An Introduction to Buddhism

by Dalai Lama XIV

The "Core Teachings of the Dalai Lama" series begins with this small book of teachings by His Holiness, the perfect introduction to traditional Tibetan Buddhist thought and practice.

There is no one more suited to introduce beginners--and remind seasoned practitioners-- of the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism than His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha's first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism's most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion. With clear, accessible language and the familiar sense of humor that infuses nearly all of his work, the Dalai Lama invites us all to develop innermost awareness, a proper understanding of the nature of reality, and heartfelt compassion for all beings.

This book was previously published under the title Lighting the Way.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Self Help, Psychology

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2018

About the author

Jetsun 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.

Reviews

[Nathan Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy seems to know a lot about Buddhism, maybe he could turn it into a career

[Kamakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you like this review, i now have website: www.michaelkamakana.com

230206: very good introductory text. am reading a lot of phil-indic-buddhism (82- now 128!) and buddhism-etc (147 now 196) in order to absorb from many perspectives, many voices, many works, basic buddhist concepts: discovering by emphasis this and that new way of looking. in this case, this clarifies ideas of emptiness, dependent origination, middle way between absolutism and nihilism. these are collection of lectures by Dalai Lama...

he begins with formulation of four noble truths, 3 levels of understanding (study, reason, emotional), he reviews other traditions in ancient India, dependent origination and law of causality (absence of designer, impermanence, potentiality), inner world of consciousness (unmediated direct perception, mediated conceptual thought), four principles of reality (nature- karma, dependence, function, valid reasoning), suffering (suffering suffering of suffering, suffering of change, suffering of pervasive conditioning), karma (action) is borne of afflictions- conceptual, emotional (attachment, anger, delusion), addressed by 3 higher teachings (morality, concentration, wisdom), note: natural mind is clear, afflictions are passing...

his next lecture is eight verses on training mind, by Pali canon (doctrinal) and Narmada teachings (development of wisdom, skilful means). this is the sort in tibet. this is darmakya (truth body) and rupakaya (form body). darmakaya is based on wisdom, on constant, intense, prolonged cultivation of insight into emptiness, rupakaya is cultivation of bodhichitta- commitment to strive for liberation of all beings. this is great compassion. these must be closely intertwined, and lead to understanding of both method and wisdom, which leads to dependent origination, which is another term for emptiness... and where is 'I'? me? mine? not needed ultimate reality, designation, name, of aggregates of skandas, in conventional reality, to which we 'grasp' at self as ourselves and grasp at phenomena...

the third lecture is close deconstruction of Atisha's lamp for the path to enlightenment, with close inspection of all stanzas and verses, beginning with explanation of title, explanation of dedication, then each verse and commentary. this is concise text of all 3 turnings of dharma wheel. three jewels are familiar as Buddha (physician), Dharma (medicine), Sangha (nurses), 12 links of dependent origination: ignorance, volition, consciousness, name and form, sources, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, aging and death... rebirth, repeat...

[McNevin Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise explanation of the pith tenets and goals of Buddhist practice, relayed by the Dalai Lama with his typical clarity. If the subject is of interest to you, regardless of your need for an "Introduction", even if you are an ongoing practitioner, I recommend this volume highly.

[Wendy Othello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read. It relaxed my soul. I am not alone.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dense read, but concise. A solid summary and commentary for the more academically minded.

[Emilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this break down of Buddhism, it was abstract and without previous knowledge of the yoga sutras I’d probably be a little lost reading this. Would’ve enjoyed more elaboration of Buddhism in the modern age.

[Teo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020.08.23–2020.08.24

The 14th Dalai Lama presents things quite nicely in a systematic way, though not always in a secular way.

Contents

Dalai Lama XIV (2018) (04:14) Introduction to Buddhism, An [2003]

Foreword by Sidney Piburn

1. Principles of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths
• Three Levels of Understanding
• Buddhism and Other Ancient Indian Traditions
• Dependent Origination and the Law of Causality
• The Inner World of Consciousness
• The Four Principles of Reality
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Three Higher Trainings

2. Teachings on the Eight Verses on Training the Mind
• Cultivating Wisdom and Skillful Means
• Making a New Spiritual Resolve
• Generating the Altruistic Mind of Awakening: A Ceremony

3. Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
• Understanding the Three Jewels
• Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels
• Levels of Spiritual Trainees
• The Three Principal Factors of the Path
• The Question of Rebirth
• • Scripture, Reason, and Empirical Evidence
• The Level of Initial Capacity
• The Level of Middling Capacity
• The Level of Great Capacity
• Generating the Altruistic Mind of Awakening
• • The Bodhisattva Vows
• The Practice of Calm Abiding
• The Wisdom of Emptiness
• The Path of Tantra

Acknowledgments
Notes
Glossary
Recommended Reading
Books by the Dalai Lama
Index

[Augusto Bernardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, that was the introduction?! Is there an introduction to the introduction? It is very clear that buddhism is clearly really complex and it boggles my mind on how buddhism and any monotheistic religion can be possibly in the same category of religion. Religion seems to be more of a real lifestyle. And not an easy one. For buddhism to be practiced properly, it requires a lot of dedication and some "exercises" that are unlike anything people are generally used to, AKA, meditation. I'm really fascinated by this practice and want to delve into it further. I didn't get any tips besides that there is a lot of further details and variations to meditation than one may expect.
The moral aspect of buddhism is also a very positive and useful. I think this along with the meditation is something that simply needs to be revised as opposed to mind changing.

Unfortunately, my biggest problem with this book is that the Dalai Lama is not easy to understand in long texts or speeches. The most basic instructions are rephrased into the longest way with the most technical terminology possible. For a layman like myself, in no way was this a smooth introduction.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Easy to follow and understand. This is (as the title states) a seemingly good introduction to the beliefs of Buddhism.

[Beth Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't read at all like an introduction. It's not so much that this is a complicated text. It's more that it's written for someone who already has some background in the language and culture of Buddhism. If you're are looking for a true introduction, this isn't it.

[Robyn Lundrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggled to finish the last 20 pages. Not for the casual reader.

[Christie McKerihan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of an explanation of Buddhist philosophy than a practical manual for Buddhism in daily life, which lays out the core ideas of compassion, emptiness, wisdom, and the interconnectedness of all beings clearly in a way that particularly shows their grounding in reason and introspection rather than blind faith. Helped me come to appreciate that Buddhism rejects the notion of a transcendent god and instead bases beliefs on reason and empirical evidence, accepting that if new evidence contradicts current understanding, beliefs must adapt. The Dalai Lama describes the actions one must take on the path toward enlightenment and freedom from mental afflictions: practicing empathy, love, and generosity, meditating and cultivating insight into the self and emptiness, nurturing humility and freedom from conceit, and uniting method (compassion and moral conduct) with wisdom (realization of emptiness). It describes how this path demands discipline and is best supported by a simple, healthy life with few distractions.

[Paco Nieto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listenining to his holiness voice brings warm to the ear and the heart. He even makes some good white jokes and that brings a sweet environent to understanding. Budhadarma teachings represents a long journey that begins with the first step, knowing where you are now. This books helps to know what kind of a journey it is and what path you will be taking. Very nice introduction, the next step of the journey is up to one.

[REID NUTTING]

Always an education.....

.....along with a generality that can only originate with His Holiness. Being a Supreme human being does not necessarily lead one to a lively teaching style. I love reading his words, because I can "hear" his voice ........ And, I love Dalai Lama and all he has to say.
No one can match him! His Goodness and Compassion are evident in his every word!!
Thank you!!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of agree with some of the "difficult" to read all the way through reviews. I did find myself feeling a little lost at certain points. However, I gave it a four star raring because outside of that I did enjoy the book overall and if nothing else, it is an interesting read. Be opened minded if you know nothing or a little something about Buddhism. I got here after reading "The Art of Happiness" and I was not completely let down.

[Jeimy Mora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book, along with others in this collection from a very special friend. Perhaps he sensed
I was moving into this direction. I was busy "living" and at the beginning found it very hard to read, but that only speaks of the state of mind I was at the time. I picked it up recently again and could finish it without a problem and in a few days. If you fond it overwhelming, put it down, let your mind rest, you'll find your way back if it's meant for you. Looking forward to reading the rest.

[Wouter Möller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only rating it low because I think the title isn't apt. Probably not the best introduction to Buddhism overall, but great teachings on The Eight Verses on Training The Mind, and the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. HH emphasises the importance of altruism, compassion, and wisdom. Every sentence felt carefully chosen and important.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much more accessible text than the previous book on Buddhism by the Delai Lama I listened to, but still there is not much translation of the words and concepts into everyday words and western concepts. This means that a western reader who is unfamiliar with the words and concepts of Buddhism still has a lot of work to do in order to understand the text.

[Justin Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the Intro most beginners should start with. This book laid out the precepts, as well as offered two really good texts to begin studying.

I plan on reading this book a few more times and making notes on it as my understanding grows in Tibetan Buddhism. I expect I will get a lot of mileage out of this book and look forward to reading the others in the Core Teachings collection.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whelp I kind of always thought Buddhism was cool until reading this book. Yep - Buddhism is just another religion with some good stuff and some baggage. I'll stay religion-less thanks very much.
This book puts Buddhism in simple terms, dangling enlightenment in front of you with years (and lifetimes) of work. Not for me.

[Yotam BM]

I personally liked the engagement with the texts as a way to introduce the teachings, rather than a classical introductory lecture. That said, I'm not sure what exactly I was looking for here, and what I have found. Some of this was relatable, some went over my head, some was alien. I remain intrigued with the topic.

[Bruce Mendelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice, short introductory text. But, it contains a lot of good information that is relevant to pursuing the Buddhist path. I read one shortish section per day. This allowed me to attempt to digest and incorporate the information into my practice. I recommend the book highly to those that are interested.

[Sarah Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

Fantastic insight and comentry on the foundation principles and beliefs of Tibeten Buddhism. I found it easy to read dispite some difficulty philosophical and conceptual subjects.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've become very interested in Buddhism over the past couple of years. This book however was not an easy read, at no point did it pull you in or make you feel like you were really learning. The verses are of course beautiful and moving but alot of the other parts of the text felt clunky

[L.G. Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully well presented & I love the basic elements and overall messages I received from reading this text. It actually inspired some art that I made & I'll go back to hand write some notes :) Thank you!

[Bonnie Tuballa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to Buddhism, gives enough overview of teachings, tenets, verses, with enough depth to understand further direction to go deeper. Short enough so not overwhelming, but if you want to further your understanding, you'll need to read/practice more.

[Sean Hinze · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insightful and fascinating dive into an often otherworldly perspective for the western audience. I would note that it does indeed give you the basics of Vajrayana Buddhism but, that you may want to refresh your knowledge upon its tenets before diving into the Dalai Lama's presentation.

[Niklas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what the title says!

[Jennifer Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly confusing even for an introduction to the practice.

[Micah Winston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but would be better in reading rather than audio