Customer Reviews

Kindness, Clarity, and Insight: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso

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In 1979, after substantial political effort, H.H. the Dalai Lama made his first visit to the United States. He travelled across the country and delivered a series of lectures. The Dalai Lama visited Canada in 1980 and returned to the United States in 1981 and many times thereafter. In 1981, the Dalai Lama and his editor and translator, Professor Jeffrey Hopkins, published a book of the Dalai Lama's early lectures in North America, "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight." It was the first of many books that have since been published based upon the Dalai Lama's lectures or upon meetings and discussions with him. Happily, the book was reissued in 2006 to celebrate the 25th year of its publication as well as the anniversary of Snow Lion Publications, an American publishing house devoted exclusively to books on Tibet.

"Kindness, Clarity, and Insight" is among the best of the Dalai Lama's books in presenting his major themes and in showing the scope of his teachings, from the most fundamental and accessible to the difficult. The book consists of a series of 20 lectures delivered during the Dalai Lama's first three visits. The lectures are arranged in a progressing order of complexity, with the opening lectures giving an introduction to the Dalai Lama's thought that requires no special interest in Tibetan Buddhism while the latter lectures focus on complex, difficult matters that arise within the various Tibetan Buddhist schools. The book is fascinating to read as it moves forward.

Throughout the book, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart through introspection and meditation rather than through pursuit of material gain and pleasure. He emphasizes the importance of altruism -- of showing concern for and working towards the well-being of others --- and he takes a broadly ecumenical approach towards religion. In his ecumenical approach, the Dalai Lama stresses that human beings everywhere are essentially alike, despite superficial differences in culture, religion, or race, and that everyone wishes to attain happiness and avoid suffering. He stresses that every religion -- and that secularism too for that matter -- shares these goals and that the differences in doctrine and philosophy among different creeds should not obscure recognition of their underlying unity of purpose. The Dalai Lama does not force his creed or any creed on anyone.

Among the best of the earlier lectures in the book are the opening talk given at Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. "Religious Values and Human Society", the lectures "Religious Harmony" and "Compassion in Global Politics" and "Buddhism East to West" which gives the Dalai Lama's early thoughts on the spread of Buddhism to the West.

But in addition to these broadly-based talks, the book includes a series of lectures providing great detail on the nature of Tibetan Buddhism. Many readers will find these lectures difficult both because the subject matter and terminology may be unfamiliar and also because the Dalai Lama's teachings make clear how different the philosophical teachings of Tibetan Buddhism are from both Western religions and Western secularism at many points. The reader should keep in mind in reading these essays the Dalai Lama's teachings earlier in the book that the fundamental goals of religion are similar while the philosophical and conceptual underpinnings differ.

The latter essays in the book that I found important include "Eight Verses for Training the Mind" in which H.H. the Dalai Lama presents eight verses written by Kadma Geshe Langri Thangpa, a Tibetan monk of the Eleventh Century, A.D. and offers a detailed commentary upon them. The goal of the verses is to create calmness in the heart and a feeling of love and compassion towards others.

The central and most difficult teaching in this book consists of a lengthy essay, "The Path to Enlightenment". This essay, based on a combination of lectures, is a discussion of a Tibetan text by Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and includes as well discussions of other important Buddhist thinkers. The Dalai Lama presents the text and offers detailed commentary. The theme of the text is the attainment of enlightenment, and the Dalai Lama expounds upon Tsongkhapa's teachings as they pertain to 1. developing the desire to be free of cyclic existence, 2. wishing to attain enlightenment for the purpose of benefitting others, and 3. developing wisdom by understanding the nature of emptiness. Each of these three steps is highly difficult and runs counter to many Western ways of understanding and behavior. Thus, these texts will be rewarding and challenging but difficult especially to readers unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism.

Other lectures in which the Dalai Lama discusses teachings specific to Tibetan Buddhism include "Tibetan Views and Dying" and the final lecture "Union of the Old and New Translation Schools" in which the Dalai Lama considers and tries to synthesize the views of various Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the ultimate nature of reality.

Even in the lectures most concerned with the specific teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama empasizes throughout the importance of kindness and of developing a good heart. Thus, he concludes his lecture on "The Path to Enlightenment" with these words:

"It is essential to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."

The Dalai Lama's teachings have been an inspiration to me and to many other Americans. May you find something in this book that will inspire you.

Robin Friedman

This was the 1st book with the Dalai Lama that I read. The title says it all. This is the book that made me fall in love with the Dalai Lama. (Spiritually speaking) :)

The newly revised and updated twenty-fifth year anniversary edition of Kindness, Clarity, Insight by The Fourteenth Dalai Lama His Holiness Tenzino Gyatso, is expertly translated and co-edited by Jeffery Hopkins and Elizabeth Napper. Offering remarkably enduring insights into the wit and wisdom of the Dalai Lama., Kindness, Clarity, And Insight deftly covered many diverse subjects ranging from "Karma", to "Meditation", to "Eight Verses for Training the mind", to "The Path to Enlightenment", to "Tibetan Views on Dying", and so much more. An essential addition to any personal, academic, or community library Buddhist Studies reference collection and supplemental reading list, Kindness, Clarity, Insight offers a Buddhist perspective which is very strongly recommended for all students of the teachings of the Dalai Lama.

this book is a collection of talks. It gave me facts about Buddism and ideas about personal growth and non-traditional, non organized religioous spirituality. the Dali Lama is one guy who has it together, period.

I'm glad to see this deluxe 25th anniversary edition. This is a great and varied overview of The Dalai Lama's teachings (from his historic first visit to America), that I have considered a classic since it first came out (although probably not his best or easiest book to read).

I had the good fortune of attending his 1979 talk in Seattle, and his teaching on the "Four Noble Truths" was a pivotal moment in my life. I was a typically confused and searching college student who had wondered before if enlightenment was even possible, but his clear outline and explanation of the causes of suffering and path to liberation showed me, in His Holiness's clear example, that it is possible and accessible to anyone who pursues it. Jeffrey Hopkins lucid and practically simul-translation was equally impressive (I felt I was witnessing a mind-meld of the two).

Perhaps most powerful was the context of this talk. The lecture hall at the U of W was packed and intimate. I had a great seat right in the middle. Only a few minutes into H.H's introductory talk on world peace (which he gave in English), he was interrupted by several RED BOOK waving Maoists, yelling, "Death to the Dalai Lama!" As one woman stood up in the front row and berated him, H.H came to the edge of the stage and listened with concern. The hall was stunned into silence. I found myself crying from the shock of it, and then a fellow stood up from the seat in front of me and yelled, "Sit down and shut up, you f_ckin' Commie!", and the spell was broken and we all chuckled and relaxed. After the protesters were carried out, H.H. said something like, "This is why we need to be discussing world peace." He then finished his intro and brought out Hopkins to translate his more technical Buddhist teaching on the path to enlightenment. My mind was open and ripe for the Dharma. The kindness, clarity and insight of the moment was magical. Within a year I had become a Buddhist myself...

There was a time when I dismissed the Dalai Lama as the latest celebrity fad. But the more I read of him, the more I studied the man's books, the more I came to realize how wrong I was.

The Dalai Lama is the real deal. He's a geniune man of compassion in a world often full of hate, anger, and violence.

In short, his life story has become an inspiration to me. If one can let go of and rise above a past as fraught with injustice as his is, one can overcome any kind of past.

In this book -- the 25th anniversary edition of his groundbreaking work -- the Dalai Lama radiates everything the title claims that he will within its pages.

If you're new to the Dalai Lama's works, this would be a great place to start. Sure, some of his other books may be meatier. Some may even be easier to understand. But this book is solid and well worth your time.

This is the 2nd book I've read by the Dalai Lama - the other is The Little Book of Inner Peace. Like other reviewers, I have very high degree of respect for this great man. There are words that come from the heart and if you're open to it, can touch yours. These ideas (e.g., we all seek happiness and to avoid suffering) are the timeless ideas that I mention in my title. There are many great verses and chapters packed with insightful words that could help you think about how you are and how you should lead your life. Thus it is a good book. As other reviewers point out, this book is really a collections of talks he held during a tour of the US in the late 1970's. The tour had a variety of audiences from Buddhist scholars to more mainstream interested civilians. Some of the chapters on the differences in approach of the various brances of Buddhism (Tibetan Budhism in particular) are very difficult and ultimately not very rewarding for the casual reader. Thus the point about "difficult" chapters.

There is enough quality thought and insight in this (and probably his other) books that deserves a very large audience. By culling the more esoteric discussions on the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, I believe he could touch the hearts of many more people. It may sound like "Dalai Lama Buddhist Philosophy for Dummies," but I don't view it that way. The things required to make one a better person can still be hard choices with long, difficult paths but the presentation of the most relevant and interesting materials could probably be done in an even better fashion. I'm sure the current editors could do it, or they could help him find one that can.

I found this to be another enlightening read. I give it four stars only because there are points in the book that require greater understanding of concepts that I have either not given much thought to or haven't yet looked in to. That is not to say they are not spot on but because I am unable to fully relate to them I cannot 5 star a review on them. In particular were the lectures on Tibetan Views on Dying, the Two Truths and Union of the Old and New Translation Schools.

Overall, this one was 4.5 stars. Everything I have read by the Dalai Lama enlightens me in some way and that stands with this book. His lectures on enlightnment, the Four Noble Truths and Religion are great. I definitely recommended this work to all seeking a greater understanding of who we are and how we should be.

Well, one need only open to the first address in Constitution Hall and read the words of Congressman Charles G. Rose, "This is a holy instant for all Americans." to get the feeling we are in for something special. Then when we open at Claremont College with the Dalai Lama's own words, "It is necessary for us to familiarize with and get used to good attitudes, but our habituation to bad emotions such as hatred makes a huge obstacle. Thus, we need to identify the various forms of bad afflictive emotions and combat them right on the spot. If you gradually become accustomed to controlling bad attitudes, over a period of years it is possible even for someone who often used to get very angry to become calm." Well, if you can identify with that or if you want to be able to achieve that, then keep at it and buy this book to further your progress.

Everything by the Dalai Lama is amazing, but I have to say that this is probably his worst book. This is the one I started reading his works on, but I would recommend reading The Art of Happiness or Ethics for the New Millenium over this one. It was only good as a starter book.