Rating: 
Summary: Meaningful Spiritual Guidance for Today's Troubled Times
Review: Sometimes adding a new spiritual perspective can help deepen one's understanding of one's own spiritual tradition and beliefs. Certainly, that was my experience in reading this heart-warming book. The book is structured into a series of brief essays, based on three days of teaching that the Dalai Lama did in New York City during 1999. The essays separated in time and space some very profound thoughts, in ways that made them easier to grasp. This is a book that you will want to reread many times, especially when you find your mind troubled or your compassion at a low ebb. The Dalai Lama expresses a timeless Buddhist perspective here, but in an inclusive way. "We are all the same, mentally and emotionally." Our other differences are minor, and unimportant. In thinking about the current war on terrorism, I was struck by his observation that "In harming our enemy, we are harmed." "Dialogue is the only appropriate method [for resolving disputes]." What harm are we doing now in this war to innocent people, to ourselves, to unborn generations, and to the environment of the world we inhabit? The Dalai Lama explains that "In Buddhism compassion is . . . the wish that all beings be free of their suffering." Interestingly, he points out that "If we have a positive mental attitude, then even when surrounded by hostility, we shall not lack inner peace." Have we looked enough within in mentally and physically responding to the attacks of September 11th? The book contains many worthy thoughts about how to create a "better balance between material preoccupations and inner spiritual growth." An Open Heart will probably be most meaningful to those who are very interested in spiritual questions (of whatever religious persuasion or philosophy) and who pray or meditate regularly. If you are externally oriented, you may not find that the words and thoughts resonate within you. As a person who prays and meditates several times a day, I found his expressions of ways to improve the benefits of conscious (or analytical) meditation and settled meditation very interesting and helpful. I especially liked his invocation for how to be more humble. "We can always find some quality in someone else where we are outshone." And "reflect upon the kindness of others" upon which we all depend. He advises beginning with strangers as a conscious object of compassionate meditation, so that we can strengthen our empathy with those we feel most distant towards. As we get better at this empathizing, we can move on to building compassion for those we dislike or fear. I was pleased to see that we are encouraged to practice the right things, and to focus away from the speed of our progress. Whether or not you agree with the concept of reincarnation as expressed here, this book can certainly help guide you to greater spiritual peace, more ethical actions, and achieving greater wisdom. I found it particularly freeing and fulfilling to think about creating a life dedicated to "the sake of all sentient beings" as part of my focus. May your heart, mind, and spirit constantly grow in openness and caring!
Rating: 
Summary: No...
Review: This is a badly constructed book. There is a book written by the
Dali Lama that is just incredible!!! And will blast you to the moon. I'll get to that in a bit. Because His Holiness refuses
to go native, his books center around a sort of floppy disc
form of global Buddhism (Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's Buddhism in the West).
The book is not well-thought out. Based on three sacred texts,
we try to deal with the topic of compassion. And we do so to an
extent. Mostly based on His Holiness'es talks in August, 1999,
we are left with a lot of form and little substance. This is a good book if you are an adept practioner. Geshe Kelsang Gyato's
books, on the otherhand, are a dream. This is even admitted by
followers of the Dali Lama (there was a deep rift between the two parties in 1996-1998 that split Tibetan Buddhism into two
sects; Tibetan Buddhism and global Buddhism). Gysatso's books are clear and lucid. What makes me quite frustrated is that the
Dali Lama has written an absolutely tremendous book for you and me called "How to Practice." This book is tremondous and it deals virtually with everything one could possibly want to know in order to do Tibetan Buddhism in one's kitchen sink with a minimum of fuss. For those of you who want to give me a negative vote for
knocking the Dali Lama, I am not doing so. Nobody pays attention to "How to Practice" by the Dali Lama and my friends just get a bored look. I say, "It's not what you think! He even tells you how many pillows to put under your [bottom]." And they say, "Yeah. Yeah. The Dali Lama is kewl man." Buy Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's books. But then find yourself very suprised. In "How
to Practice," the Dali Lama hits a home run that is a grand slam. "How to Practice" came out in 2002, so keep an eye out for
it. Buy the book above for helping out the Tibetans. And it can add
some useful information. But that is all.
Rating: 
Summary: Teachings of the Dalai Lama
Review: This latest book by the Dalai Lama is a compilation of speeches he gave in NYC in the past. It lists the main traits one should practice to fulfill a healthy lifestyle: compassion, empathy, wisdom, and so on. If you have already read 'Ethics For The New Millenium' or 'The Art of Happiness' you will find that this book repeats much of the material in those books. The main difference I see in this edition is that some basic meditation techniques are covered. Overall, it is a book that reminds us of the most important qualities one should practice to create a centered life. I also recommend "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking and inspirational quotations.
Rating:
Summary: In your heart, you know he is right
Review: Timeless wisdom but hard to implement....Combine this with Confucius and Marcus Aurelius, and you have a pretty good philosophy to live by.
| 
