The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus

Provides comments on popular passages from the four Gospels

The result of the Dalai Lama's decision to lead the 1994 John Main Seminar sponsored by the World Community for Christian Meditation, this book is a record of the seminar. It is refreshing to read the Dalai Lama's meditations on the New Testament selections, many of which he had never read before this seminar but which are among the most familiar for Christians. As His Holiness thinks about famous passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10) and Jesus' resurrection appearance to Mary (John 20:10-18), we see them from the entirely new perspective of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual knowledge and understanding. Consequently, familiar passages are renewed and opened to unexpected insights. In his readings and his dialogues with other seminar participants, the Dalai Lama establishes himself as an authentic presence respectful of Christian traditions. Indeed, he insists that his purpose in the dialogues is not to cast doubt on Christianity but to help others rediscover the deeper meaning and power of the Christian tradition. This is a fascinating book which deserves a great deal of attention in these times of multicultural exchange.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Forced by conquest and exile to carry his teachings outside his homeland, the Dalai Lama has become a global spiritual leader instrumental in the increase in frequency and meaningfulness of interfaith dialogue, that is, the quest for common ground and mutual respect in a violently divisive world. Westerners have evinced great interest in Buddhism, and Buddhists are responding with their reflections on Christianity. Thich Nhat Hanh recognized Jesus as "one of his spiritual ancestors" in Living Buddha, Living Christ (1995), and now the Dalai Lama offers stirring and revelatory commentary on the Gospels, distinguishing carefully between similarities and differences in Buddhist and Christian thought. His holiness rejects the notion of a single universal religion, believing, instead, that there is as great a value in diversity as in harmony. This heart-opening book, based on his holiness' participation in a seminar organized by the World Community for Christian Meditation, includes commentary by Benedictine monk Father Laurence Freeman and glossaries of Buddhist and Christian terms. Donna Seaman

This is a record of a meeting in London in 1994 at which the Dalai Lama read selections from the Gospels and commented on them from a Buddhist point of view. (LJ 7/96)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.