The Wisdom of Compassion: Stories of Remarkable Encounters and Timeless Insights

by Dalai Lama, Victor Chan

Overview

This is the Dalai Lama at his most human, and most humane, offering rare insight and behind-the-scenes stories about his interactions with remarkable people from all walks of life. Don't miss the Dalai Lama's classic book, The Art of Happiness, or his newest, The Book of Joy, named one of Oprah's Favorite Things. 

The Wisdom of Compassion shows how His Holiness the Dalai Lama approaches the world with playfulness, optimism, and a profound empathy for the suffering of others. Through his own conduct, he shows us the tangible benefits of practicing kindness, forgiveness and compassion. And he demonstrates that opening our hearts and minds to others is the surest path to true happiness.

The Wisdom of Compassion is an intensely personal portrait of the Dalai Lama. It recounts the story of his friendship with a blind Irishman, how they first met and how in later meetings the Dalai Lama comes to call him his one and only hero. It explores the Dalai Lama’s collaboration with a neuroscientist and how it results in significant discoveries about the human brain. It also brings to life poignant accounts of his uncommon encounters with a little beggar girl, a disabled boy in a critical care ward, a man who trains grandmothers to become solar engineers, and many others.

The Dalai Lama’s wisdom principles revolve around the practical application of compassion. Enhanced by his seven decades of practice and elucidated through captivating anecdotes of his own experiences, they will help readers lead more fulfilling lives. As the Dalai Lama has written many years ago: if you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want yourself to be happy, practice compassion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101602065
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/27/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	763,193
File size:	694 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. His tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is the recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2006, His Holiness was recognized with Honorary Citizenship by the Governor General of Canada.

Victor Chan is the author of the Tibet Handbook: A Pilgrimage Guide. Together with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he co-authored The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Conversations and Journeys (Riverhead, 2004). In 2005 he founded the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in Vancouver with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Table of Contents

Preface: What the Dalai Lama Knows for Sure xi

Introduction: Kira's Prostrations 1

I Overcoming Adversity

The Red Chair 13

Now Here, Three Fingers 21

A Matter of Karma 32

The Wrong End of the Binoculars 44

Ex-Prisoners, Terrorists, and a Murderer 54

To Kill a Stranger 64

A Passing Cloud 75

A Gift for the Dalai Lama 85

II Educating The Heart

Lucy and Ting 95

God Is Not a Christian 104

A Fireside Chat 113

Ninety Percent Projection 125

The Incredible Stillness of a Penalty Shoot-out 136

The Magic Trick 146

Educating the Heart 158

A Gentleman from Bangladesh 168

A Teacher in Soweto 177

III Compassion In Action

Monks in the Machine 187

A Boy from Doon 200

A Beautiful Dalai Lama 210

The Yellow Holy Whip 223

The Little Beggar Girl 231

Only One Rock Star 240

Acknowledgments 251

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Chan provides an insider’s account of the spiritual master’s teachings at venues large and small....  Leaving intact the Dalai Lama’s distinctive English, Chan vividly conveys the world leader’s intense curiosity, intelligence, explosive laughter, keen wisdom, and kindness; his account of the Dalai Lama’s conversation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu crackles with energy. Throughout, His Holiness incisively conveys his core teaching that inner transformation is key to alleviating suffering and bringing peace to a violent world. He also listens intently to innovators who are committed to the same goals. Details provide immediacy; carefully placed background information gives context. These inspiring dialogues communicate His Holiness’s worldwide appeal and essential commitment to compassion." — Publishers Weekly

“Tales of kindness and understanding from the Dalai Lama…[Readers] will come away with a better sense of the importance of communication, forgiveness and empathy, regardless of the circumstances.” – Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

An attendee at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s meetings all over the world and coauthor with him (The Wisdom of Forgiveness), Chan provides an insider’s account of the spiritual master’s teachings at venues large and small. “This is the Dalai Lama in context,” he writes, “live, unscripted, and at his most charismatic.” Encounters are arranged by theme: “Overcoming Adversity,” “Educating the Heart,” and “Compassion in Action.” His Holiness interacts with survivors of Northern Ireland’s violence, seriously ill children, social activists fighting poverty and oppression, and scientists studying compassion. Leaving intact the Dalai Lama’s distinctive English, Chan vividly conveys the world leader’s intense curiosity, intelligence, explosive laughter, keen wisdom, and kindness; his account of the Dalai Lama’s conversation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu crackles with energy. Throughout, His Holiness incisively conveys his core teaching that inner transformation is key to alleviating suffering and bringing peace to a violent world. He also listens intently to innovators who are committed to the same goals. Details provide immediacy; carefully placed background information gives context. These inspiring dialogues communicate His Holiness’s worldwide appeal and essential commitment to compassion. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Tales of kindness and understanding from the Dalai Lama. The authors--Chan previously co-wrote The Wisdom of Forgiveness (2004) with the Dalai Lama--bring forth numerous stories of empathy and consideration that they have personally witnessed. Believing that a person's goal in life is to be happy, and that the causes of unhappiness are primarily internal bouts of anger, attachment and ignorance, the Dalai Lama has spent more than 50 years practicing and promoting his wisdom to millions of people around the world. From watching the Dalai Lama interact with young children with serious illnesses to recording the wise words of his good friend, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chan portrays a rarely seen, intimate side of the Dalai Lama, whose life is full of wit and lightheartedness balanced by wisdom and compassion. Regardless of religious beliefs, readers will gain a deeper understanding of human nature and our capacity to show consideration and benevolence to those around us as they follow Chan and the Dalai Lama on a global tour. "For the Dalai Lama," writes Chan, "compassion and wisdom are the fundamental building blocks of society. In our homes and in our schools, he believes, we should systematically nurture a culture of warmheartedness, a culture of kindness. They are essential elements, critical to having a happy life." The first place this bond of compassion is formed is when a baby nurses on her mother's milk; as such, women are by nature compassionate "life-givers." Throughout, the authors' message is uplifting, if occasionally repetitive and not always wholly convincing. Although readers may not be able to spend five hours a day in meditation and prayer like the Dalai Lama, they will come away with a better sense of the importance of communication, forgiveness and empathy, regardless of the circumstances.

Kirkus Reviews