Rating: 
Summary: An open heart is an awakened mind.
Review: "Our spiritual journey is a long one," the Dalai Lama writes in this compilation of dharma teachings delivered in New York in 1999. "We must choose our path with care, ensuring that it encompasses all those methods that lead us to our goal. At times the journey is steep. We must know how to pace ourselves down to the snail's path of profound contemplation while also ensuring that we do not forget our neighbor's problem or that of the fish swimming in the polluted oceans many thousands of miles away" (p. 54). In this book, His Holiness shows us how to open our hearts and cultivate compassion toward all beings. He begins his book with an introduction he first delivered to more than 200,000 people in Central Park, during which he expressed his views on the "importance of respecting our neighbors, our compatriots, our fellow nations, and all of humanity. He shared his way of transforming pride into humilty and anger into love. He expressed his concern for the divide between rich and poor. He ended by leading a prayer for all beings to find happiness" (p. xv)."It is my hope," the Dalai Lama says, "that the reader of this small book will take away a basic understanding of Buddhism and some of the key methods by which Buddhist practitioners have cultivated compassion and wisdom in their lives" (p. 29). Throughout his book, His Holiness urges us to recognize that the nature of worldly life is suffering. "I therefore believe that cultivating a correct understanding of the way things are is critical to our quest for happiness" (p. 34), he writes. He teaches us how to cultivate loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity, and how to transform negative, "afflictive" emotions--attachment, hatred, pride, and greed, for example--into compassion through "analytical" and "settled" meditation practices. "Meditation is the process whereby we gain control over the mind and guide it in a more virtuous direction," he explains. "Meditation may be thought of as a technique by which we diminish the force of old habits and develop new ones. We thereby protect ourselves from engaging in actions of mind, word or deed that lead to our suffering" (p. 46). These clear, engaging teachings demonstrate that "an open heart is an open mind. A change of heart is a change of mind" (p. 84). They also provide a good introduction to the Buddhist path by a trusted spiritual advisor, and they are accessible to readers of different religious backgrounds. They demonstrate how an understanding of "the miserable nature of life" can lead us to an appreciation of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha--the Three Jewels in which Buddhists seek shelter. For those readers interested in living life with an open heart, I would also recommend Pema Chodron's recent book, THE PLACES THAT SCARE YOU (2001). G. Merritt
Rating: 
Summary: A Guide To Understanding How
Review: "An Open Heart" lists the main traits one should practice to fulfill a healthy lifestyle: compasion, empathy, wisdom, and more. If you have read "Ethics For The New Millenium" or "The Art of Happiness" you will find that "An Open Heart" is somewhat a review, however, in the "An Open Heart," His Holiness teaches some techniques on meditation. Overall, it is a good book that reminds us of the most important qualities one should practice to obtain a healthy life.
Rating:
Summary: An open heart is an awakened mind.
Review: "Our spiritual journey is a long one," the Dalai Lama writes in this compilation of dharma teachings delivered in New York in 1999. "We must choose our path with care, ensuring that it encompasses all those methods that lead us to our goal. At times the journey is steep. We must know how to pace ourselves down to the snail's path of profound contemplation while also ensuring that we do not forget our neighbor's problem or that of the fish swimming in the polluted oceans many thousands of miles away" (p. 54). In this book, His Holiness shows us how to open our hearts and cultivate compassion toward all beings. He begins his book with an introduction he first delivered to more than 200,000 people in Central Park, during which he expressed his views on the "importance of respecting our neighbors, our compatriots, our fellow nations, and all of humanity. He shared his way of transforming pride into humilty and anger into love. He expressed his concern for the divide between rich and poor. He ended by leading a prayer for all beings to find happiness" (p. xv). "It is my hope," the Dalai Lama says, "that the reader of this small book will take away a basic understanding of Buddhism and some of the key methods by which Buddhist practitioners have cultivated compassion and wisdom in their lives" (p. 29). Throughout his book, His Holiness urges us to recognize that the nature of worldly life is suffering. "I therefore believe that cultivating a correct understanding of the way things are is critical to our quest for happiness" (p. 34), he writes. He teaches us how to cultivate loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity, and how to transform negative, "afflictive" emotions--attachment, hatred, pride, and greed, for example--into compassion through "analytical" and "settled" meditation practices. "Meditation is the process whereby we gain control over the mind and guide it in a more virtuous direction," he explains. "Meditation may be thought of as a technique by which we diminish the force of old habits and develop new ones. We thereby protect ourselves from engaging in actions of mind, word or deed that lead to our suffering" (p. 46). These clear, engaging teachings demonstrate that "an open heart is an open mind. A change of heart is a change of mind" (p. 84). They also provide a good introduction to the Buddhist path by a trusted spiritual advisor, and they are accessible to readers of different religious backgrounds. They demonstrate how an understanding of "the miserable nature of life" can lead us to an appreciation of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha--the Three Jewels in which Buddhists seek shelter. For those readers interested in living life with an open heart, I would also recommend Pema Chodron's recent book, THE PLACES THAT SCARE YOU (2001). G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: A Message for East and West
Review: An Open Heart is an interesting book and informative book. The Dalai Lama has a strong message for both Eastern and Western Civilizations. For the West he says, I think that anger and hatred actually cause more harm to us than to the person responsible for the problem. He tells us, in essence, to give being victims to our anger and hate. This message is also being presented more and more frequently by American authors who have been trained in western psychology but have modified their training to incorporate more advanced spiritual concepts ' See An Encounter With a Prophet by C. A. Lewis and There is a Spiritual Solution to every problem by Wayne W. Dyer.
The Dalai Lama also has a strong message for the East. He provides a new interpretation of The Third Nobel Truth of Buddhism - Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. In the past this 'Truth', also contained in modified form within the Hindu religion, has caused many sincere followers of both religions to content themselves with poverty. He tells his Buddhist followers living in poverty, 'You yourselves must make effort; you must take initiative, with self-confidence, to bring about change. An Open Hear is definitely a worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: Truth!
Review: Freedom of religion, as practiced in the United States of America, is an awful and illogical liberty. In our quest to be inoffensive, we act as if multiple, mutually exclusive, truth claims can all be valid at the same time, and religious preference is merely a matter of personal taste. As a consequence of our corporate irresponsibility, many are left free to follow lies and the path to eternal corruption. I am a conservative Christian, who believes that the only path to truth lies through God's grace as presented to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians confess to be the Messiah. I, personally, believe that Buddhists and followers of non-Christian religions are wrong. BUT... My personal faith claims do not undermine the wisdom of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's teachings on meditation and compassion. In his little book, the Dalai Lama lays out for us a path to a more inhabitable planet. Demonstrating that he fully comprehends the flawed, sinful nature of all people, His Holiness goes on to show us how all creatures can live together in a more peaceful world. He gives us a practical method by which to change ourselves for the good of all. AND... He even warmed this grumpy, old Lutheran's heart. Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Truth!
Review: Freedom of religion, as practiced in the United States of America, is an awful and illogical liberty. In our quest to be inoffensive, we act as if multiple, mutually exclusive, truth claims can all be valid at the same time, and religious preference is merely a matter of personal taste. As a consequence of our corporate irresponsibility, many are left free to follow lies and the path to eternal corruption. I am a conservative Christian, who believes that the only path to truth lies through God's grace as presented to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians confess to be the Messiah. I, personally, believe that Buddhists and followers of non-Christian religions are wrong. BUT... My personal faith claims do not undermine the wisdom of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's teachings on meditation and compassion. In his little book, the Dalai Lama lays out for us a path to a more inhabitable planet. Demonstrating that he fully comprehends the flawed, sinful nature of all people, His Holiness goes on to show us how all creatures can live together in a more peaceful world. He gives us a practical method by which to change ourselves for the good of all. AND... He even warmed this grumpy, old Lutheran's heart. Read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: An idealistic basis for practice
Review: His Holiness the Dalai Lama may not succeed in getting justice for Tibet in his lifetime. He is, however, a recognized world leader with a tremendous following. When he gave a public talk in the east meadow of New York's Central Park in 1999, a crowd of 200,000 turned out. This book begins with that talk, in which he endorses a spiritual ethics based on one spiritual truth we all share: that human beings are often unhappy, and that we all aspire to be happy. The chapters that follow are good introductory lectures to a Buddhist technique (which does not require, in fact discourages, any departure from another faith). He sticks closely to the subject matter, and uses stories and humor only to help illustrate the more abstract teachings. A strong 'dharma candy' he uses to inspire us is this happiness. That surely draws many people to the dharma: a hope for improvement, in ourselves or our situation; a sense of incompleteness. Now you, too, can frustrate your oppressors by keeping your equilibrium and your smile. There are dangers in taking such an idealistic approach, but by the end, even those goals that brought us to the cushion are kindly brought into the light and examined for what they are.
Rating:
Summary: An idealistic basis for practice
Review: His Holiness the Dalai Lama may not succeed in getting justice for Tibet in his lifetime. He is, however, a recognized world leader with a tremendous following. When he gave a public talk in the east meadow of New York's Central Park in 1999, a crowd of 200,000 turned out. This book begins with that talk, in which he endorses a spiritual ethics based on one spiritual truth we all share: that human beings are often unhappy, and that we all aspire to be happy. The chapters that follow are good introductory lectures to a Buddhist technique (which does not require, in fact discourages, any departure from another faith). He sticks closely to the subject matter, and uses stories and humor only to help illustrate the more abstract teachings. A strong 'dharma candy' he uses to inspire us is this happiness. That surely draws many people to the dharma: a hope for improvement, in ourselves or our situation; a sense of incompleteness. Now you, too, can frustrate your oppressors by keeping your equilibrium and your smile. There are dangers in taking such an idealistic approach, but by the end, even those goals that brought us to the cushion are kindly brought into the light and examined for what they are.
Rating:
Summary: Accessible Wisdom! ....in a compact format
Review: I found this book to be very true to its title. It short and sweetly explains how to open your heart to more compassion in your everyday life. Accessible wisdom for people of many religious backgrounds. I do not think that it can (for most people) stand alone as a textbook on compassion, but as an avid reader of Buddhist/Taoist/Hindu/Christian texts I feel that it has helped me to focus my thoughts on compassion in a very real way. I would recommend it to ANYONE seeking to open their heart to others, but I would also recommend that you not stop with this one text.
So far, I have enjoyed all books that I've read by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and I think "How to Practice" would make a good companion(it is also short and sweet, however it does center around Buddhism).
Rating:
Summary: Pathway to a Better Life and a Better World
Review: I'm not a Buddhist scholar, nor am I a Christian theologian. This book puts forth a tremendously powerful approach to dealing with interpersonal, as well as international, problems. The Buddhist teachings on compassion are numerous and complex. However, this book provides a clear discussion of the benefits of compassion and the use of specific meditation techniques to foster it. It seems that these teachings integrate well with Christian, Islamic and other religious frameworks. If more religious fundamentalists took these teachings to heart, terrorism would wither and die of neglect.
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