The Art of Living: A Guide to Contentment, Joy, and Fulfillment - Softcover

Dalai Lama XIV

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007156162 ISBN 13: 9780007156160

Publisher: Element Books Ltd, 2003

Synopsis

The simple teaching of His Holiness the Dalai Lama blend beautifully with photographs of the Tibetan landscape and people, monastic and lay practitioners of Buddhism. The full color photos in this book and the Dalai Lama's teaching on living a joyful life offers readers a very personal encounter with the Dalai Lama.

About this title

Review:

The Dalai Lama is one of the world's most loved and respected religious leaders. Exiled from his native Tibet since the 1950s, he has probably done more to introduce the West to Buddhism than any other figure, not just through his teachings but through the example of his life, his quiet dignity, humility, calmness, and obvious love for mankind. These are the qualities that shine through in The Art of Living. Subtitled "A Guide to Contentment, Joy and Fulfillment", this book is the text of a series of lectures the Dalai Lama gave at Wembley, London, in 1993. The talks deal with the problems of suffering, living, and dying with straightforward language, common sense, and compassion. You don't have to be a Buddhist to find the teachings valuable. For example, the Dalai Lama quotes the Indian scholar Shantideva: "If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." The talks in this book cover such areas as "Dealing with Anger and Emotion", and "Giving and Receiving: A Practical Way of Directing Love and Compassion." In the final short chapter, "The Challenge for Humanity: An Interfaith Address", the wisdom of the Dalai Lama is clear in his plea for mutual understanding between the plurality of the world's religions. The text of this book has been published before, both in The Power of Compassion and in The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching. What makes this edition different, as with the Dalai Lama's A Simple Path, is Ian Cumming's breathtakingly beautiful color photographs of mountains, monasteries, and monks in Tibet and India. --David V. Barrett, Amazon.co.uk

From the Publisher:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He is also regarded as the world?s foremost Buddhist leader and the manifestation of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

A scholar and a man of peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has travelled the world, not only to raise international awareness of the enormous suffering of the Tibetan people, but also to talk about Buddhism and the power of compassion.

Since 1959 His Holiness has been living in exile in Dharamsala, India, after China?s troops crushed a Tibetan National Uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. China invaded Tibet in 1949/50.

In 1989 His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. Since coming into exile he has met many of the world?s political and spiritual leaders, including President Clinton, Prime Minister John Major, President Vaclav Havel, His Holiness Pope John Paul, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He has shared with these leaders his views on human interdependence and his concerns about the arms trade, threats to the environment and intolerance.

His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. In lectures and tours, he disarms audiences with his simplicity, humour and great warmth. Everywhere his message is the same ? the importance of love, compassion and forgiveness.

The text for this book is taken from a series of public lectures given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Wembley Auditorium in London, England, in May 1993. Although hundreds of people were able to hear these lectures, many people have since asked the Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London, for transcripts. The Office of Tibet is therefore delighted to be able to offer these words of His Holiness to a world-wide audience.

In the original lectures, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke mainly in English, but also to his official translator in Tibetan. The May 1993 visit was sponsored by The Tibet Foundation, London.

The Office of Tibet would like to thank Jane Rasch and Cait Collins for their many hours spent on transcribing the tapes. We would also like to thank His Holiness?s translator, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, and Heather Wardle for their work in editing the text into book form.

Kesang Y Takla (Mrs) Former Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama London

About this edition

• Publisher: Element Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0007156162
• ISBN 13: 9780007156160
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176