Our Human Potential: The Unassailable Path of Love, Compassion, and Meditation

by Dalai Lama XIV, Thupten Jinpa (Translator)

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a series of lectures at Harvard University, they fulfilled magnificently his intention of providing an in-depth introduction to Buddhist theory and practice. He structured the presentation according to the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and expanded their meaning to cover most of the topics of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama’s combination of superb intellect, power of exposition, and practical implementation are evident in these lectures. He covers a broad spectrum of topics, including the psychology of cyclic existence, consciousness and karma, techniques for meditation, altruism, valuing enemies, wisdom, and much more.
 
This book was previously published under the title The Dalai Lama at Harvard .

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2019

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

[BookTrib.com]

Buddhism began somewhere between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE and has since become one of the most popular religions. Amassing around 520 million followers, known as Buddhists, Buddhism has encompassed many eastern traditions and has spread its influence all over the world.

The Dalai Lama, a Tibetan monk who is seen as the most spiritual of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, gave multiple talks about Buddhism and the important aspects of human potential. His new book, Our Human Potential (Shambhala), is a direct translation of the speech and efficiently describes even the smallest aspects of religion.

The book serves as a guide for those who wish to learn more about Buddhism and wish to move towards enlightenment. He easily breaks down even the most complicated aspects of the religion so that anyone can understand. The Dalai Lama tries to reach audiences by explaining the many different pillars, demons, and aspects of the religion in ways that anyone could understand. He does not shy away from questions and is entirely willing to explain the aspects over and over again until everyone understands him. He never gripes about the questions and makes sure people are able to ask throughout the speeches. The novel easily flows from one topic to the next so that each topic can be used to learn about the next.

The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/05/the-dala...