice of Buddhist Tantra.
... Read more

Product Description
On the evening of March 17, 1959, as the people of Tibet braced for a violent power grab by Chinese occupiers—one that would forever wipe out any vestige of national sovereignty—the twenty-four-year-old Dalai Lama, Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, contemplated the impossible. The task before him was immense: to slip past a cordon of crack Chinese troops ringing his summer palace and, with an escort of 300, journey across the highest terrain in the world and over treacherous Himalayan passes to freedom—one step ahead of pursuing Chinese soldiers.

Mao Zedung, China’s ruthless Communist dictator, had pinned his hopes for total Tibetan submission on controlling the impressionable Dalai Lama. So beloved was the young ruler—so identified with his country’s essence—that for him to escape might mean perpetual resistance from a population unwilling to tolerate an increasingly brutal occupation. The Dalai Lama’s minders sent word to the Tibetan rebels and CIA-trained guerrillas who waited on the route: His Holiness must escape—at all costs.

In many ways, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was unprepared for the epic journey awaiting him. Twenty-two years earlier, government search parties, guided by prophecies and omens, had arrived at the boy’s humble peasant home and subjected the two-year-old to a series of tests. After being declared the reincarnation of Tibet’s previous ruler, the boy was brought to Lhasa to learn the secrets of Buddhism and the ways of ultimate power. Forced in the ensuing two decades to cope with aching loneliness and often stifling ritual—and compelled to suppress his mischievous personality—Gyatso eventually proved himself a capable leader. But no previous Dalai Lama had ever taken on a million Communist Chinese soldiers bent on stamping out Tibetan freedom.

To keep his country’s dream of independence alive by means of a government in exile, the young ruler would not only have to brave battalions of enemy soldiers and the whiteout conditions waiting on the slopes of the Himalayas’ highest peaks, he’d have to overcome a different type of blindness: the naïveté intrinsic to his sheltered palace life and his position as leader of a people who considered violence deeply taboo.

His mind made up, the young Dalai Lama set off on his audacious journey to India while behind him a Chinese army rolled over Lhasa, its advance hunter patrols in fierce pursuit of the man they most coveted. The 14th’s escape was an act of daring and defiance that represented Tibet’s last hope, and so the world watched, transfixed, as the gentle monk’s journey unfolded.

Emotionally powerful and irresistibly page-turning, Escape from the Land of Snows is simultaneously a portrait of the inhabitants of a spiritual nation forced to take up arms in defense of their ideals, and the saga of an initially childlike ruler who at first wore his monk’s robes uncomfortably but was ultimately transformed by his escape into the towering figure the world knows today—a charismatic champion of free thinking and universal compassion. ... Read more

Product Description
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teaching legacy to the world -- a beautiful and accessible presentation of the time-honored path to enlightenment -- is one of the world's great spiritual treasures.

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent Dharma Teachings
As a dedicated student of the Dharma, this book is amazing!It is simple, logical, straightforward and very thorough.It is extremely helpful in developing the required reasoning to train the mind from the base up in spirituality versus worldly orientation.This may seem simple, but I have noticed that this basic reasoning to be lacking in many Dharma students, especially in the West.This series addresses from the ground up how one needs to think and train the mind in order to become a real practitioner of Dharma in the unique style of the Dalia Lama, which often reminds me of Indian Buddhism.I am currently reading the second book in the series and it is every bit as good as the first.Enjoy!

Core Tibetan Buddhism
First off, I was disappointed when I opened the book and found every page muddled with pink marker (which I don't recall being noted in the description). I think the seller should have been a little more precise when they stated the book was "used".

Besides that I enjoyed reading the book. I learned more about this path of philosophy and some different ways to look at my life and learn from my experiences. It was a good addition to my collection of philosophical texts.

Potent elixir for those seeking compassionate wisdom
Reading this short introduction to the heart of dharma, it struck me: the author uses "we" to include himself amidst his fellow humans who by definition according to the tenets of his teaching, long to become freed from our "untamed mind." You often forget, given the esteem in which the author's held by many, that he's still caught up in the same karmic whirlwind as anyone else. This down-to-earth acknowledgment of basic shortcomings of human character permeates this short treatise. He also raises insightful comparisons, based on first-hand knowledge to be sure, of how idealism and good intentions, as with Mao and Chinese Communism, can lead one awry if one's inner nature cannot find its own unselfish fulfillment. This perspective enriches the relevance today, sadly, of this 1994 edition. It's based on Tsong-kha-pa's 15 c. "Lam Rim," or "Stages of the Path to Enlightenment," itself an elaboration of Atisha's 11c. "The Lamp on the Path..."

This textual ambiguity confused me at times. The Dalai Lama includes his own comments, while at other times he paraphrases or summarizes (I suppose, as Tsong-kha-pa's never quoted verbatim) the "Lam Rim." Therefore, when reading, I was unsure who was telling me what. Also, there's no index or glossary; a newcomer like me finds it easy to forget what, for example, the "three trainings" were deep into these short but intricate chapters. (Try Thubten Chodren's "Open Heart, Clear Mind" as another primer, from an American convert who became a Tibetan Buddhist nun; it's also reviewed by me.) Perhaps this Western wish for academic clarification pales before the Eastern message. Not who said what, but what is said remains the "core teachings of Tibetan Buddhism," as the subtitle indicates.

It's an insistent, and often severe message. You close this short explanation better informed about the essence of Buddhism, but also you might be discouraged at how difficult it can be to overcome karmic imprints of bad habits, how deeply scarred we may be from past actions and indeed past lives that pull us back from bettering ourselves now and in the future, and how severely Buddhism regards unethical behavior. The path, we learn, must be taken if we are to escape our suffering, of course, yet it's a daunting labor of endless mindfulness and relentless self-scrutiny. This isn't a feel-good collection of jolly platitudes. Those expecting light inspirational encouragement will instead find stern warnings to begin immediately to practice compassion, engage in altruism, reject delusion, incorporate renunciation, and to prepare for death's separation from all we now hold so dear.

"To practice Buddhism is to wage a struggle between the negative and the positive forces in your mind. The mediator seeks to undermine the negative and increase the positive." (1) So this work begins, and the work of any who take the formidable challenge of living up to the encouragement of, and chastisement of, dharma seriously. The powerful passage on pp. 61-63 imagining our death, from the perspective of a palliative doctor's bland assurances to our self vs. the warnings to prepare for the funeral to our relatives in the next room, captures for me the impact of this catechism. It packs quite a punch behind its innocuous title and unassuming format.

Morality, to the surprise perhaps of some seekers, as the Dalai Lama conveys it, obligates sexual control, meticulous examination of conscience, and scrupulous adherence to right behavior, fulfillment of vows, and committment to the compassionate care of others before one's own satisfactions. It's more in line with ascetic practices in Islam, Judaism, or Christianity than you might expect, with the key difference that sins accrue over eons and no confessor or intermediary's there to ease our burden. There's, by the way, no ecumenical outreach in these pages. From the context and the culture, it appears this is pure Buddhism distilled as strong medicine.

The weight of one's past can prove quite an impediment, and the heroic way to liberation opens, as the author cleverly puts it, with our re-orientation of ends and means to tilt in our favor, and that of everyone else.

"I often remark that if you want to be selfish, you should do it in an intelligent way. The stupid way to be selfish is the way we have always worked, seeking happiness for ourselves alone and in the process becoming more and more miserable. The intelligent way to be selfish is to work for the welfare of others, because you become a Buddha in the process." (154) Shades of Jesus enjoining his followers to make friends with those of this world, so as to acquire treasure in the next life?

Hey, it's the Dalai Lama...
Anything written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is worth reading. You don't have to be Buddhist, heck, in fact, you can be an atheist and still find guidance and solace in the words of the DL.

If I had to claim an organized religion, it would be Buddhism, but, as it is, I am a Lincolnite (When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion. --Abraham Lincoln). So, since Lincoln's theological writings are limited, I find guidance for my existance through Buddhist philosophy.

If you're a Westerner who just can't handle the liturgy and Christ-centeredness of our Country, then try anything bythe Dalai Lama.

Volume One of Three
Core Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.I can't recommend this series high enough. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

good
Un libro con ensenanzas sencillas pero profundas a la vez.Te anima a tratar de ser una mejor persona cada dia. ... Read more

Product Description
This book addresses some of the most fundamental and troublesome questions that have driven a wedge between the realms of Western science and religion for centuries.Amazon.com Review
How about getting a plain-English rendition of the latest inbrain research and psychology from the leading lights in the field? Ora succinct explanation of the Buddhist view of consciousness from theDalai Lama himself? No need to choose. When the second Mind and Lifeconference convened in 1989, East and West became collaborators inunderstanding consciousness. Antonio Damasio, neurologist and authorof The Feeling of What Happens, Larry Squire, psychiatrist andauthor of Memory: from Mind to Molecules, and Lewis Judd,director of the National Institute of Mental Health, sat down withother scholars and scientists for face-to-face talks with the DalaiLama. Although late in coming, the result is this tidy volume of eagerexchange and cross-cultural bridge building. Each specialist firstsummarizes the latest in research and then accepts questions from andposes questions to the Dalai Lama, acting representative of Buddhism'sextraordinarily sophisticated views on consciousness, dreams, memory,meditation, and that stickiest of points, rebirth. The inevitablecollision of scientific materialism and Buddhist emptiness isn'tavoided, but neither is it fatal, serving instead as motivation forfurther conversations. Step up to the roundtable and set your mindspinning. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Science talks, Buddhism is speechless
I have gone through quite a few of the 'Mind and Life' conference proceedings and this is one of the best ones, I thought. A group of neuroscientists and doctors who are really at the top of their field, and in top form here, present the state of the art (at the time the book was compiled anyway - these things change quickly) of modern neuroscience's understanding of memory, psychiatric illness, and various other aspects of consciousness and perception - the Dalai Lama responds, asks for elucidation, and at times presents the Buddhist viewpoint of these same topics. If you're in the field of Pyschology or Neuroscience there won't be much new here, but the presentations are so incredibly cogent and well-done that I greatly enjoyed reading through it all again. It's not true, as one reviewer put it, that the Dalai Lama is only asked a single question - he participates in a quite lively way throughout the book/conference; I think his contribution must be at the very least 1/4 to 1/3 of the book.

Living as I am at the moment in a Tibetan monastery in Nepal, I am very sympathetic to Buddhism, but I have to say that on reading this book I was very grateful after all for taking my undergrad in psych/neuroscience. I don't feel so much that the Buddhist side was just 'listening' and their views simply being dimissed - but when you read through this book, you can see the incredible weight of evidence on the scientific side of these issues, and the incredible paucity of evidence supporting the Buddhist view. This doesn't necessarily mean the Buddhist viewpoints are incorrect, and some of them I support myself despite their 'unscientific' nature. But it becomes apparent that the Buddhists have a long, long way to go if they wish to truly make a case for their (thus far) unsubstantiated beliefs about a 'mindstream' independent of anything physical (brain, body, whatever), reincarnation, karma, and so forth.

To take an example, throughout the book the scientists are very keen to elucidate the thousands of studies done to support their views - neuropsychological lesions studies, functional magnetic resonance imaging, histological analysis at the brain's neuronal level, all kinds of controlled studies in animals using brain excisions or introduced neurotransmitter compounds to induce behaviors, and so on. They also humbly admit that our knowledge of the brain is minimal as yet, 'neuroscience' itself being little more than a few decades old. When one scientist politely asks what the Buddhist have as evidence for their claims about reincarnation, a quaint story is told about a young girl in India who claims knowledge of her past life. Allegedly (so says the Dalai Lama), the girl, though only 4 or 5 years old, had detailed memories of her last life, and kept insisting to be taken to her old home - and we are assured by no less than the Dalai Lama that indeed there was NO WAY she could have known anything about this place otherwise, she couldn't possibly have heard about it through books or stories or hearsay. So finally her father relents and decides to take her to this 'past life' home. One expects this will entail a long journey to some far-off land which indeed the girl couldn't possibly know anything about. But no - she leads her father a few miles down the road to a neighboring village! The real question for me would be, How could she NOT know anything about a place so close, and likely so similar to her present hometown?

This kind of back and forth continues, with the scientists doing their best to make careful and well-reasoned arguments about the brain and consciousness, and the Buddhist side relying on the equivalent of the authority of 4-year-old girls and peasant folk mythology. As someone with a strong interest in Buddhism and a belief in its value in the modern world, it is all rather embarrassing that this is the best that the Dalai Lama and his star translators can come up with. Even the editors obviously felt that the Buddhist side performed so poorly, they were justified in getting in a lot of cheap shots post-production. Thus, translator Alan Wallace and/or other editors were permitted to add little bracketed interjections throughout the text defending ("clarifying") the Dalai Lama's thoughts, and the end of the book features a 25-page essay by Wallace attempting to refute the scientific viewpoint by reference to Madhyamaka philosophy (itself a highly interesting and subtle philosophy). His conclusion: since the scientists cautionsly admit that their knowledge of the brain is in its infancy, clearly that leaves the door wide open for all of Buddhism's wild claims, which they (Wallace at least) intend to cling to desperately until (if, I suppose) they are finally disproven. The Dalai Lama, on the other hand, and to his eternal credit, is quick to announce that Buddhism, at least as he leads and teaches it, will do its best to accomodate new and valid evidence, even if this evidence refutes its most cherished beliefs (e.g., reincarnation). Coming from the man who probably has the most to 'lose' by such a critical investigation of Buddhism, being probably the world's most famous Buddhist (not to mention, most famous 'reincarnation), it is an extremely magnanimous and far-sighted statement to make.

Incidentally, since this book's publication there have now been hundreds of studies of meditation (Buddhist and otherwise) which have shown decisively its beneficial effects in many spheres, from depression, to attention, to health, and so forth. I know of no study whatsoever, though, which lends the least bit of evidence to beliefs such as reincarnation or karma. From this I think it's clear that Buddhism has much to contribute to our modern understanding of the mind and what the brain is capable of, but little to add to theories of reality, cosmology, etc. This book is well worth reading to get an overview of this situation.

Science talks, Buddhism listens
I found this book to be a bit of a disappointment. I suppose if you want an over-view of scientific thought on the brain, then this might be interesting. The Dalai Lama mostly asked questions and the scientists spoke about science. Only once did a scientist ask the Dalai Lama a point about Buddhism, and then it was only to set him up to be debunked. The scientists just can't accept any view point that is not materialist. They don't even understand other viewpoints except as superstition. So there is no real dialogue.

Actually, I didn't really expect a dialogue when I bought this. I was hoping for some clarity and insight into Buddhist thoughts on consciousness, using Western terminology. No such luck.

Gave it a few stars because everyone was intelligent and articulate.

Excelent Book
This book explains in a very clear and accesible way what are the differents viewpoints between Neuroscience and the Bhuddist religion. It discusses how the mind is conformed, how it learns, and the way it reorganizes itself.

The futur of the world
This book is a very important door for the future of the humanity. ... Read more

Product Description
For over three decades, Pico Iyer, one of our most cherished travel writers, has been a friend to the Dalai Lama. Over these years through intimate conversations, he has come to know him in a way that few can claim. Here he paints an unprecedented portrait of one of the most singular figures of our time, explaining the Dalai Lama's work and ideas about politics, science, technology, and religion. For Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike, The Open Road illuminates the hidden life and the daily challenges of this global icon ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Wonderful insight.
I loved this book. It gave me quite a bit of insight into the life and living circumstances of this most unusual person, the Dalai Lama. After all, the Dalai Lama is unique in that he is the only person in the world who is a Monk as well as head of a country, despite all his efforts to "topple himself" and create true democratic leadership for Tibet (even though in exile). Pico gives a very clear description of the Dalai Lama's personal life and struggles and also an insight in the spiritual accomplishments of this amazing man. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what Dharamsala is like and desires to know more about the history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism.

A good introductory text
I read this book because it was chosen by my book club. Not sure if I would have picked it up without that "nudge." I have read a bunch of books on and by the Dalai Lama , have spent a few weeks in McLeod Ganj, and attended quite a few of his teachings in India and the U.S. Given all this previous experience, the book expectedly did not have too many new insights. However, I found it to be a good synthesis of traditional Buddhist thought, the current Tibet situation, and the man in between. As for the writing, I think Iyer has written much better stuff before this. As for the subject matter, the Dalai Lama is such an interesting person that it would be hard to write an uninteresting book about him. I would recommend it for those who are new to Buddhism and the Dalai Lama

Great gift...
The book arrived in great shape and a fast delivery.It made a great gift for Christmas to a devoted fan of the Dalai Lama.

Indepth view of the Dalai Lama from scholar to simple monk to head of government to reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara
Pico Iyer has known the Dalai Lama, a friend of his father's, for over 35 years. Weaving together conversations with the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama's brother Ngari Rinpoche, Tibetan leaders, and monks, and following the Dalai Lama on some of his globe-trotting to Nara, Vancouver and Dharamsala, Iyer reveals a man who is a simple monk who meditates for hours each day, the head of the Tibetan Government in Exile, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, a reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace prize, a prolific author and teacher, a dedicated man of science who is constantly learning, and a global celebrity image.

Pico Iyer's vivid travel writing, which started with his 1988 debut Video Night in Kathmandu, is strongly in evidence with his colourful descriptions of the scenery, monks, Tibetans, backpackers, foreigners, and Indians of the wild global village of Dharamsala, the home of Tibet's government in exile. Although they revere the Dalai Lama, many younger exiled Tibetans wish for a stronger stance against the Chinese. Even the Dalia Lama admits, "In spite of my open approach, with maximum concessions, Chinese position becomes even harder and harder." I laughed at the meditation centre whose typed schedule lists "Breakfast/Impermanence and Death/Suffering/Selflessness/Dinner/Equanimity".

Iyer contrasts the Dalai Lama's caring, humanist teachings, "Serving others, best way get one's deep satisfaction ... I treat every human being, whether high officials or beggars - no differences, no distinctions", with the more mystical esoteric aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, "that belongs to the realm of dreams and premonitions and everything that exists outside the conscious mind." The book ends with what I think is a simple yet powerful image, "Then, as we were walking out of the room, [the Dalai Lama] went back and turned off the light. It's such a small thing, he said, it hardly make a difference at all. And yet, nothing is lost in the doing of it, and maybe a little good can come of it, if more and more people remember this small gesture in more and more rooms."

Pico Iyer's writing is easy to read, but yet deep and insightful at the same time. Iyer weaves history, politics, religion and biography into an excellent, illuminating, insightful and engaging portrait of the Dalai Lama. His description of Dharamsala and its people is an excellent piece of travel writing.

Not the best book about the Dalai Lama
Very disappointing.The author spent more time discussing himself and his life journey, and not much time on the Dalai Lama. Readers seeking more insight into the Fourteenth Dalai Lama will have to look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Two leading thinkers engage in a landmark conversation about human emotions and the pursuit of psychological fulfillment

At their first meeting, a remarkable bond was sparked between the Dalai Lama, one of the world’s revered spiritual leaders, and the psychologist Paul Ekman, whose groundbreaking work helped to define the science of emotions. Now these two luminaries share their thinking about science and spirituality, the bonds between East and West, and the nature of our emotional lives.

In this unparalleled series of conversations, the Dalai Lama and Ekman push toward answers to the central questions of emotional experience. What are the sources of hate and compassion? What does science reveal about Buddhist meditation, and what can Buddhism gain from the scientific method? Here, they invite us to join them in an unfiltered view of two great traditions and two great minds.

Accompanied by commentaries on emotion research and Buddhist teachings, their interplay—amusing, challenging, eye-opening, and moving—guides us on a transformative journey in the understanding of emotions.

Customer Reviews (6)

surprisingly informative
These conversations between the Ekman and the Dalai Lama are surprisingly illuminating of both men's thoughts on emotion. Although I'd read Ekman's popular books and widely in Buddhist literature prior to listening to these CDs, I learned a great deal.

Not 5 stars only because the CDs are abridged.

An introduction to Buddhist soft "Science"
If you are familiar with the Mind and Life institute and the many books its produced (Destructive Emotions, etc), you will find many similiar issues covered. This book goes into those "Buddhist" topics in vaster detail, with emphasis on translating many Buddhist terms into a "Western Psychology" viewpoint. This is a must have book for a broad audience, including skeptics of Buddhism, any level of Buddhist practioner, Ekman/Darwin fans or anyone interested in psychology/self-help in general. Ekman and the Dalai Lama have a unique bond, and this book brings out a wealth of information in a conversasion type format. Throughout the book you will find many excerpts ranging from half a page to over a page long from the likes of B. Alan Wallace, Paul Ekman, Geshe Dorji Damdul, and many others. The only thing that might steer you away if you are looking for information only on body language/facial expressions, which Paul Ekman has written some books on.

Superlative work, not all that well framed.
The ideas and opinions that are shared by the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman are absolutely invaluable. It is also a very good comedy album in some places because it is edited together pretty poorly. Richard Geere did not do an exceptional job of reading the lines...to be kind.It might have helped if he and Ekman had been in the same room.I guess we will never know.
If you are like me, you can get through the deficits to the real gems that are inherent in the conversations.I simply can't more strongly recommend it.

Chatting on emotional evolution
Ekman gets a whole 39 hours with the Dalai Lama, discussing the world of emotion. The two trade personal stories and research findings, basically talking like friends at the coffee shop. How are emotions triggered? What causes the big differences in intensity, duration, and quality of emotion between people? What aspects of emotional life are shared with animals? (This comes up a lot, and it's fascinating.) What kinds of emotion have survival value? How do moods shape and limit our fields of awareness? What works in overcoming our emotional blinders towards life?

Throughout the discussion these elder gents pull in brief testimonies from social scientists or Buddhist teachers. They think up whole new directions for psychological research. It's fruitful.

Helpful
This augmented transcript of talk between these two men highlights several interesting ideas and the best and most helpful information comes out when they drop any pretense of being "learned" and just talk like a couple of guys. I listened to the audio book and Richard Gere plays the part of the Dahli Lama, affecting the speech pattern with a curious tone and pace. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Buenas ideas para vivir mejor
Es un libro facil de leer, en el que el autor le hace una serie de preguntas (tipo entrevista) acerca de la felicidad, la bondad, los problemas, la tristeza, etc. Da ideas y consejos practicos para llevar una vida mas sencilla y libre de todas las cosas que nos impiden vivir plenamente. No se inmiscuye en la filosofia budista, sino en consejos practicos aprendidos por el Dalai Lama durante su vida. ... Read more

Product Description
Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying is an absorbing account of the expanding dialogue between leading Western scientists and the foremost representative of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Revolving around three key moments of consciousness — sleep, dreams, and death — the conversations recorded here are both engrossing and highly readable. Narrated by Francisco Varela, an internationally recognized neuroscientist, the book begins with insightful remarks on the notion of personal identity by noted philosopher Charles Taylor, author of the acclaimed Sources of Self. This sets the stage for Dr. Jerome Engel, Dr. Joyce MacDougal and others to engage in extraordinary exchanges with the Dalai Lama on topics ranging from the neurology of sleep to the yoga of dreams. The conversations also reveal provocative divergences of opinion, as when the Dalai Lama expresses skepticism about "Near Death Experiences" as presented by Joan Halifax. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

meh...
Don't get me wrong: the Mind and Life institute is doing good and necessary work, and some of their publications I thought were excellent (e.g., The Dalai Lama at MIT) and provide some real food for thought. This book is simply not in this class, however. As the reviewer above noted (Sagan Lazar), what we have here is people who speak completely different languages (literally and figuratively) lecturing each other with little or no real 'dialogue.' There are some occasional interesting diversions, but these are very much the exception rather than the rule.

The conversation on dreams, my own primary interest and field of research, is particularly disappointing. Almost the entire 'Western' section is devoted to the Freudian view! I was shocked that these speakers weren't embarrassed and ashamed to bring to the table a psychology as pauper, outmoded and frankly ridiculous as Freud's, especially when they were sharing that table with people well-acquainted with the vast, subtle Buddhist psychology. As if this were all the 'West' had to offer! The lucid dreaming section is better, but then the Tibetan Buddhist view on dreams doesn't really have anything to do with them... the Dalai Lama mostly rambles on about consciousness and self, then about 2 pages are devoted to 'dream yoga'; but even this section is mostly just platitudes and vague mentions of how diet affects dreaming. None of the very interesting and practical dream yoga advice you can find in other Tibetan works such as "Ancient Wisdom" by Gyatrul Rinpoche and translated by Alan Wallace (highly recommended).

Death: again the section is mildly interesting, but 'dialogue' is conspicuously absent. With the meeting of all these 'great minds' you would expect a lot of fresh ideas and original opinions, but mostly you get a long list of terms and definitions, nothing you couldn't pick up in a textbook of medicine of Buddhist philosophy.

Altogether forgettable; certainly this book doesn't stand out in the subject of sleep, dreams, or death/dying; and in an effort to combine all three it just fades into further superficiality.

A final irritation is the 'narration' by Francisco Varela of the conference. The sickeningly deferential tone towards the Tibetans has become a hallmark of East-West dialogues (I think), and Varela continues (or perhaps even is largely responsible for originating) this trend. Also many a useless paragraph is thrown in; 40 pages of neuroscience and/or Buddhist philosophy will be followed by "and then we all had tea." Who cares? From Varela's narrative, one is given the bizarre impression that mostly everyone laughed a lot and had profound feelings; and of course sometimes the weather was sunny, sometimes it wasn't, and sometimes there were birds chirping outdoors.... why the hell would I put this in a book review, you might ask? Precisely. Why the hell would you put it in this book?

Another excellent "buddhism meets western science" book
HHDL has had a lifelong interest in the intersection of buddhist thought and western science, and he has attracted many westerners to buddhism because of it. This is another excellent book on the subject. Highly recommended.

Not as advertised
Informative book. Lots if information about Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying but little that has to do with the Dalai Lama. These are the notes and observations from a conference on the subject of Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying in which the Dalai Lama was present. He is a man of few words. This is really an East meets West discussion of the subject. I really learned more about Western thought than Buddhist thought. Still I did learn.

Profound
As far as I know, this is the only book of its kind, documenting a true symposium of "East meets West" in classical dialectic. For anyone interested in a spiritual version of "The Tao of Physics", this is a must-read.

I suspect that many will find this book life changing. I was constantly amazed at the intellectual clarity of the Dalai Lama's points and questions and the utter respect the scientists showed for Eastern understanding.

Some years ago, I had the good fortune of doing a graduate-level independent study with one of the leaders in the field of Near Death Experiences. I suspected that though the phenomenon is not a purely physiological one, as the secular humanists would have us believe, the experiences are culturally dependent. I was simply stunned to read the Dalai Lama, with his wealth of knowledge in spritual and mind-related experiences, suspects the same.

I hope this topic will be covered again in the future, and in greater depth, revealing the results of recent studies using the most modern scientific techniques.

What a wonderul read!

Well I Think 5 Stars is Necessary
I'm not sure why this book received all the bad reviews that it did (though I confess I have never given a Dalai Lama book less than a 5 start review-I love the guy!). The book is one of a plethora of transcripts of the Mind and Life Conferences held in India, this being the fourth conference in 1992. Sure the discussions are varied, and by no means is everyone simply in agreement with one another here. But the dialogue is engaging and thought provoking, and above all else, illuminating. At the conference we had philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and many more; so of course we are going to get a huge spectrum of views.

The cultural ecologist, Jane Halifax (whom you all may know of), had a particularly fascinating section in here on near death experiences. All the Dalai Lama did was show some uncertainty as to the validity of these claims in light of the Buddhist view of a natural death and rebirth. So what if the Dalai Lama didn't agree with her, you don't have to have agreement to have a good book! Differentiating views provide all of us more food to chew on, and then decide which works for us. It's not a matter of who had it right, but rather, "Does it sound right to you?"

Enjoy the book! ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most informative and thorough book on Dzogchen available. These teachings on Dzogchen, the heart essence of the ancient Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Exploring this esoteric subject in print for the first time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers the reader an unprecedented glimpse into one of Buddhism's most profound systems of meditation. He discusses both the philosophic foundations and the practices of this system--taking into account the approaches of various schools and teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Mid-level study for Buddhists
I bought this book for a Buddhist friend who has studied with Sogyal Rinpoche and read the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. He is reading this book every day and is enjoying it. He says the book is helping him grow in his practice.

Dzogchen-The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection
I am not qualified to give a comprehensive review for this precious book, Dzogchen-The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection. Kyabje Sogyal Rinpoche has written an amazing preface which sets the stage and highlights the unique and precious nature of His Holiness Dzogchen teachings.

Iwholeheartedlyrecommend this book to anyone interested in Dzogchen.

A "must read" by all dedicated students of Buddhism
Dzogchen: Heart Essence Of The Great Perfection By The Dalai Lama should be considered as compulsory reading for anyone studying the tenets, teachings, and philosophy of Buddhism. Here recorded are teachings on Dzogchen, which is at the core of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism as related by the ultimate authority -- his Holiness, The Dalai Lama. The text is completely accessible to seasoned students, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in Buddhism. Ably translated by Geshe Thupeten Jinpa and Richard Barron, and expertly edited by Patrick Gaffney, Dzogchen: Heart Essence Of The Great Perfection is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to the growing canon of Buddhist literature for the western reader. Indeed, anything written and published by The Dali Lama should be considered a "must read" by all dedicated students of Buddhism throughout the world.

Compares Dzogchen to other systems & philosophies
This is the most technical of the 9 Dalai Lama books I've read so far.This is appropriate, however, for such a deep subject as Dzogchen-claimed by the Nyingmapa School to be the ultimate teaching.The Dalai Lama does NOT dispute this but dedicates a significant portion of his book (actually a collection of oral presentations given mostly in California in the late `80's) to "the correspondence between Highest Yoga Tantra and Dzogchen" (p. 120) per Dodrupchen Jikme Tenpe Nyima (1865-1926).Highest Yoga Tantra is the highest teaching of his own Gelugpa School.He points out both similarities and differences, compares it to Mahamudra (the highest teaching of the Kagyu School), the highest teaching of the Sakya School, and the Madhyamaka Prasangika philosophy as well.However, as he states on p. 176: "I am explaining Dzogchen, but in order to explain it, at this point I shall employ the vocabulary of the new schools of tantra."At least for me, he cleared up considerable ambiguity/confusion regarding the differences between this philosophy (now dominant in Tibet) and the Cittamatra.

Thus, this is NOT an introductory text.In fact, it's quite uneven-but then it wasn't written, it was a series of lectures.It includes some extremely basic Buddhist material (including his referring to the Southern Buddhism Schools as the "Fundamental Vehicle" on p. 98).This, as well as the final lecture, reflects his great compassion for all-emulating Avalokiteshvara & Tara.Indeed, he discusses some very erudite subjects with great sensitivity: emptiness (the 4 empties), free will, & (especially) context.He states:
p. 143: "there are many different presentations of emptiness."
p. 144: "it is very important to examine what the reference of any particular term may be."
p. 160: "even though the context may appear to be similar, we cannot assume that a particular term will retain the same meaning whenever it occurs."

Most of this book is a comparison of Dzogchen with other systems rather than an exposition of its methods-perhaps its sub-title might be amended.However, one lecture is a wonderful commentary on Patrul Rinpoche's "The Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King" which demonstrates the Dalai Lama's great erudition, knowledge of Dzogchen, and his rare ability to translate complex concepts into simple language.He chose this text because it is (p. 91) "quite short but of great substance."He also makes a very enlightening (for me) statement about a particular Dzogchen technique:
p. 56: sky gazing: "direct your gaze toward the space between you and external phenomena."

Enlightenment In This Life Time
Tashi Delek and Greetings!
While relying on this book and seriously contemplating these teachings one can transform this world into a pure land- Dewachen. All things are perfect naturally- hence the Great Perfection.
I highly recommend "Enlightened Journey" by Tulku Thundup as a foundation before reading this text.
May you be happy and understand the ways to attain true happiness.
S.Chukdong. ... Read more

Product Description
What happens when the Dalai Lama meets with leading physicists and a historian? This book is the carefully edited record of the fascinating discussions at a Mind and Life conference in which five leading physicists and a historian (David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Arthur Zajonc, Anton Zeilinger, and Tu Weiming) discussed with the Dalai Lama current thought in theoretical quantum physics, in the context of Buddhist philosophy. A contribution to the science-religion interface, and a useful explanation of our basic understanding of quantum reality, couched at a level that intelligent readers without a deep involvement in science can grasp. In the tradition of other popular books on resonances between modern quantum physics and Zen or Buddhist mystical traditions--notably The Dancing Wu Li Masters and The Tao of Physics, this book gives a clear and useful update of the genuine correspondences between these two rather disparate approaches to understanding the nature of reality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is more about Modern Physics than Buddhism
Although he does say a few things about Buddhist philosophy, the actual role of the Dalai Lama in these discussions turned out to be acting as the perfect "straight man" for a presentation of some of the bizarreness of modern physics: intelligent but not indoctrinated into the belief that everything "scientific" is necessarily correct.

Most of the material is more-or-less orthodox Quantum Mechanics. Some of the more far-out concepts, as Finkelstein admitted, may not last as long as the end of next week.

Combining Modern Physics with Buddhism
Edited by Arthur Zajonc, this slim volume is a series of discussions between five leading physicists and a historian have with the Dalai Lama. It's an attempt to bring together: Quantum theory, Doctrines, Religion - World Religions, Religion, Buddhism - General, and Cosmology.

It is surprising to see how close the relationship might be. Back in 1962, Murray Gell-Mann began to fit the known elemental particles into a series of eight 'families.' Gell-Mann called this beautiful symmetry the 'Eightfold Way' after the Buddha's 'Eightfold path to truth.' This correlation or merger seems to have continued.

In this book, the discussions are far ranging over the nature of matter itself, the experimental evidence, and the nature of the mind and its logic. It is not intended to be a textbook on modern particle physics, but it almost is. Well worth reading.


... Read more

Product Description
Millions of Westerners have been enlightened by Buddhism's message of peace and tolerance. These teachings are now available in a lucid conversation with Buddhism's most respected teacher in which the Dalai Lama discusses modern issues--racial hatred, abortion, the strife in Bosnia--and how they can be understood and reconciled with a positive view of humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I listened to the AUDIO book
The audio version is abridged so you don't get to hear everything that is in the book version. It is read by Sir Derek Jacobi, although he has not been given credit in the bibliographic information here! Sir Derek Jacobi has a wonderfully soothing and expressive voice, allowing him to deliver the Dalai Lama's messages with the sensitivity I'm surethey deserve.
This audio contains messages on a great many topics other than compassion, but perhaps all the issues are meant to relate back to the main topic. Some of the essays address issues of Buddhist philosophy which were pretty much over my head since I am not a Buddhist, but a Southern Baptist. Some of the main points I got from the essays were: be tolerant of other people's religions, sex without commitment and responsibility is "awful", people should use birth control since the world can only support a finite number of humans, all nations should disarm themselves to prevent war, in order to foster compassion we should think of every human being as having an equal right to happiness, that we should think positive thoughts and smile to have a good influence on others. Even if you are not Buddhist I think this is worth listening to as it will broaden your horizons and might give you some new ideas. I gave this item 4 stars because it was abridged which takes away from the full impact of the work.

Fantastic
I loved this book. I didn't know what compassion was until I read thisbook. It is true that there is a definition in the dictionary, but unlessyou can get some data around it, it is meaningless. If you are curiousabout compassion, the Dalai Lama or Buddhism, it is a must read - eventhough it is hard to find! ... Read more

Product Description
Photographer Don Farber has followed His Holiness, the Dalai
Lama for 30 years. This documentary and inspirational work celebrates
the life and work of a leader unique in the modern
world. Farber’s photographs capture the charismatic spiritual
figure, highlighting the reverence shown him wherever he goes.
Of equal interest are the quieter moments that reveal the private
individual and his compelling humanity. Through following
in the footsteps of His Holiness we learn more about his character,
and about the central tenets of Tibetan Buddhism… ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Capturing the many aspects of the Dalai Lama
Don Farber set the standard for photographing Asian Buddhist teachers in America. Some Farber photos are posed, others candid; the teachers maybe teaching or simply relaxing; the on-lookers are sometimes prayerful, sometimes beaming. Each picture delivers a unique moment, powerful and memorable.

This book is devoted to photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, some of which were taken in the U.S, others in India. It more than lives up to what we have come to expect from Mr. Farber. The images capture the many aspects of His Holiness the Dalai Lama so beautifully. In these wide-ranging photos the Dalai Lama can be seen teaching; interacting with children, one of whom is in a wheelchair; addressing a huge crowd in Central Park; receiving his Congressional Medal inside the Capital, surrounded by the most powerful people in America in 2006; and just having a good laugh at his birthday party in California in 1989. There are also posed and formal photographs, but the "action shots" make apparent not just the Dalai Lama's love for all people, but also his great energy and his zest for living, things you might not expect to find in a Buddhist master. I'm glad Don Farber found them and delivered them to us in this wonderful collection.

Rare insight, magnificent...
In this magnificent book, Don Farber offers two equally distinct and enchanting versions of the Spiritual Leader of the Tibetan People. The first is one that many around the world are familiar with: a holy man draped in red robes and the earnest praise of his followers. The second is far more rare. After 30 years of unprecedented access, Farber is able to portray The Dalai Lama as an individual. His beautiful, highly personal pictures shed light on the profound humanity of this leader and give us a deeper understanding of the man and his beliefs.

Beautiful Photography!
Don Farber has produced an absolutely stunning book of photographs of the Dalai Lama.This book documents his Holiness' daily life in everything from Ritual ceremonies to meditation to enjoying the interaction with ordinary people of all ages.Interspersed in the beautiful photographs are quotes from the Dalai Lama on a variety of topics.This is the second book of Don's photographs I have purchased and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in observing the richness of Tibetan Buddhist life.

A breathtaking classic
This luminous book of images did indeed take my breath away. With insight and intimacy, it joins Farber's growing body of work documenting the diaspora of Tibetan Buddhism and its great teachers. History will be grateful to the legacy of Farber's vision, dedication and unequaled access. ... Read more

Product Description

The Tibet Center and Gere Foundation present one of the world's great spiritual leaders and author of An Open Heart and the New York Times bestseller The Art of Happiness.

In Training the Mind, The Dalai Lama explains the basic Buddhist system and lays out a foundation for practice. Through daily practice, we pay homage to Buddha for his great kindness as teacher, we contemplate the impermanence of life, and dedicate our positive activities to the benefit of all in order to build a better world. ... Read more