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Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet
From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt’s cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other.
At the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . .
With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet—text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell’s masterful illustrations—Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that “we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house.” Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change.
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow.”
At the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . .
With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet—text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell’s masterful illustrations—Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that “we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house.” Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change.
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow.”
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
28 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,554 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 172 reviews
February 22, 2023
Um livro com ilustrações lindíssimas e uma mensagem importante de apelo à mudança. Mudança de hábitos, de mentalidades e de acções. Apelo à necessidade de transformação das sociedades e da forma como encaramos o uso de recursos da Terra. Apelo à mudança de uma mentalidade individualista e egoísta, para uma de maior compreensão, empatia e união. De todos, para todos.
September 30, 2023
While walking through nature, the Dalai Lama discusses and offers a troubled panda a message of hope to save our planet in this simple and charmingly well-drawn illustrated book. Around the world, our environment is succumbing to human’s rampant population, technology, and development. Trees are cut and forests burn. Humans are destroying the world, yet our actions can protect nature, wildlife, and its denizens.
“We must never forget the suffering humans inflict on other sentient beings.” Embrace and support the plants and wildlife. “Real change in the world will only come from a change of heart.” The Dalai Lama is calling for a “compassionate revolution” where we recognize that we are part of a wider community than ourselves. We must cultivate a “great compassion” or “nying je chenpo” in Tibetan where we commit and become responsible in bringing about the well-being of others. We all live here. The earth needs peace. The Dalai Lama seeks to lead and serve by finding happiness and alleviating suffering. It is a powerful message and reminder to all of us.
“We must never forget the suffering humans inflict on other sentient beings.” Embrace and support the plants and wildlife. “Real change in the world will only come from a change of heart.” The Dalai Lama is calling for a “compassionate revolution” where we recognize that we are part of a wider community than ourselves. We must cultivate a “great compassion” or “nying je chenpo” in Tibetan where we commit and become responsible in bringing about the well-being of others. We all live here. The earth needs peace. The Dalai Lama seeks to lead and serve by finding happiness and alleviating suffering. It is a powerful message and reminder to all of us.
February 17, 2023
The best Valentine's gift I've ever given myself.
November 23, 2022
Er is werkelijk geen verhaal wat je mij niet kunt vertellen door middel van panda's.
June 23, 2023
Someone knocks at Dalai Lama’s door and he is greeted by a troubled panda who has travelled miles to see him. As they both walk together through the forest, they discuss how animals have lost their homes, how humans treat animals and how we are all members of a single family, sharing a little house.
Brilliantly written with cute, fascinating illustrations, Patrick conveys an important message to each one of us. The message is about the future of our planet. How we need to take responsibility for our planet and every living being around us.
He shares the hardest truths of life in the simplest way. Readers here will find joy, and a feeling of belongingness and will feel like being involved in a conversation with Dalai Lama and Panda.
Not only the words but the illustrations here are wonderfully done, conveying the story. Mother Earth is teaching us a lesson about the need for universal responsibility and this book indeed inspires readers, teaching them the importance of kindness and compassion towards our environment.
Read the full review on the website.
A perfect book to treasure.
Brilliantly written with cute, fascinating illustrations, Patrick conveys an important message to each one of us. The message is about the future of our planet. How we need to take responsibility for our planet and every living being around us.
He shares the hardest truths of life in the simplest way. Readers here will find joy, and a feeling of belongingness and will feel like being involved in a conversation with Dalai Lama and Panda.
Not only the words but the illustrations here are wonderfully done, conveying the story. Mother Earth is teaching us a lesson about the need for universal responsibility and this book indeed inspires readers, teaching them the importance of kindness and compassion towards our environment.
Read the full review on the website.
A perfect book to treasure.
July 7, 2024
Fantastisch! Prachtig boek over compassie, barmhartigheid en altruïsme.
“Wees vriendelijk wanneer het kan. En het kan altijd.”
“Wees vriendelijk wanneer het kan. En het kan altijd.”
January 29, 2023
"Wees vriendelijk wanneer het kan.
En het kan altijd."
- p. 101
"Compassie is het radicalisme van onze tijd."
- p. 102
En het kan altijd."
- p. 101
"Compassie is het radicalisme van onze tijd."
- p. 102
January 10, 2023
Originele review: https://meerboekenblog.nl/van-hart-to...
--
FLAPTEKST:
Voor fans van De jongen, de vos, de mol en het paard en Grote Panda & Kleine Draak: hét boek om het jaar vrolijk en hoopvol mee te beginnen.
Een klop op de deur onderbreekt de ochtendmeditatie van de Dalai Lama. Als hij opendoet, ziet hij een reuzenpanda staan die vele kilometers heeft afgelegd om hem te ontmoeten. Samen wandelen ze door de bossen en praten ze over grote en kleine dingen in het leven: levenswijsheden die je kijk op de wereld veranderen.
In Van hart tot hart nodigt de Dalai Lama je uit om deel te nemen aan een empathische revolutie en stelt hij voor vriendelijker en begripvoller te zijn voor alle levende wezens op onze prachtige planeet. Met poëtische teksten en prachtige tekeningen doet dit boek een inspirerende oproep om onze relatie met de natuurlijke wereld te helen.
--
Prachtig!
Aan dit boek hoeven maar weinig woorden besteed te worden. Het is simpelweg hartverwarmend en mooi ontworpen.
De illustraties, gemaakt door Patrick McDonnell, zijn eenvoudig, maar laten je toch veel voelen en versterken de teksten van Dalai Lama.
De teksten zijn hoopvol, liefdevol en mooi. Het geeft je een warm gevoel en laat je nadenken. Het laat je voelen. Het is dan ook een boek dat je regelmatig even oppakt, om doorheen te bladderen.
Het is een boek die je graag als kunstwerk in je kast wil hebben staan en je sluit het in je hart, om het nooit meer los te laten. Het is dan ook bij uitstek geschikt als cadeau-boek.
Het boek is adembenemend mooi voor kinderen voor jong en oud. Iedereen kan genieten van de magische woorden en tekeningen gemaakt door Dalai Lama samen met Patrick McDonnell. Dit boek was dan ook heerlijk om door heen te bladeren tijdens mijn herstel.
--
FLAPTEKST:
Voor fans van De jongen, de vos, de mol en het paard en Grote Panda & Kleine Draak: hét boek om het jaar vrolijk en hoopvol mee te beginnen.
Een klop op de deur onderbreekt de ochtendmeditatie van de Dalai Lama. Als hij opendoet, ziet hij een reuzenpanda staan die vele kilometers heeft afgelegd om hem te ontmoeten. Samen wandelen ze door de bossen en praten ze over grote en kleine dingen in het leven: levenswijsheden die je kijk op de wereld veranderen.
In Van hart tot hart nodigt de Dalai Lama je uit om deel te nemen aan een empathische revolutie en stelt hij voor vriendelijker en begripvoller te zijn voor alle levende wezens op onze prachtige planeet. Met poëtische teksten en prachtige tekeningen doet dit boek een inspirerende oproep om onze relatie met de natuurlijke wereld te helen.
--
Prachtig!
Aan dit boek hoeven maar weinig woorden besteed te worden. Het is simpelweg hartverwarmend en mooi ontworpen.
De illustraties, gemaakt door Patrick McDonnell, zijn eenvoudig, maar laten je toch veel voelen en versterken de teksten van Dalai Lama.
De teksten zijn hoopvol, liefdevol en mooi. Het geeft je een warm gevoel en laat je nadenken. Het laat je voelen. Het is dan ook een boek dat je regelmatig even oppakt, om doorheen te bladderen.
Het is een boek die je graag als kunstwerk in je kast wil hebben staan en je sluit het in je hart, om het nooit meer los te laten. Het is dan ook bij uitstek geschikt als cadeau-boek.
Het boek is adembenemend mooi voor kinderen voor jong en oud. Iedereen kan genieten van de magische woorden en tekeningen gemaakt door Dalai Lama samen met Patrick McDonnell. Dit boek was dan ook heerlijk om door heen te bladeren tijdens mijn herstel.
July 27, 2023
Heart to Heart is not your ‘usual’ graphic novel. This novel has very simple illustrations to accompany His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s very simple message he shares with us on how to live peacefully with nature and to save Mother Earth 🌍. This beautiful book was created so it could be enjoyed by all ages, even by those very young as it is easy enough to be read out loud.
February 22, 2023
Stunning art. Beautiful message about practicing compassion and kindness. Loved it!
September 26, 2024
This is a simple and elegant book full of endearing illustrations. At the same time, it is also a book that presents harsh truths with a call for a compassionate revolution.
May 4, 2025
“Er zijn maar twee dagen in het jaar waarop je niets kunt doen. De ene dag heet Gisteren, en de andere heet Morgen.”
July 11, 2025
Cute & simple reminder of loving kindness
August 6, 2023
Prachtige tekeningen , Nederlandse vertaling zwak
August 4, 2025
This was fun to read! The illustrations made me very happy and are very cute!
Calls for compassion and the importance of protecting our planet. Told through Dalai Lama going on a walk with a panda. A peaceful, comforting, wholesome, kid at heart read :)
Calls for compassion and the importance of protecting our planet. Told through Dalai Lama going on a walk with a panda. A peaceful, comforting, wholesome, kid at heart read :)
March 8, 2023
In this beautifully illustrated book, the Dalai Lama invites us into a moment’s meditation on the health of the planet, which he believes can be a hopeful journey out of our current perilous path, if people accept his message of compassion and responsibility. He shares his belief that we are all connected through touching illustrations depicting an anxious panda greeting him during a meditation, leading them to become friends and wander through the forest talking about the drastic changes to nature brought on by human greed and carelessness.
I absolutely loved his message on the importance of protecting nature and recognizing just how powerful and vital it is. As the Dalai Lama says, “We all feel the need to be surrounded by life. We need life around us that grows, flourishes, and thrives.” I also loved how upfront he was that “We must never forget the suffering humans inflict on other sentient beings…Of all the various species of animals on the planet, human beings are the biggest troublemakers. That is clear.” Put even more succinctly, “Peace and survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities, which lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. We humans are the only species with the power to destroy the earth as we know it.” If that isn’t clear enough, or powerful enough to spark people to care, then clearly there’s nothing that will jolt them out of their greed and ignorance.
For those that are able to jump out of their selfishness and cognitive dissonance, the Dalai Lama says that “Compassion, loving-kindness, and altruism are the keys not only to human development but also to planetary survival…What I propose is a compassionate revolution, a call for radical reorientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self.”
I loved his reminder that we are part of a global community, “…all members of a single family sharing one little house” and what we individually do affects the future of everyone around us. As he puts, “Everything is interdependent, everything is inseparable. Our individual well-being is intimately connected both with that of all others and with the environment within which we live. Our every action, our every deed, word, and thought, no matter how slight or inconsequential it may seem, has an implication not only for ourselves but for all others, too. We are all interconnected in in this universe, and from this, universal responsibility arises.”
It’s why I’m proud to be vegan! Leading with compassion and knowing I’m doing my part is fulfilling and lets me sleep soundly at night! This was such a wonderful reminder with beautiful illustrations for why I do what I do!
I absolutely loved his message on the importance of protecting nature and recognizing just how powerful and vital it is. As the Dalai Lama says, “We all feel the need to be surrounded by life. We need life around us that grows, flourishes, and thrives.” I also loved how upfront he was that “We must never forget the suffering humans inflict on other sentient beings…Of all the various species of animals on the planet, human beings are the biggest troublemakers. That is clear.” Put even more succinctly, “Peace and survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities, which lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. We humans are the only species with the power to destroy the earth as we know it.” If that isn’t clear enough, or powerful enough to spark people to care, then clearly there’s nothing that will jolt them out of their greed and ignorance.
For those that are able to jump out of their selfishness and cognitive dissonance, the Dalai Lama says that “Compassion, loving-kindness, and altruism are the keys not only to human development but also to planetary survival…What I propose is a compassionate revolution, a call for radical reorientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self.”
I loved his reminder that we are part of a global community, “…all members of a single family sharing one little house” and what we individually do affects the future of everyone around us. As he puts, “Everything is interdependent, everything is inseparable. Our individual well-being is intimately connected both with that of all others and with the environment within which we live. Our every action, our every deed, word, and thought, no matter how slight or inconsequential it may seem, has an implication not only for ourselves but for all others, too. We are all interconnected in in this universe, and from this, universal responsibility arises.”
It’s why I’m proud to be vegan! Leading with compassion and knowing I’m doing my part is fulfilling and lets me sleep soundly at night! This was such a wonderful reminder with beautiful illustrations for why I do what I do!
June 19, 2023
What a beautiful beautiful book by His Holiness The Dalai Lama accompanying artwork by Patrick McDonnell!!
A treasure for the ardent fans of illustrations and the preachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Heart to Heart was a wonderful read for me.
Filled to it's brim with art, what drew me to the book was the title, Heart to Heart : A Conversation on Love and Hope for our precious planet. Being big on learning about our self, planet, nature and how to do my part in saving it further, reading this book brought me so much joy and calm.
A giant troubled panda knocks on the door of Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala to seek his help. Dalai Lama opens the door and finds the Panda who has travelled from the a bamboo forest in the Tibetan Plateau to meet him. They walk through the forest and talk about things which we read as the preachings.
They discuss about life, mother nature, humans and the book imparts a message of being kind and compassionate towards one another and the world. We learn that all of our actions have an effect, irrespective of how small it is. This book with lesser words leave a bigger and a meaningful impact. I thoroughly loved reading this book.
I will always treasure this title.
A treasure for the ardent fans of illustrations and the preachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Heart to Heart was a wonderful read for me.
Filled to it's brim with art, what drew me to the book was the title, Heart to Heart : A Conversation on Love and Hope for our precious planet. Being big on learning about our self, planet, nature and how to do my part in saving it further, reading this book brought me so much joy and calm.
A giant troubled panda knocks on the door of Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala to seek his help. Dalai Lama opens the door and finds the Panda who has travelled from the a bamboo forest in the Tibetan Plateau to meet him. They walk through the forest and talk about things which we read as the preachings.
They discuss about life, mother nature, humans and the book imparts a message of being kind and compassionate towards one another and the world. We learn that all of our actions have an effect, irrespective of how small it is. This book with lesser words leave a bigger and a meaningful impact. I thoroughly loved reading this book.
I will always treasure this title.
September 28, 2023
True truth told truthfully. Hope hopefully. Thoughts thoughtfully.
Sadly it is also all so sad.
Reread September: Radical Amazement and Radical Compassion must be our ways out of this.
This book is closely connected to Big Tree. I suggest reading both back to back.
Sadly it is also all so sad.
Reread September: Radical Amazement and Radical Compassion must be our ways out of this.
This book is closely connected to Big Tree. I suggest reading both back to back.
December 5, 2022
Ik kan dit boek niet in woorden omschrijven. Wel met een emoticon: ❤️
January 26, 2023
A prayer.
January 28, 2023
A beautiful, moving and important book.
February 22, 2023
Such a sweet easy by the amazing Dalai Lama. Worth reading 10 times!
August 5, 2023
Inspirerend, stof tot nadenken.
December 10, 2024
I had the pleasure of being at an art exhibit of Patrick McDonnell's work where there was an opportunity to hear the artist talk about his recent work and his greatest influences. While there, I picked up Heart to Heart and The Guard Dog Story: Breaking the Chain. As a yoga teacher, I couldn't let it pass me by to get a picture book by two such esteemed people in the colliding parts of my life: yoga and comics.
Heart to Heart utilizes verses from works of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet in previous publications from 1995 to 2020 and new calls to action from 2023. This book focuses on environmentalism, human impact, climate change, and how billions of humans have seemingly forgotten that they share this planet with other living beings.
The story begins by showing different species of bears from around the world fleeing their forest homes because of habitat loss (fires and logging). The panda bear because the first main character. She walks and walks through spoilt lands where she can't survive until she reaches Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama. While practicing his lovingkindness meditation, the panda knocks on his door. They spend days together honoring the earth mother. They take the time to literally hug the trees.
Here in the United States and so many other places, we have lost this connection to the earth and its other life forms. Certainly our country isn't the only one that pollutes and destroys, but we aren't great. This book is accessible to anyone who is in a position of not having a lot of time; maybe it's a short attention span that technology has caused; maybe it's needing help understanding the crisis in words that aren't used as clickbait.
A book with a message this crucial could be overlooked so easily because it's a picture book. McDonnell's art (though he was academically trained) is made of thin, sketchy aesthestics and minimalism. Yet every page is either a punch to the gut or a squeeze on the heart.
There's no "religious dogma," because that's not what Buddhism is about. The Buddha is known to have said that he isn't a figure to worship. It's about living a noble life with guidelines given that are clearly universal.
After the panda has felt love, compassion, and has healed from its despair and hunger, she moves on to her own quest to spread kindness hoping to find more of her species. The Dalai Lama is alone in meditation again when there's another knock at his door from a being seeking love.
The call to action of Heart to Heart is pure: open your eyes to the world around you; radical reorientation away from our preoccupation with self; see and act on the importance of our environment because survival depends on it; be kind and have a peaceful heart imbued with wisdom.
This book flows gently. Children will very likely see things in the pictures that adults miss. Young readers may need help understanding the scenes are from different parts of the world (in the US, we tend to think and vote as if our country alone is the center of the universe in an extremist Ptolemaic philosophy). In other words, this book is great for your own personal library, to gift to others, to fill in Little Free Libraries, and to gift to public libraries if they still exist when you're reading this.
Heart to Heart utilizes verses from works of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet in previous publications from 1995 to 2020 and new calls to action from 2023. This book focuses on environmentalism, human impact, climate change, and how billions of humans have seemingly forgotten that they share this planet with other living beings.
The story begins by showing different species of bears from around the world fleeing their forest homes because of habitat loss (fires and logging). The panda bear because the first main character. She walks and walks through spoilt lands where she can't survive until she reaches Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama. While practicing his lovingkindness meditation, the panda knocks on his door. They spend days together honoring the earth mother. They take the time to literally hug the trees.
Here in the United States and so many other places, we have lost this connection to the earth and its other life forms. Certainly our country isn't the only one that pollutes and destroys, but we aren't great. This book is accessible to anyone who is in a position of not having a lot of time; maybe it's a short attention span that technology has caused; maybe it's needing help understanding the crisis in words that aren't used as clickbait.
A book with a message this crucial could be overlooked so easily because it's a picture book. McDonnell's art (though he was academically trained) is made of thin, sketchy aesthestics and minimalism. Yet every page is either a punch to the gut or a squeeze on the heart.
There's no "religious dogma," because that's not what Buddhism is about. The Buddha is known to have said that he isn't a figure to worship. It's about living a noble life with guidelines given that are clearly universal.
After the panda has felt love, compassion, and has healed from its despair and hunger, she moves on to her own quest to spread kindness hoping to find more of her species. The Dalai Lama is alone in meditation again when there's another knock at his door from a being seeking love.
The call to action of Heart to Heart is pure: open your eyes to the world around you; radical reorientation away from our preoccupation with self; see and act on the importance of our environment because survival depends on it; be kind and have a peaceful heart imbued with wisdom.
This book flows gently. Children will very likely see things in the pictures that adults miss. Young readers may need help understanding the scenes are from different parts of the world (in the US, we tend to think and vote as if our country alone is the center of the universe in an extremist Ptolemaic philosophy). In other words, this book is great for your own personal library, to gift to others, to fill in Little Free Libraries, and to gift to public libraries if they still exist when you're reading this.
June 18, 2023
This book with its integration of appreciation for Mother Nature and its unbothered except catastrophically environmental impacts of preserving the earth deepened my concern for addressing environmental problems that humans, out of all living species, inflict irrevocable damage to nature and other species such as animals, which the author proposes as benevolent forces in the earth’s landscape.
Other than the author’s incorporation of environmental influences, the author sheds light into the insidious yet egocentric nature of humans, how ever so often, they take limited resources for granted, such as clear air supplied by photosynthesis and ocean balanced with coral reefs. The author delivers his message of being proactive towards not just being more mindful of limited resources but spreading compassion with shared goals with the premise of choosing kindness radiating from within first then to others. Overall, despite the brevity of the book, the narrative is profound, reflected by the highlighted quotes below:
“Compassion, loving-kindness, and altruism are the keys not only to human development but also to planetary survival. Real change in the world will only come from a change of heart. What I propose is a compassionate revolution, a call for radical reorientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self. “
“Our every action, our every deed, word, and thought, no matter how slight or inconsequential it may seem, has an implication not only for ourselves but for all others too”
“Creating a more peaceful world requires a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart”
“But better still to have bidhichutta, which is a Good heart imbued w wisdom.”
Other than the author’s incorporation of environmental influences, the author sheds light into the insidious yet egocentric nature of humans, how ever so often, they take limited resources for granted, such as clear air supplied by photosynthesis and ocean balanced with coral reefs. The author delivers his message of being proactive towards not just being more mindful of limited resources but spreading compassion with shared goals with the premise of choosing kindness radiating from within first then to others. Overall, despite the brevity of the book, the narrative is profound, reflected by the highlighted quotes below:
“Compassion, loving-kindness, and altruism are the keys not only to human development but also to planetary survival. Real change in the world will only come from a change of heart. What I propose is a compassionate revolution, a call for radical reorientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self. “
“Our every action, our every deed, word, and thought, no matter how slight or inconsequential it may seem, has an implication not only for ourselves but for all others too”
“Creating a more peaceful world requires a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart”
“But better still to have bidhichutta, which is a Good heart imbued w wisdom.”
March 24, 2023
"Once compassion is developed, it naturally opens an inner door, through which we can communicate with fellow human beings and even other sentient beings, with ease, and heart to heart"--The Dalai Lama.
A gently urgent book about the conditions--spiritual requirements--to increase the possibility of human beings continuing on Earth. Not naive about the continuing destruction through war and greed and obvious climate crisis. Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) creates delicate drawings--some pages wordless, including images of the devastating Daintree Rainforest, Australia, and Sierra National Forest, USA fires.
The book features a visit to the Dalai Lama by a Giant Panda. And lots of endangered species of animals and birds throughout.
"May I become, at all times, both now and forever,
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need."
"I agree with Shantideva when he writes:
Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy,
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
"If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
His Holiness addresses the question of whether all this might be seen as naive platitudes, but he invites people to try to act beyond the narrow confines of self-interest.
A gently urgent book about the conditions--spiritual requirements--to increase the possibility of human beings continuing on Earth. Not naive about the continuing destruction through war and greed and obvious climate crisis. Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) creates delicate drawings--some pages wordless, including images of the devastating Daintree Rainforest, Australia, and Sierra National Forest, USA fires.
The book features a visit to the Dalai Lama by a Giant Panda. And lots of endangered species of animals and birds throughout.
"May I become, at all times, both now and forever,
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need."
"I agree with Shantideva when he writes:
Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy,
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
"If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
His Holiness addresses the question of whether all this might be seen as naive platitudes, but he invites people to try to act beyond the narrow confines of self-interest.
May 2, 2023
We are so much involved in our chaotic or smooth lifestyles that we have forgotten how irresponsible we have become towards nature and wildlife. We, as humans, have the potential to build and destroy this blue planet, but nowhere does it seem that we are building it for everyone. We have become so harmful that our actions are constantly impacting the environment, making it dangerous not only for ourselves but also for other beings.
In this book, the author has shared invaluable insights from a conversation between H. H. Dalai Lama and a panda on the verge of extinction, where they talk about love and compassion for this precious planet. His wisdom is timeless and classic. We all know how smoothly and vividly he shares his thoughts for the well-being of everyone. He believes in the oneness of humanity, which ultimately leads to a beautiful life for everyone.
The book includes a full pictorial representation of the damaged environment as well as H. H. Dalai Lama's wisdom for a better and sustainable future. The story is about a panda who knocked on the Dalai Lama's door, and after that, they went through multiple scenarios of the impacts of climate change.
Patrick McDonnell is a cartoonist and an award-winning author who has done an excellent job of bringing the thoughts of the Dalai Lama and his illustrations together in this book.
In this book, the author has shared invaluable insights from a conversation between H. H. Dalai Lama and a panda on the verge of extinction, where they talk about love and compassion for this precious planet. His wisdom is timeless and classic. We all know how smoothly and vividly he shares his thoughts for the well-being of everyone. He believes in the oneness of humanity, which ultimately leads to a beautiful life for everyone.
The book includes a full pictorial representation of the damaged environment as well as H. H. Dalai Lama's wisdom for a better and sustainable future. The story is about a panda who knocked on the Dalai Lama's door, and after that, they went through multiple scenarios of the impacts of climate change.
Patrick McDonnell is a cartoonist and an award-winning author who has done an excellent job of bringing the thoughts of the Dalai Lama and his illustrations together in this book.
May 12, 2025
"Todos nós buscamos a felicidade e não queremos o sofrimento."
"Nunca devemos esquecer o sofrimento que os humanos inflingem noutros seres sencientes."
"Compaixão, bondade e altruísmo são as chaves não só para o desenvolvimento humano, como também para a sobrevivência do planeta.
A verdadeira mudança no mundo só virá da mudança no coração."
"Seja gentil sempre que possível. É sempre possível."
Posfácio: Todos os dias neste mundo, vemos as consequências devastadoras do nosso desrespeito por este precioso planeta, a nossa única casa. A Mãe Terra está a ensinar-nos uma lição de necessidade de responsabilidade universal. Não podemos continuar a fechar os olhos e esperar que o que está a acontecer no mundo natural não seja tão sério quanto o que muitos especialistas preveem. Todso devemos trabalhar para proteger a fragilidade do planeta antes que seja tarde demais." - Dalai Lama
"Nunca devemos esquecer o sofrimento que os humanos inflingem noutros seres sencientes."
"Compaixão, bondade e altruísmo são as chaves não só para o desenvolvimento humano, como também para a sobrevivência do planeta.
A verdadeira mudança no mundo só virá da mudança no coração."
"Seja gentil sempre que possível. É sempre possível."
Posfácio: Todos os dias neste mundo, vemos as consequências devastadoras do nosso desrespeito por este precioso planeta, a nossa única casa. A Mãe Terra está a ensinar-nos uma lição de necessidade de responsabilidade universal. Não podemos continuar a fechar os olhos e esperar que o que está a acontecer no mundo natural não seja tão sério quanto o que muitos especialistas preveem. Todso devemos trabalhar para proteger a fragilidade do planeta antes que seja tarde demais." - Dalai Lama
September 2, 2023
"There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly live positively to help others."
Dalai Lama is a person whose thoughts are way ahead of his time and precious. If you are a person who is interested in the philosophy of the Far East, you are likely to enjoy what you are reading as it is pure truth. "Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet" is a perfect match for those who love illustrations. The message is also given through the drawings on each page, which I DEFINITELY love. However, is it enough for a book to convey the message? That's a subjective question, but I enjoyed the book and learned the Dalai Lama's opinions on our planet.
Dalai Lama is a person whose thoughts are way ahead of his time and precious. If you are a person who is interested in the philosophy of the Far East, you are likely to enjoy what you are reading as it is pure truth. "Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet" is a perfect match for those who love illustrations. The message is also given through the drawings on each page, which I DEFINITELY love. However, is it enough for a book to convey the message? That's a subjective question, but I enjoyed the book and learned the Dalai Lama's opinions on our planet.
August 13, 2023
A little panda bear seeks out the Dalai Lama and takes him on a journey around the earth in this delightful little picture/story book. Childlike in its presentation, this small volume is nonetheless a powerful exhortation from the Buddhist spiritual leader for us to change the path we are already on towards mass extinction for ourselves and our planet. Here he reminds us again and again that we can make a difference if we only choose love, hope and compassion over greed and ignorance. In simple but inspiring language he advises and teaches us through messages like “Compassion is the radicalism of our time” and “Consider all sentient beings as dear as your mother”. Succinct, thoughtful, and wise, the Dalai Lama once again adds his voice to this much needed discussion.
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