The Seed of Compassion: Lessons from the Life and Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

In his very first children's book, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares stories from his own childhood, offering guidance and encouragement on how we all might bring more kindness and compassion to the world.

One of today's most inspiring world leaders was once an ordinary child named Lhamo Thondup. In a small village in Tibet, his mother was his first great teacher of compassion. She taught Lhamo that it was possible to treat all others with kindness and help ease their suffering. But in today’s society, that can often be a very hard task. In everyday moments from the Dalai Lama's childhood, young readers begin to see that lessons are all around us, and that they, too, can grow to truly understand the importance of compassion toward others.

With simple, powerful text, the Dalai Lama shares the universal teachings of treating one another with warmheartedness, which Bao Luu illustrates beautifully in vibrant color. In an increasingly confusing world, The Seed of Compassion offers a clear path to nurture our tendency toward loving others the way we want to be loved.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and of Tibetan Buddhism. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and the US Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Born in 1935 to a poor farming family, he was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. He has been a passionate advocate for a secular universal approach to cultivating fundamental human values. The Dalai Lama travels extensively, promoting kindness and compassion, interfaith understanding, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace.

Bao Luu was born in Vietnam and currently lives in the United States. As an artist, he focuses on color and texture in his unique illustrations. He is honored to be illustrating The Seed of Compassion.