The 14th Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and spiritual leader of the Tibetans in exile, is well known in the West, but the 600-year tradition to which he is heir is less familiar. In this book, Glenn Mullin offers the life stories of all 14 Dalai Lamas in one volume for the first time. He has also included excerpts from their teachings, poetry, and other writings that illuminate the principles of Tibetan Buddhism. From the birth of the first Dalai Lama in 1391, each subsequent Dalai Lama has been the reincarnation of his predecessor, choosing to take up the burdens of a human life for the benefit of the Tibetan people. For almost six centuries, the Dalai Lamas have served as the Tibetans' spiritual leader and have held secular power for nearly half that time. The Dalai Lamas are revered as incarnations of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist embodiment of compassion, but each has been a unique individual with different abilities and temperament.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Quick trivia quiz: Which 18th-century Dalai Lama is, according to legend, still alive and traveling the earth incognito? Answer: the Sixth, who supposedly wanders the world to assist others with his spiritual knowledge. Glenn Mullin's The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation offers this tidbit alongside thousands of other anecdotes, facts and legends about the spiritual leaders of Tibet through over the last six centuries. Well researched and engagingly written, this may prove to be the definitive source on Tibet's Fab Fourteen.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
With the growing interest in the current Dalai Lama, as evidenced by the media coverage and by the number of his books currently available, this volume will be welcomed by readers. Mullin's thorough knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism and the lives of the Dalai Lamas is clearly evident here (the publisher claims that he has been studying the subject his entire life), and his coverage of the lives of all 14 Dalai Lamas in one volume makes it especially informative. In addition to biographical details, Mullin quotes from their writings, giving us insight into their teachings as well. The first chapter reviews details and legends concerning the previous lives of the first Dalai Lama, born in 1391. Mullin then devotes a chapter each to the lives of the 14 incarnations of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of compassion. In his introduction, Mullin discusses important issues such as why he confined himself almost exclusively to Tibetan sources. The book ends with a thorough bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A substantial and very important contribution; highly recommended for any library. David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
History of the Dalai Lamas,
By Nigel Jones (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation (Hardcover)
Glenn Mullin has written several books on Tibetan Buddhism, biographies of several Dalai Lamas, has been trained in Tibetan Buddhism by many senior spiritual masters and has known the current 14th Dalai Lama since the 1970's. With this as a basis he has produced the first history of the Dalai Lamas, in terms of them as an institution, as a beacon of spiritual leadership as well as showing the unique personalities of the Dalai Lamas and their close associates. This remarkable work should be of interest to anyone who likes a great story, whether they are Buddhists or not, religious or not. It shows a view of Tibetan history from the political intrigues of medieval Asia, the Great Game of Britain and Russia, to the genocide of Tibetans and their culture at the hands of the Communist Chinese. Its a fascinating look at one of the world's great spiritual traditions. It provides insight into one of the world's great tragedies - the refusal of the Chinese government to allow the Tibetan people their right to self determination. And it shows that the Dalai Lama is a not only a supreme credit to the Tibetan Race - but to the Human Race.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
With a forward by his holiness, the fourteenth Dalai Lama,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation (Hardcover)
With a forward by his holiness, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, Glenn Mullin's The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy Of Reincarnation showcases the sacred mythology associated with six hundred years of the Dalai Lamas who stood as the principal spiritual leaders of Central Asia. here is to be found a magnificently presented spiritual and political history of these amazing men who stood as gurus and spiritual advisors to Mongolian Khans and Chinese emperors, as well as the millions of peoples inhabiting the dozens Central Asian kingdoms spread over more than half a millennium. The Fourteen Dalai Lamas is an essential, core addition to any personal, academic, or community library collection on Buddhist history, beliefs, and biographies.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Fourteen Dalai Lamas,
By
This review is from: The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation (Hardcover)
This a great read for anyone interested in The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism, and / or Tibetan history. A great and informative read!
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