Customer Reviews

The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It seems strange to rate anything involving the Dalai Lama. As far as I'm concerned, he is far and away the finest and wisest human being alive. So not giving this book the full "five star treatment" feels strange to me. So here's why I only gave it four...

This is a very good book that centers around issues involved in christian-buddhist dialogue. I don't think it's as good a treatment as Robert Aitken's The Ground We Share - but it's very good nonetheless. However, it could have been SO much better if it had instead addressed the gospels from the point of view of what they mean in light of buddhist approaches to leading a good life, rather than what they mean with respect to more theoretical views on buddhist cosmology, questions of christian-buddhist doctrinal similarities and differences, etc.

Most of the Dalai Lama's books are very, very good in terms of relating buddhism to real life. Reading the Dalai Lama in this regard is in every respect a religious experience as well as a useful experience in learning to live a good life. However, over all I found The Good Heart to e a rather dry - though certainly scholarly - treatment of how buddhism and christianity compare and contrast with one another.

So, if you're interested in buddhist-christian dialogue on doctrinal matters, this would be a very good book for you. However, if you're looking for something more along the lines of what the Gospels really MEAN in terms of developing and nurturing a "good heart" - this is not it.

My wife is a practising Catholic, while I'm a practising Buddhist.

This meaningful book help guide our family spiritual practice, to the dismay of some fundamentalists/extremists from both sides.

May all beings be well and happy.

I've come to a point where I've realized that I've never come across a book by the Dalai Lama I didn't like. By no means does this book break away from that strict principle. While I agree with a previous reviewer who stated this kind of work isn't unique anymore, that by no means lessens the significance of Buddhist-Christian dialogues which are now taking place. If we want to be precise in the matter, Thomas Merton basically paved the way years ago with works like "Zen and the Birds of Appetite" or his lesser known "The Asian Journals." In any case, I'm here to offer you a review of the book you came to purchase today, not a rundown in inter-religious meetings in literature.

This particular work is really a transcript of a seminar H.H. the Dalai Lama had given in London back in 94 to a group of Christians. What he did was use the teachings of Jesus that paralleled with the Buddhist vision of things like world peace and universal compassion; it was truly an exceptional presentation. I doubt there are many other Buddhist teachers who could have handled this sort of discourse with questioners any better. The Dalai uses pieces such as The Sermon on the Mount (along with various other New Testament scriptures) to lay the groundwork for an erudite explanation on how what the Buddha had taught was not too dissimilar from what Jesus Christ had taught; having said this, I will note that His Holiness did not go so far as to ever state they were the same.

You and I probably know that indeed there are some fundamental differences contrasting the Buddha from Jesus. Even still, this does not discount the importance of such an encounter or the benefits many people will experience in reading it - Christians and Buddhists alike will enjoy this work tremendously, and it could make it hard for someone on the sidelines trying to choose a spiritual path to make a concrete decision...

A+++

I tend to follow the precepts of buddhism and my wife is a religious catholic. The Dalai Lama makes a great and successful effort at bridging whatever gaps he finds in the two philosophies. The anecdotes and points he made in this book allowed my wife and I to really communicate on an otherwise sensitive topic.

It is always gratifying (to me anyway) to see how others see Christianity. I feel the Dalai Lama (as well as one or two other "non-christian" authors) capture the spirit of Christianity and truly understand it. This was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

One need not be a Buddhist to gain wisdom from any of the Dalai Lamas book, and personally I believe any thinking person whose life isn't ruled by fear, but by a quest to better understand what unites believers of Buddhism and Christianity, should like this book. Let me note I am non religious.

The Dalai Lama is one of the gentle men of the world, ripe with leaders who see and even follow thru with acts of violence against those who disagree with their political and yes, sadly, their religious views/beliefs.

I happen to be somewhat odd in that I love and often find value in books that have gems of wisdom that similar to mine, but from different religions. This book also might remind readers of another gem Zen Way Jesus Way.

This year I've been learning more about Buddhism and have enjoyed reading the teachings of the Dalai Lama in several texts. The Good Heart offered interesting comparisons of the Christian and Buddhist perspectives, reflecting on specific Christian Gospel teachings. As a Christian who wants to learn more about the breadth of God's world and the people in it, I found the commentaries thought-provoking. Christians can learn much from the Dalai Lama about respecting others' points of view, and about what it means to be kind and compassionate toward others.
Be advised the book is the commentary and dialogue from the 1994 John Main Seminar, "an annual international spiritual event held in honor of the Benedictine monk John Main,whom Father Bede Griffiths once called the most important spiritual guide in the church today." pg 1
"In his opening remards, the Dalai Lama spoke about the importance of all the different forms of dialogue being practiced today between religions. He affirmed the importance of scholarly dialogue. But he also said that he felt the most important and--to use a characteristic term for a Buddhist--the most effective dialogue was not intellectual exchange, but a conversation between sincere practitioners from the position of their own faiths, a conversation that arises from a sharing of their respective practices." p5

When I discovered that a book existed on this topic, I was skeptical as to the book's value. Although this book is short in length with less than 200 pages, it is full of wisdom.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is given various passages from each of the four Gospels and is asked to evaluate them. His Holiness only evaluates the meaning of the passages while avoiding criticizing Christianity. Because he believes there is no right answer, the Dalai Lama the value in having multiple religious faiths over one dominant religion. His Holiness give a new and valuable perspective to important passages of the Gospels. Christians seeking new meaning for their faith will find value in these evaluations. Similarly, Buddhists will be enlightened by the Dalai Lama's thoughts on the life of Jesus Christ. As a whole, this is a valuable read for all.

An interesting interpretation of Christian scriptures and concepts by His Holiness and other participants. One can "feel" from the book that all gathered there are really caring people interested in genuine interfaith dialogue without any hidden agenda, for the benefit of humanity.

Truly a holy book. The simplicity of the message dissolves many of the dogmatic and traditionalist approaches that Christianity suffers from. Its messages are simple: love and compassion, do unto to others as you would have them do unto you. It forces you to be alert to truth.