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Kindness, Clarity, and Insight
Nearly twenty-five years after its original publication, Kindness, Clarity, and Insight is still widely considered the most readable, yet substantive and wide-ranging, of His Holiness' works. Broad in scope and revealing the depth of his knowledge, these teachings display the range of the Dalai Lama and his message, covering a plethora of topics, including: the need for compassion, the common goals of the world's religions, karma, the four noble truths, the luminous nature of the mind, meditative concentration, selflessness, the two truths, and the fundamental innate mind of clear light that all the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism aim at manifesting. Although others in Tibet have mentioned that all orders of Tibetan Buddhism have the same basic outlook, the Dalai Lama is the first to explain in detail how this is so, his brilliant syncretic exposition being the final chapter in this book.
The book's twenty chapters are deftly arranged in a developmental sequence so that readers easily understand the background needed to appreciate the more complex, later topics. Taken as a whole, the teachings in this book provide an accessible map of Tibetan spiritual culture.
"Though [the Dalai Lama] is one of the most erudite scholars...he has a gift for reducing his doctrine to a core of lucid practicality, crystallized in the title of his book, Kindness, Clarity and Insight." --Time Magazine
The book's twenty chapters are deftly arranged in a developmental sequence so that readers easily understand the background needed to appreciate the more complex, later topics. Taken as a whole, the teachings in this book provide an accessible map of Tibetan spiritual culture.
"Though [the Dalai Lama] is one of the most erudite scholars...he has a gift for reducing his doctrine to a core of lucid practicality, crystallized in the title of his book, Kindness, Clarity and Insight." --Time Magazine
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
83 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,553 books6,195 followersJetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 8, 2023
The Dalai Lama In America
In 1979, after substantial political effort, H.H. the Dalai Lama made his first visit to the United States. He travelled across the country and delivered a series of lectures. The Dalai Lama visited Canada in 1980 and returned to the United States in 1981 and many times thereafter. In 1981, the Dalai Lama and his editor and translator, Professor Jeffrey Hopkins, published a book of the Dalai Lama's early lectures in North America, "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight." It was the first of many books that have since been published based upon the Dalai Lama's lectures or upon meetings and discussions with him. Happily, the book was reissued in 2006 to celebrate the 25th year of its publication as well as the anniversary of Snow Lion Publications, an American publishing house devoted exclusively to books on Tibet.
"Kindness, Clarity, and Insight" is among the best of the Dalai Lama's books in presenting his major themes and in showing the scope of his teachings, from the most fundamental and accessible to the difficult. The book consists of a series of 20 lectures delivered during the Dalai Lama's first three visits. The lectures are arranged in a progressing order of complexity, with the opening lectures giving an introduction to the Dalai Lama's thought that requires no special interest in Tibetan Buddhism while the latter lectures focus on complex, difficult matters that arise within the various Tibetan Buddhist schools. The book is fascinating to read as it moves forward.
Throughout the book, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart through introspection and meditation rather than through pursuit of material gain and pleasure. He emphasizes the importance of altruism -- of showing concern for and working towards the well-being of others --- and he takes a broadly ecumenical approach towards religion. In his ecumenical approach, the Dalai Lama stresses that human beings everywhere are essentially alike, despite superficial differences in culture, religion, or race, and that everyone wishes to attain happiness and avoid suffering. He stresses that every religion -- and that secularism too for that matter -- shares these goals and that the differences in doctrine and philosophy among different creeds should not obscure recognition of their underlying unity of purpose. The Dalai Lama does not force his creed or any creed on anyone.
Among the best of the earlier lectures in the book are the opening talk given at Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. "Religious Values and Human Society", the lectures "Religious Harmony" and "Compassion in Global Politics" and "Buddhism East to West" which gives the Dalai Lama's early thoughts on the spread of Buddhism to the West.
But in addition to these broadly-based talks, the book includes a series of lectures providing great detail on the nature of Tibetan Buddhism. Many readers will find these lectures difficult both because the subject matter and terminology may be unfamiliar and also because the Dalai Lama's teachings make clear how different the philosophical teachings of Tibetan Buddhism are from both Western religions and Western secularism at many points. The reader should keep in mind in reading these essays the Dalai Lama's teachings earlier in the book that the fundamental goals of religion are similar while the philosophical and conceptual underpinnings differ.
The latter essays in the book that I found important include "Eight Verses for Training the Mind" in which H.H. the Dalai Lama presents eight verses written by Kadma Geshe Langri Thangpa, a Tibetan monk of the Eleventh Century, A.D. and offers a detailed commentary upon them. The goal of the verses is to create calmness in the heart and a feeling of love and compassion towards others.
The central and most difficult teaching in this book consists of a lengthy essay, "The Path to Enlightenment". This essay, based on a combination of lectures, is a discussion of a Tibetan text by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and includes as well discussions of other important Buddhist thinkers. The Dalai Lama presents the text and offers detailed commentary. The theme of the text is the attainment of enlightenment, and the Dalai Lama expounds upon Tsongkhapa's teachings as they pertain to 1. developing the desire to be free of cyclic existence, 2. wishing to attain enlightenment for the purpose of benefitting others, and 3. developing wisdom by understanding the nature of emptiness. Each of these three steps is highly difficult and runs counter to many Western ways of understanding and behavior. Thus, these texts will be rewarding and challenging but difficult especially to readers unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism.
Other lectures in which the Dalai Lama discusses teachings specific to Tibetan Buddhism include "Tibetan Views and Dying" and the final lecture "Union of the Old and New Translation Schools" in which the Dalai Lama considers and tries to synthesize the views of various Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the ultimate nature of reality.
Even in the lectures most concerned with the specific teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama emphasizes throughout the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart. Thus, he concludes his lecture on "The Path to Enlightenment" with these words:
"It is essential to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."
The Dalai Lama's teachings have been an inspiration to me and to many other Americans. May you find something in this book that will inspire you.
Robin Friedman
In 1979, after substantial political effort, H.H. the Dalai Lama made his first visit to the United States. He travelled across the country and delivered a series of lectures. The Dalai Lama visited Canada in 1980 and returned to the United States in 1981 and many times thereafter. In 1981, the Dalai Lama and his editor and translator, Professor Jeffrey Hopkins, published a book of the Dalai Lama's early lectures in North America, "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight." It was the first of many books that have since been published based upon the Dalai Lama's lectures or upon meetings and discussions with him. Happily, the book was reissued in 2006 to celebrate the 25th year of its publication as well as the anniversary of Snow Lion Publications, an American publishing house devoted exclusively to books on Tibet.
"Kindness, Clarity, and Insight" is among the best of the Dalai Lama's books in presenting his major themes and in showing the scope of his teachings, from the most fundamental and accessible to the difficult. The book consists of a series of 20 lectures delivered during the Dalai Lama's first three visits. The lectures are arranged in a progressing order of complexity, with the opening lectures giving an introduction to the Dalai Lama's thought that requires no special interest in Tibetan Buddhism while the latter lectures focus on complex, difficult matters that arise within the various Tibetan Buddhist schools. The book is fascinating to read as it moves forward.
Throughout the book, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart through introspection and meditation rather than through pursuit of material gain and pleasure. He emphasizes the importance of altruism -- of showing concern for and working towards the well-being of others --- and he takes a broadly ecumenical approach towards religion. In his ecumenical approach, the Dalai Lama stresses that human beings everywhere are essentially alike, despite superficial differences in culture, religion, or race, and that everyone wishes to attain happiness and avoid suffering. He stresses that every religion -- and that secularism too for that matter -- shares these goals and that the differences in doctrine and philosophy among different creeds should not obscure recognition of their underlying unity of purpose. The Dalai Lama does not force his creed or any creed on anyone.
Among the best of the earlier lectures in the book are the opening talk given at Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. "Religious Values and Human Society", the lectures "Religious Harmony" and "Compassion in Global Politics" and "Buddhism East to West" which gives the Dalai Lama's early thoughts on the spread of Buddhism to the West.
But in addition to these broadly-based talks, the book includes a series of lectures providing great detail on the nature of Tibetan Buddhism. Many readers will find these lectures difficult both because the subject matter and terminology may be unfamiliar and also because the Dalai Lama's teachings make clear how different the philosophical teachings of Tibetan Buddhism are from both Western religions and Western secularism at many points. The reader should keep in mind in reading these essays the Dalai Lama's teachings earlier in the book that the fundamental goals of religion are similar while the philosophical and conceptual underpinnings differ.
The latter essays in the book that I found important include "Eight Verses for Training the Mind" in which H.H. the Dalai Lama presents eight verses written by Kadma Geshe Langri Thangpa, a Tibetan monk of the Eleventh Century, A.D. and offers a detailed commentary upon them. The goal of the verses is to create calmness in the heart and a feeling of love and compassion towards others.
The central and most difficult teaching in this book consists of a lengthy essay, "The Path to Enlightenment". This essay, based on a combination of lectures, is a discussion of a Tibetan text by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and includes as well discussions of other important Buddhist thinkers. The Dalai Lama presents the text and offers detailed commentary. The theme of the text is the attainment of enlightenment, and the Dalai Lama expounds upon Tsongkhapa's teachings as they pertain to 1. developing the desire to be free of cyclic existence, 2. wishing to attain enlightenment for the purpose of benefitting others, and 3. developing wisdom by understanding the nature of emptiness. Each of these three steps is highly difficult and runs counter to many Western ways of understanding and behavior. Thus, these texts will be rewarding and challenging but difficult especially to readers unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism.
Other lectures in which the Dalai Lama discusses teachings specific to Tibetan Buddhism include "Tibetan Views and Dying" and the final lecture "Union of the Old and New Translation Schools" in which the Dalai Lama considers and tries to synthesize the views of various Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the ultimate nature of reality.
Even in the lectures most concerned with the specific teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama emphasizes throughout the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart. Thus, he concludes his lecture on "The Path to Enlightenment" with these words:
"It is essential to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."
The Dalai Lama's teachings have been an inspiration to me and to many other Americans. May you find something in this book that will inspire you.
Robin Friedman
September 29, 2010
I've read this book four times. Every time I read it, it makes me a better person for a couple of days afterward. I guess I should read it every three days or so.
August 19, 2014
This book is a collection of 20 lectures by the Dalai Lama during this first visits to the United States in 1979 and 1981, and Canada in 1980. His message of encouragement to all to develop compassion, love and respect for others; to share and show concern for the sufferings of others; and to be less selfish is constant and clear throughout his speeches. There are a few topics / chapters which cover concepts that may be difficult for a casual reader to understand, but by large, this is still a good read. It is not my favourite book by the Dalai Lama. I much prefer his Ancient Wisdom, Modern World.
October 1, 2017
'...a quote from Nagarjuna's The Five Stages: "Everything is like the meditative stabilization of illusion." In quoting this, Tsongkhapa establishes that all environments and beings are the sport of mere wind and mind.'
September 28, 2021
Vorbim despre o colecție de conferințe (sau "cuvântări") pe care Dalai Lama le-a susținut la diverse universități și adunări din SUA.
Nu prea dau 5 stele, dar am făcut asta pentru că mi se pare o carte "de cultură generală" - cel puțin, care ar trebui să fie prezentă în orice bibliotecă personală. Mi-e greu să îmi dau seama dacă e sau nu o traducere bună pentru că nu sunt destul de familiară cu budismul, însă având în vedere notele și referințele de la sfârșit, cred că e o traducere studiată și muncită.
Cel mai important, mi se pare faptul că e o carte la care "te întorci": are atât fragmente accesibile celor neinițiați (ca mine), cât și detalieri ale unor aspecte doctrinare care îmi par comprehensibile doar celor mai avansați în studiul budismului.
Nu prea dau 5 stele, dar am făcut asta pentru că mi se pare o carte "de cultură generală" - cel puțin, care ar trebui să fie prezentă în orice bibliotecă personală. Mi-e greu să îmi dau seama dacă e sau nu o traducere bună pentru că nu sunt destul de familiară cu budismul, însă având în vedere notele și referințele de la sfârșit, cred că e o traducere studiată și muncită.
Cel mai important, mi se pare faptul că e o carte la care "te întorci": are atât fragmente accesibile celor neinițiați (ca mine), cât și detalieri ale unor aspecte doctrinare care îmi par comprehensibile doar celor mai avansați în studiul budismului.
October 8, 2022
I bought this book in 2019 while roaming around Chinatown in Singapore. For the longest time I couldnt read through the first pages (which talks about Dalai Lamas visit in USA), so in 2022 i just flipped through those pages avoiding all the diplomatic speeches given at the White House. Problem solved.
Majority of the book puts continuous emphasis on love, compassion, tolerance in respect to politics and a persons everyday life, inviting Westerners to apply Buddhist practices and adapt it to the Western culture as a constant.
The main focus was put on the core of Buddhism - the practice of “the view of emptiness”. It is not the first time i encounter this doctrine, however this time i understood how much I struggle to grasp this concept. It also could be, that the never-ending explanations of emptiness more confused than clarified things.
A LOT (!) of repetition… on and on and on about the same thing, hence I didint finish the last 60 pages.
Though, i am planning to come back and re-read some parts of the book with hopes that ill be able to see it in a clearer light. The complexity of such point of view makes me excited, I am eager to explore it further in other sources.
Majority of the book puts continuous emphasis on love, compassion, tolerance in respect to politics and a persons everyday life, inviting Westerners to apply Buddhist practices and adapt it to the Western culture as a constant.
The main focus was put on the core of Buddhism - the practice of “the view of emptiness”. It is not the first time i encounter this doctrine, however this time i understood how much I struggle to grasp this concept. It also could be, that the never-ending explanations of emptiness more confused than clarified things.
A LOT (!) of repetition… on and on and on about the same thing, hence I didint finish the last 60 pages.
Though, i am planning to come back and re-read some parts of the book with hopes that ill be able to see it in a clearer light. The complexity of such point of view makes me excited, I am eager to explore it further in other sources.
August 23, 2021
A collection of talks given in America and Canada. Mostly at universities and various sanghas. Not a beginner book (if this is most readable, most folks aren't ready), but it is interesting how His Holiness switches up the way he talks for lay audiences and those who are into deep practice/study. For larger public library collections and all academic libraries.
January 17, 2021
Wijsheid en mededogen. De boekje zou ik keer op keer weer kunnen lezen en er telkens nieuwe wijze lessen uit halen. De gemarkeerde teksten door mijn vader maken het extra bijzonder.
June 6, 2019
A phenomenal read that shifts ones consciousness to viewing the world with more love, compassion and kindness. Ultimately, I’m left with so many more questions and a sentiment that I need to do some more elementary reading on Buddhism to truly comprehend the content in this book. I definitely got lost in what was being said a few times - but I’m looking forward to delving deeper into the work of HH and Tibetan Buddhism.
May 18, 2020
This was a great book and it really makes you think. The downside to me is that it is dense and redundant. A great read but took me a while to read as it is not a “leisurely” book to me; I had to be focused the whole time.
May 11, 2018
Such an insightful book, whether you're starting your journey into Buddism or not, I think this is something everyone should read. If we could all remember one word throughout our day, that being "compassion", the world would be a much better place. This book has allowed me to live a better quality of life by stopping myself before letting others or anger get the best of me.
A few passages that really stuck out to me:
Pg. 27
Third paragraph
Pg. 32
Second & Third paragraph
Pg. 39
Last paragraph
Pg. 45
Pg. 47
End of first paragraph
Pg. 53
First paragraph
Pg. 95
Top of page
Pg. 96
Second paragraph
Pg. 100
Third paragraph
Pg. 106
First paragraph
Pg. 107
Second paragraph
Pg. 122
Last paragraph; how to think
Pg. 124
First paragraph
Pg. 127
Poem
Pg. 133
First paragraph
Pg. 136
Last paragraph
Pg. 147
Middle scripture
Pg. 148
First paragraph
Pg. 155
Second paragraph, first sentence
Pg. 155
Second paragraph
Important Quotes:
"Love, when it is not mixed with false conceptuality, is reasonable, logical, sensible." Pg. 69
"Your past life's experience very much influences this life, and this life's experience becomes the basis for the next rebirth's development, but transference of inner development from one person to another is impossible. Thus, everything depends on yourself, and it will take time." Pg. 102
"Enemies: ignorance, anger, attachment, and pride are the ultimate enemies." Pg. 118
"Since it is the case that at the beginning and end of our lives we are dependent on others' kindness, it would be only appropriate if between those two periods We cultivated a sense of kindness towards others." Pg. 120
"Our battleground is not external but within." Pg. 123
"There is a Tibetan saying, "Don't make friends with 'It's-probably-okay,'" for to do so is dangerous." Pg. 124
"As soon as you start to generate an afflictive emotion you should think of the opposite type of quality, using reason to generate an opposite attitude." Pg. 124
"If you want to know what you were doing in the past, look at your body now; if you want to know what will happen to you in the future, look at what your mind is doing now." Pg. 124
"Someone who acts like an enemy towards you is the best of teachers" Pg. 127
"The development of pure body, speech, and mind comes from gradually leaving impure states and their being transformed into the pure." Pg. 135
"Happiness comes from taming the mind" Pg. 155
A few passages that really stuck out to me:
Pg. 27
Third paragraph
Pg. 32
Second & Third paragraph
Pg. 39
Last paragraph
Pg. 45
Pg. 47
End of first paragraph
Pg. 53
First paragraph
Pg. 95
Top of page
Pg. 96
Second paragraph
Pg. 100
Third paragraph
Pg. 106
First paragraph
Pg. 107
Second paragraph
Pg. 122
Last paragraph; how to think
Pg. 124
First paragraph
Pg. 127
Poem
Pg. 133
First paragraph
Pg. 136
Last paragraph
Pg. 147
Middle scripture
Pg. 148
First paragraph
Pg. 155
Second paragraph, first sentence
Pg. 155
Second paragraph
Important Quotes:
"Love, when it is not mixed with false conceptuality, is reasonable, logical, sensible." Pg. 69
"Your past life's experience very much influences this life, and this life's experience becomes the basis for the next rebirth's development, but transference of inner development from one person to another is impossible. Thus, everything depends on yourself, and it will take time." Pg. 102
"Enemies: ignorance, anger, attachment, and pride are the ultimate enemies." Pg. 118
"Since it is the case that at the beginning and end of our lives we are dependent on others' kindness, it would be only appropriate if between those two periods We cultivated a sense of kindness towards others." Pg. 120
"Our battleground is not external but within." Pg. 123
"There is a Tibetan saying, "Don't make friends with 'It's-probably-okay,'" for to do so is dangerous." Pg. 124
"As soon as you start to generate an afflictive emotion you should think of the opposite type of quality, using reason to generate an opposite attitude." Pg. 124
"If you want to know what you were doing in the past, look at your body now; if you want to know what will happen to you in the future, look at what your mind is doing now." Pg. 124
"Someone who acts like an enemy towards you is the best of teachers" Pg. 127
"The development of pure body, speech, and mind comes from gradually leaving impure states and their being transformed into the pure." Pg. 135
"Happiness comes from taming the mind" Pg. 155
February 24, 2018
I absolutely LOVED the Book of Joy, so I wanted to delve into more of the Dalai Lama’s writings. This book is a compilation of his lectures during his three visits to North America. Some of them were fantastic and really resonated with me, but some of them went WAY over my head, as I don’t know nearly enough about Buddhism. I think there is a lot of beauty and truth found in Buddhism though! Our world could sure benefit from the altruism, compassion, meditation, etc that he speaks of!
(Only giving this one 2 stars because like I said, it went a little too deep for my casual reading comprehension. Someone who is more familiar with Buddhism would likely enjoy it more!)
(Only giving this one 2 stars because like I said, it went a little too deep for my casual reading comprehension. Someone who is more familiar with Buddhism would likely enjoy it more!)
March 25, 2020
I liked it I thought it touched on quite a range of different ideas but the main idea that seemed to be emphasised was about 'emptiness' and also kindness. I think I kind of got what it was getting at like maybe that everything and everyone is connected, the notions of 'good' or 'bad' aren't objectively real on a wider scale but it's still important to do good and be a good person to avoid suffering both for yourself and for the sake of others. All in all I enjoyed reading it and I feel inspired to learn more about these spiritual matters
September 28, 2018
This is the book to read if you want to expand your academic knowledge about Tibetan Buddhist culture, doctrine, and philosophy. The chapters are long enough to get the point across, but some of the philosphocal portions are difficult to grasp because of the repetition of words and complexity of the various Buddhist School of philosophy. I enjoyed the chapters about compassion, and kindness, as they were easier to understand because it can be applied to my day-t0-day life.
June 7, 2020
A good in-depth understanding of Buddhism and its application.
“The question is; should every human being be used for my attainment of happiness or should I be used for the happiness of every human being. If others are used for this single “I” it is absolutely wrong and it will never deliver personal happiness. If we serve others as much as we can we will see this is the source of great joy. It is through constant serving others that real compassion and love is developed within ourselves.”
“The question is; should every human being be used for my attainment of happiness or should I be used for the happiness of every human being. If others are used for this single “I” it is absolutely wrong and it will never deliver personal happiness. If we serve others as much as we can we will see this is the source of great joy. It is through constant serving others that real compassion and love is developed within ourselves.”
April 27, 2022
From The US Tour
An anthology of readings from HH The Dalai Lama’s tour of the United States. Discussing elements of Tibetan Buddhist teachings and spirituality in general, the Dalai Lama gives lessons on meditation, death, reincarnation, the Eight Noble Truths and more. An interesting read.
An anthology of readings from HH The Dalai Lama’s tour of the United States. Discussing elements of Tibetan Buddhist teachings and spirituality in general, the Dalai Lama gives lessons on meditation, death, reincarnation, the Eight Noble Truths and more. An interesting read.
January 28, 2025
Ce livre est intéressant même s'il est par moments assez complexe.
C'est un recueil de différents discours, j'aurais aimé que se soit plus approfondi, mais l'organisation en chapitres traitants de différents sujets est agréable.
C'est un recueil de différents discours, j'aurais aimé que se soit plus approfondi, mais l'organisation en chapitres traitants de différents sujets est agréable.
December 17, 2017
Well, he is the DL. Excellent book.
December 29, 2017
I found the book very difficult to understand. I do feel though that if I start practicing meditation and reread the book repeatedly it will make sense. A good buy.
October 13, 2020
This book is a collection of 20 lecture by The Dalai Lama. After reading this, its helped me to makes a better person. That's why I want to read many books of him🙏
November 8, 2020
The end was convoluted but this was a great read. A must for any seeker and anyone who appreciates Eastern Religion.
September 30, 2021
I couldn’t finish this book,
I love the message and the writing style was interesting but other books have done it better.
I
I love the message and the writing style was interesting but other books have done it better.
I
March 12, 2023
Well, he is the DL. Excellent book.
December 18, 2023
At times simple and due to to earth, and at times jargony and dense. Maybe a bit much for a novice but interesting to see how deep Buddhism can be.
December 10, 2025
some of the lectures were repetitive since they were given to difference audiences but they were still meaningful and contemplative to read.
April 11, 2019
I think it’s kind of funny that I read this at the same time as Heretics Anonymous. I honestly didn’t even mean to, but there was so much theology talk in my previous read that it immediately put me in the mood. This was a series of talks the Dalai Lama gave during a visit to the US. The first half discussed more the moral aspects of living a good life, and the second half was heavy on the Buddhist doctrines. Suffice to say, I enjoyed the first half more. His Holiness can get a little wordy when talking about the doctrines, and it starts to feel like a textbook, so a lot of my study into Buddhism has been written by other people.
But the first half of this was excellent! There were several parts that I highlighted, and that I feel really apply to all aspects of life. It was very engaging, and very heart-warming to know there are still people in the world striving to make it better.
But the first half of this was excellent! There were several parts that I highlighted, and that I feel really apply to all aspects of life. It was very engaging, and very heart-warming to know there are still people in the world striving to make it better.
August 10, 2015
This is a series of talks given by HHDL on his first visit to North America in 1979. He speaks to the US Congress, colleges and universities, community organizations, churches and Buddhist centers. I found it fascinating to see how he geared his remarks to his audiences. I am interested in Buddhism, but am not a scholar by any means. I found his talks to the general public more understandable than his academic lectures in Buddhist centers which were way over my head.
February 28, 2009
Found this on my roommate's shelves. I read a biography of XIV Dalai Lama's life when I was 14 that went up to his exile from Tibet. It made a profound impression on me from which I gratefully have never recovered. And this one will make for excellent bed-time reading...consumed with curiousity as I am to read his lectures.
December 30, 2014
Even though some of the concepts of Buddhism were a little over my head, the Dalai Lama's overall message of compassion and love was very inspiring and can be applied to anyone's life situation. I think that we can all learn something from this amazing man and this book was a perfect way to understand his message for those of us who weren't lucky enough to be there when he made these speeches.
February 10, 2009
The title is self explanatory. This book has been an intermittent read for me for a couple of years now. It's great in the way that you can pick it up from anywhere and still have something of value to retain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews