Author:Dalai Lama
This book is a first. There has never been one entirely dedicated to the spiritual life of the Dalai Lama. Yet as one of the world's most recognised, and respected, spiritual leaders there is already great interest in such a work from His Holiness' thousands of friends and followers around the world.
The Dalai Lama sees himself first and foremost as a human being, secondly as a monk and thirdly as the former political leader of Tibet. In this extraordinary autobiography we read many hitherto unknown stories from his childhood, his formation as a monk and his gradual development as a leader of his people. We are offered a view of his daily spiritual practise, invited to listen in on the dialogue he has been pursuing with other religions, with non-believers and with scientists in his search for ethical and environmental principles, and shown how he brings a sense of goodness and conscience to political life around the globe.
In a world that is so profoundly interdependent, the Dalai Lama explains how he transforms himself through spiritual means in order to have a positive effect on the world, and he encourages us to do the same by working on ourselves first of all.
A symbol of serenity, a spiritual leader second only to the Pope
—— IndependentThe Dalai Lama is the most influential person in the world
—— Time magazineHe draws crowds that no other spiritual leader or politician could hope to match...he seems to look at life in a different way to everyone else
—— The TimesA man of great intelligence and charm...He has become the lynch pin of hope for a great many people
—— Professor Robert Thurman, author of Infinite LifeA subtle, quick, complex and extraordinarily intelligent man who brings three qualities to a spiritual discourse - gentleness, clarity and laughter
—— Professor Robert Kieley, Harvard UniversityLucid and thought-provoking . . . deserves to be widely read
—— Jenni Russell , Sunday TimesFor the reader who seeks to understand happiness, my advice is: Begin with Haidt
—— Martin E P Seligman, professor of psychology, University of PennsylvaniaThich Nhat Hanh's words are like water. Simple, pure, transparent, and absolutely indispensable for life
—— Alejandro Iñárritu, director of Birdman and The RevenantJohn Gray, the counter-prophet who scorns all claims that humans can transcend the human condition ... You don't have to agree with Gray to enjoy the fireworks
—— Marek Kohn , IndependentElegant ... He is on to something important regarding the delusion that science consists of indefinite progress
—— Sunday TelegraphGray is an engaging writer, an entertaining historian and a controversialist whose opinions can never be taken for granted
—— New Statesman