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Rating: 
Summary: words of wisdom
Review: A great lecture! Very informative. Robert Thurman's introductions are well done. I especially liked it when the dalai lama spoke in english; which he did several times throughout the discs. I used to watch this every night to help me go to sleep and i remember having dreams of enlightenment. Even though the dalai lama speaks in his native tongue most of the time, certain messages are spoken through his countenance that i have never seen another person express. its truly amazing just to observe him. very soothing and comforting. i loved it. im sure you will too!
Rating:
Summary: A rare opportunity....
Review: After waiting patiently for the arrival of these DVDs I want to say that I feel very priviliged to have at my fingertips an opportunity to see and hear the wonderfully compassionate Holiness right in my own home. Technology is great. It is a rare opportunity indeed and I'm sure I will cherish these DVDs for a long time. They will be very useful also for study groups. I want to thank all the people who made it possible.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, comprehensive, easy to understand
Review: As a Christian trying to understand Buddhism better, I found this a clear and concise introduction to the central philosophy of Buddhism, with a strong humanistic emphasis. (Very different from the grass-roots Buddhist spirituality I have seen in Asia.) The Dalai Lama shows that he is not only a statesman and a leader, but also a teacher, scholar, and (most of all) a kind person. Often he amazes me with his honesty, even doubts. This little book covers a lot of ground, and uses a lot of abstract nouns and very few anecdotes in the process, so it takes concentration to read. I found his discussion of the third noble truth, emptiness, frustrating. I kept waiting for him to define exactly what he meant by "empty" "intrinsic existence" and "unreal" in the Madhyamaka school he follows, but I felt he never really explained how his idea of emptiness differed from the common sense observation that everything in life changes. I wrote in the margin on page 107, "'Nothing lasts.' Have we got any further than this yet?" because I found his explanation vague and extremely broad, so broad the Dalai Lama almost seemed at times to be defining me as a Buddhist. But otherwise most of his explanations, and his discussions of the various schools, were clear and helpful. The book ends with a rather simple but touching essay on kindness. For those who would like another perspective on self-love and compassion, try John Piper's Enjoying God: the Confessions of a Christian Hedonist, or C. S. Lewis' Four Loves. author, Jesus and the Religions of Man d.marshall@sun.ac.jp
Rating: 
Summary: If interested in the nugget of Buddhism, worth wading thru
Review: As usual, enlightenment will probably make the contents of this book self-evident. And without elightenment the contents may prove unintelligible. Yet as usual with Buddhist teachings, they point the way. And after you've traveled, you'll probably look back and nod in approval.
Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable few hours!
Review: Besides offering a thorough exposition of Mahayana belief, and indeed practice, with an anything but common traversal of the Four Noble Truths by a master, in these four videos one is invited to spend a few intimate hours in the presence of the Dalai Lama, always an ennobling experience. The camera work in this film is especially fine, making of the camera one's own eyes, as it were, and lifting the hours even lighter than they already seem. With respect to another of the reviews on this page, I found the necessary translation from the stage handled superbly, and clearly with a great deal of thought and natural reverence. In Thubten Jimpa, the Dalai Lama employs a beautifully adept translator, an interpreter not only brilliantly attuned to the words and thoughts of the Dalai Lama, but one so obviously loved by him, and who responds with a special kind of faithfulness, that a marvelous duet is often played out, only enhancing thereby this great teacher's magisterial presentation. I would add that one feels as well the 'Englishness' of the audience, so eager to quietly offer their accepting energy, so ready to listen, far more so than might be a gathering of Americans usually so conscious of themselves in the moment. The humor that ripples often between the Dalai Lama and his listeners throughout the evening is so generous and unaffected, one is returned again and again to the meaning behind the words, the experience behind the event. This is a film of the highest achievment, fortunately within the reach of us all. An unforgettable few hours!
Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable few hours!
Review: Besides offering a thorough exposition of Mahayana belief, and indeed practice, with an anything but common traversal of the Four Noble Truths by a master, in these four videos one is invited to spend a few intimate hours in the presence of the Dalai Lama, always an ennobling experience. The camera work in this film is especially fine, making of the camera one's own eyes, as it were, and lifting the hours even lighter than they already seem. With respect to another of the reviews on this page, I found the necessary translation from the stage handled superbly, and clearly with a great deal of thought and natural reverence. In Thubten Jimpa, the Dalai Lama employs a beautifully adept translator, an interpreter not only brilliantly attuned to the words and thoughts of the Dalai Lama, but one so obviously loved by him, and who responds with a special kind of faithfulness, that a marvelous duet is often played out, only enhancing thereby this great teacher's magisterial presentation. I would add that one feels as well the 'Englishness' of the audience, so eager to quietly offer their accepting energy, so ready to listen, far more so than might be a gathering of Americans usually so conscious of themselves in the moment. The humor that ripples often between the Dalai Lama and his listeners throughout the evening is so generous and unaffected, one is returned again and again to the meaning behind the words, the experience behind the event. This is a film of the highest achievment, fortunately within the reach of us all. An unforgettable few hours!
Rating:
Summary: words of wisdom
Review: dvd quality very good. the radiant smiles from his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his words of wisdom is a wonderful way to spend the day or evening. Very good explaination of the four noble truths, who else could explain it any better. lay people might find it intense and needs a great deal of contentration of the meaning of his words.
Rating:
Summary: Very Informative
Review: I liked the book, HH talked about what are the causes of sorrow.. like... anger, sexual misconduct, etc. And we can eventually control out inner enemy.. by just adhering to his advice. You know sometimes we cannot control thoughts... as to thoughts control us... I found the 4th chapter very informative..and Appendix chapter.. which says Compassion is Key to everything.. It was basically juice for the book for me. I have to confess that I didn't understand the concept of emptiness.. and how that compares to Liberation..maybe in down the line I will.. And sometimes vocabulary for me for little out there.. but Hey that is how we learn. =)
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, comprehensive, easy to understand
Review: In this small book His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a completely comprehensive, easy to understand explanation and discussion on The Four Noble Truths, which are the foundation of the Buddhist teaching. Yet the book transcends religious beliefs and is actually a book on living happily and peacefully no matter what one's beliefs are. This book, therefore, is for anyone and everyone who is interested in living a more peaceful life. His Holiness explains the most complex issues of human existence in a form that is so simple anyone can understand. He readily gives examples and compassionately faces all alternative arguments to the issues. Everything makes sense. He includes a complete glossary and recommendations for further reading. The last chapter focuses on compassion, complementing the teaching on The Four Noble Truths, and beautifully illustrates how the teachings can be applied to daily life. One completes the reading with no unanswered questions and a profound feeling of peace. It is an inspiring, uplifting, informative little book that will be read over and over again. PS: Great for gift giving too.
Rating:
Summary: Words From A Master
Review: These videos are a documentary of teachings on The Four Noble Truths presented by H.H. the Dalai Lama at Barbicon Hall in London, with a translator on hand to help act as a go-between in the exchange. The Dalai Lama, as just about all Buddhist masters would agree, feels that The Four Noble Truths are the core of all of Buddhism. They are: 1. We suffer, not only active anguish but wide-ranging dissatisfaction and unease. 2. The origin of this suffer is our clinging, desire and attachments. 3. There is an End to suffering. 4. That pathway out of suffering is the Eightfold Path. Robert Thurman, America's foremost scholar on Tibetan Buddhism at Columbia University, introduces the Four Noble Truths here. The Dalai Lama strikes a chord within all of us on this film with his succinct marking out of the Buddhist path of freedom, self-control, and compassion. I offer you a short review because of course the Dalai Lama will explain it all for you! Enjoy.
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