Approaching the Buddhist Path

by Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron

Overview

The first volume in a multi-volume collection presenting the Dalai Lama’s comprehensive explanation of the Buddhist path.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been publicly teaching Buddhism for decades. This series collects his presentations of every step of the path to enlightenment, compiled and coauthored by one of his chief Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron.

The Buddha wanted his students to investigate, to see for themselves whether what he said were true. As a student of the Buddha, the Dalai Lama promotes the same spirit of investigation, and as the rich tradition of the Buddha makes its way into new lands and cultures, His Holiness has recognized that new approaches are needed to allow seekers in the West to experience the relevance of the liberating message in their own lives. Such an approach cannot assume listeners are free from doubt and already have faith in Buddhism’s basic tenets. The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, therefore, starts from the universal human wish for happiness and presents the dynamic nature of the mind. This first volume also provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama’s own personal experiences. It stands alone as an introduction to Buddhism, but it also provides a foundation for the systematic illumination of the path in the volumes to come. 

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion collects the Dalai Lama’s decades of presentations of every step of the path to enlightenment. It has been compiled and coauthored by one of his chief Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614294573
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	08/15/2017
Series:	The Library of Wisdom and Compassion , #1
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	589,171
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto: “My religion is kindness.”

 

Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.

Table of Contents

Prologue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama xi

Preface Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron xv

Abbreviations xxvii

1 Exploring Buddhism 3

The Purpose of Existence and the Weaning of Life 4

A Middle Way between Theistic Religions and Scientific Reductionism 6

Buddhadharma and Other Religions 8

Religion in the Modern World 11

A Broad Perspective 13

2 The Buddhist View of Life 17

What Is Mind ? 17

Body, Mind, Rebirth, and Self 22

The Four Truths or the Aryas 27

Dependent Arising and Emptiness 31

Dependent Arising and the Three Jewels 33

The Possibility of Ending Duhkha 36

3 Mind and Emotions 39

Buddhism, Science, and Emotions 39

Happiness and Unhappiness, Virtue and Nonvirtue 42

Emotions and Klesas 44

Constructive and Destructive Emotions 45

Emotions and Survival 52

Working with Afflictions 55

Cultivating Love and Compassion 61

A Good State of Mind 63

Working with Fear, Developing Courage 63

Hope, Desire, and Acceptance 65

Comparing Ourselves with Others and Self-Worth 66

Counteracting Depression 67

Disagreement and Conflict 68

Survival of the Most Cooperative 72

4 The Spread of the Buddhadharma and Buddhist Canons 75

Vehicles and Paths 76

The Buddha's Life 78

Early Buddhist Schools 79

Early Buddhism in Sri Lanka 82

Growth of the Mahayana 86

The Development of Tantra 89

Buddhist Canons 90

Philosophical Systems 97

5 The Buddha's Teachings form a Cohesive Whole 99

Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel 99

Authenticity of the Mahayana Scriptures 104

Nagarjuna on the Authenticity of the Mahayana Sutras 109

Is the Buddha's Word Always Spoken by the Buddha? 112

Four Authenticities 114

Four Buddha Bodies 116

Buddhism in Tibet 119

6 Investigating the Teachings 125

The Kalamas' Experience 126

Reliable Teachings 127

Treasure Teachings and Pure Vision Teachings 131

Exaggerated Statements? 134

Correctly Understanding the Point 137

Can the Dharma Change? 141

Being Practical 143

7 The Importance of Kindness and Compassion 147

A Peaceful Mind 147

The Importance of Motivation 149

Cultivating a Compassionate Intention 152

Mind Training 155

Eight Verses 159

8 A Systematic Approach 171

Paths for Spiritual Development 172

The Four Truths and Three Levels of Practitioners 178

More Than One Approach 178

Teachings for a Contemporary Audience 181

Value of the Stages of the Path 183

Two Aims and Four Reliances 185

9 Tools for the Path 191

General Advice 191

Wisdom and Faith 194

Proper Practice 198

Purification and Collection of Merit 199

Prayers and Rituals 201

Study, Reflection, and Meditation 204

Memorization and Debate 208

Role Models 213

10 Making Progress 217

Realistic Expectations 217

Advanced Practices at the Right Time 222

Checking Our Meditation Experiences 224

Signs of Progress 227

11 Personal Reflections on the Path 231

My Day 231

Gradual Progress 233

Cultivating Bodhicitta 236

Willingness to Undergo Hardship 240

Keeping a Happy Mind 241

Realized Beings 242

What I Have Learned in Life 244

12 Working in the World 247

Good Health and Dealing with Illness and Injury 248

Maintaining a Positive Attitude 250

Using Diverse Methods to Benefit Others 252

Engaged Buddhism and Political Involvement 254

Consumerism and the Environment 258

The World of Business and Finance 260

Media and the Arts 263

Science 265

Gender Equality 267

Interfaith 271

Incorporating Practices from Other Religions 274

A Nonsectarian Approach 275

Notes 279

Glossary 285

Further Reading 295

Index 297

About the Authors 325

Editorial Reviews

06/12/2017
In this first installment of the eight-volume series Library of Wisdom and Compassion, the Dalai Lama focuses on the teachings and doctrines of the Nalanda tradition. In Tibetan Buddhism, the lamrim texts serve as a guide to the stages of awakening, representing the stages progressing toward enlightenment. However, these texts presuppose not only faith, but also deep cultural familiarity with Buddha, dharma, and sangha—a problem for Westerners who have neither. As an introduction to these potentially unwieldy texts, the Dalai Lama here explores the very basics of foundational Buddhist tenets, parsing out Buddhism’s unique perspectives in the pantheon of religions. He then quickly moves to dense historical overviews of the spread of the dharma, the systematization of Buddhist teachings and practices, and practical advice for enriching one’s dharma practice by engaging directly with the world. By presenting such a broad overview of the Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama aims both to teach the uninitiated and also to resolve the sectarianism that prevents Buddhists from fully cooperating for the welfare of the world. While some sections may prove too specialist and dry for the novice, this first volume is otherwise an excellent and intellectually stimulating introduction to the Buddhist way of life. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Continuing the fruitful collaboration they began with Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron here provide the perfect entry-point for people drawn to the Buddhadharma but uncertain how to understand and practice it in a modern context. Like the great Lam Rim (stages-of-the-path) texts of Tibet, Approaching the Buddhist Path guides readers toward the Dharma by directly addressing their own values, interests, and qualms, utilizing wisdom, sensitivity, and humor to pave the way for confident engagement with the Buddha's teaching. As the debut volume in His Holiness and Ven. Chodron's 8-part Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, Approaching the Buddhist Path leaves us both richly satisfied and anticipating with delight what will come next.

Roger Jackson

We are living in an era when religion and science appear to be at odds and neither relates deeply to philosophy, and when many people regard all three—religion, science, and philosophy—as having little bearing on their own personal lives or on real-world economic and political crises. In this series of volumes, beginning with Approaching the Buddhist Path, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the capable assistance of Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron, illuminates a path of awakening that is deeply integrative and utterly relevant to all the challenges that face humanity in the twenty-first century. Presented here is an authentic path to freedom from suffering and its inner causes and to tapping into the full potential of consciousness—our own Buddha-nature. There can be no greater gift than this.

B. Alan Wallace

It’s truly wonderful that His Holiness and Thubten Chodron are collaborating to produce this much-needed series of books on the Lam Rim designed for a modern audience. These books will be highly beneficial for teachers and students alike!

Kathleen McDonald

A distillation of all Buddhist wisdom, Approaching the Buddhist Path covers its history, philosophy and meditation. Flowing in limpid language and powered by the dynamic reasoning of eminent Dharma authorities, it is suitable for all readers, beginner and advanced.

Tulku Thondup

This series reflects the fruition of the Dalai Lama’s mind in full maturation. He pushes the boundary of the traditional presentation of the path, thereby paving the way for us. Wherever he goes, we can safely go. Thanks to his unequaled spiritual authority, he may be one of the few, maybe the only, who could do such a thing. His kindness in doing so is profound.

Fabienne Pradelle