Customer Reviews

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life

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This latest book by the Dalai Lama is a compilation of speeches he gave in NYC in the past. It lists the main traits one should practice to fulfill a healthy lifestyle: compassion, empathy, wisdom, and so on. If you have already read 'Ethics For The New Millenium' or 'The Art of Happiness' you will find that this book repeats much of the material in those books. The main difference I see in this edition is that some basic meditation techniques are covered. Overall, it is a book that reminds us of the most important qualities one should practice to create a centered life. I also recommend "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking and inspirational quotations.

An Open Heart is an interesting book and informative book. The Dalai Lama has a strong message for both Eastern and Western Civilizations. For the West he says, I think that anger and hatred actually cause more harm to us than to the person responsible for the problem. He tells us, in essence, to give being victims to our anger and hate. This message is also being presented more and more frequently by American authors who have been trained in western psychology but have modified their training to incorporate more advanced spiritual concepts  See An Encounter With a Prophet by C. A. Lewis and There is a Spiritual Solution to every problem by Wayne W. Dyer.

The Dalai Lama also has a strong message for the East. He provides a new interpretation of The Third Nobel Truth of Buddhism - Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. In the past this Truth, also contained in modified form within the Hindu religion, has caused many sincere followers of both religions to content themselves with poverty. He tells his Buddhist followers living in poverty, You yourselves must make effort; you must take initiative, with self-confidence, to bring about change.

An Open Hear is definitely a worthwhile read.

In 1999, the Dalai Lama gave two teachings in New York City. The Dalai Lama gave the first teaching (which constitutes the Introduction to this book) in Central Park on August 15, 1999 to a gathering of 200,000 people. He gave the second teaching as a series of lectures to an audience of 3,000 people in Manhattan's Beacon Theater.

The individual lecture and the series of lectures each capture something essential about the Dalai Lama's teaching and his manner of presenting it. The Central Park lecture appears designed for a large, lay audience of diverse backgrounds and religious interests. It presupposes no particular knowledge of or interest in Buddhism. In the lecture, the Dalai Lama speaks simply and eloquently about the desire of all people to secure happiness. He talks about how this goal can be achieved, with time and effort, by understanding and curbing our desires for material things, by recognizing the essential equality of human nature and human drives everywhere, and by generating compassion. There is topical material included in this lecture on matters such as protecting the environment, the noise and bustle of New York City, and the sometimes drastic consequences of fanaticism and nationalism.

The series of lectures, in contrast to the Central Park lecture, is specifically Buddhist in character. The Dalai Lama tells us that the lectures are based in large part on two Buddhist tests: the "Middle-Length States of Meditation", by an eight-century Indian writer, Kamalashila, and "The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas" by a fourteenth century Tibetan, Togmay Sangpo.

In very short succinct chapters, the Dalai Lama's lectures explain the heart of Buddhist practice for a Western audience. They discuss the origin of suffering and unhappiness in our emotions, desires, and angers which color in turn the ways we perceive the world and make us unhappy. The Dalai Lama presents and discusses meditation and reflection as making a beginning toward breaking out of the unhappy character of impulsive, emotion-driven existence. By learning about ourselves, by trying to understand the "emptiness" of reality, and by generating compassion for others, we achieve equanamity and happiness for ourselves.

It is the mark of the Dalai Lama's wisdom that he is able to explain deep and difficult teachings in a lucid, inspiring manner. The teachings themselves are difficult to grasp and difficult to implement. The Dalai Lama emphasizes that it will do little good simply to read a book and then forget about it. The teachings need to be thought about and put into practice. Each person must work from where he or she is and strive to make progress.

Thus this book consists of a single lecture for those who may have little exposure to or interest in the Dalai Lama's teachings and a more detailed treatment for those with further background and interest. Either way, the book may light a spark in the receptive reader's heart.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama may not succeed in getting justice for Tibet in his lifetime. He is, however, a recognized world leader with a tremendous following. When he gave a public talk in the east meadow of New York's Central Park in 1999, a crowd of 200,000 turned out.

This book begins with that talk, in which he endorses a spiritual ethics based on one spiritual truth we all share: that human beings are often unhappy, and that we all aspire to be happy.

The chapters that follow are good introductory lectures to a Buddhist technique (which does not require, in fact discourages, any departure from another faith). He sticks closely to the subject matter, and uses stories and humor only to help illustrate the more abstract teachings.

A strong 'dharma candy' he uses to inspire us is this happiness. That surely draws many people to the dharma: a hope for improvement, in ourselves or our situation; a sense of incompleteness. Now you, too, can frustrate your oppressors by keeping your equilibrium and your smile. There are dangers in taking such an idealistic approach, but by the end, even those goals that brought us to the cushion are kindly brought into the light and examined for what they are.

This is an easy to read book with tons of insight into a better mindset. You should read the book slowly -- take time to reflect on each idea, such as compassion. Keep the topics of the book in mind throughout your day, whether you're a mom at home, a student at school, or working in your cubicle. It will be the first step into inner peace and practicing compassion in every day life.

Of the 8 books I've read by Ngawang Losang Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, I like this one best (though I haven't read the Practice book others have mentioned). This one includes comments on several Buddhist texts (as have some of his others). However, this one is a bit more practical than the others--it includes some guidance on the 4 Immeasurables practices (loving kindness, compassion, equanimity, and joy--especially in others' happiness), Bodhichitta (Buddha Mind or universal compassion), and Shamatha or Shine (Calm or Tranquil Abiding). The last is the basic form of Tibetan Buddhist (Vajrayana) meditation. It is an essential starting point towards enlightenment--included in virtually all schools of Buddhism from Theravada (SE Asia) to Dzogchen and Mahamudra. All these teachings are presented in His Holiness' gentle, compassionate style, reflecting his own nature. I had the great fortune to meet him for a brief moment in Washington, DC and, IMHO, he is the most present and sincere and real person I've met. The value of his work (s) IMHO is more a reflection of what he is than who he is or what he says or writes.

I found this book to be very true to its title. It short and sweetly explains how to open your heart to more compassion in your everyday life. Accessible wisdom for people of many religious backgrounds. I do not think that it can (for most people) stand alone as a textbook on compassion, but as an avid reader of Buddhist/Taoist/Hindu/Christian texts I feel that it has helped me to focus my thoughts on compassion in a very real way. I would recommend it to ANYONE seeking to open their heart to others, but I would also recommend that you not stop with this one text.
So far, I have enjoyed all books that I've read by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and I think "How to Practice" would make a good companion(it is also short and sweet, however it does center around Buddhism).

I'm not a Buddhist scholar, nor am I a Christian theologian. This book puts forth a tremendously powerful approach to dealing with interpersonal, as well as international, problems. The Buddhist teachings on compassion are numerous and complex. However, this book provides a clear discussion of the benefits of compassion and the use of specific meditation techniques to foster it. It seems that these teachings integrate well with Christian, Islamic and other religious frameworks. If more religious fundamentalists took these teachings to heart, terrorism would wither and die of neglect.

Sometimes adding a new spiritual perspective can help deepen one's understanding of one's own spiritual tradition and beliefs. Certainly, that was my experience in reading this heart-warming book.

The book is structured into a series of brief essays, based on three days of teaching that the Dalai Lama did in New York City during 1999. The essays separated in time and space some very profound thoughts, in ways that made them easier to grasp. This is a book that you will want to reread many times, especially when you find your mind troubled or your compassion at a low ebb.

The Dalai Lama expresses a timeless Buddhist perspective here, but in an inclusive way. "We are all the same, mentally and emotionally." Our other differences are minor, and unimportant.

In thinking about the current war on terrorism, I was struck by his observation that "In harming our enemy, we are harmed." "Dialogue is the only appropriate method [for resolving disputes]." What harm are we doing now in this war to innocent people, to ourselves, to unborn generations, and to the environment of the world we inhabit?

The Dalai Lama explains that "In Buddhism compassion is . . . the wish that all beings be free of their suffering." Interestingly, he points out that "If we have a positive mental attitude, then even when surrounded by hostility, we shall not lack inner peace." Have we looked enough within in mentally and physically responding to the attacks of September 11th?

The book contains many worthy thoughts about how to create a "better balance between material preoccupations and inner spiritual growth."

An Open Heart will probably be most meaningful to those who are very interested in spiritual questions (of whatever religious persuasion or philosophy) and who pray or meditate regularly. If you are externally oriented, you may not find that the words and thoughts resonate within you.

As a person who prays and meditates several times a day, I found his expressions of ways to improve the benefits of conscious (or analytical) meditation and settled meditation very interesting and helpful. I especially liked his invocation for how to be more humble. "We can always find some quality in someone else where we are outshone." And "reflect upon the kindness of others" upon which we all depend. He advises beginning with strangers as a conscious object of compassionate meditation, so that we can strengthen our empathy with those we feel most distant towards. As we get better at this empathizing, we can move on to building compassion for those we dislike or fear.

I was pleased to see that we are encouraged to practice the right things, and to focus away from the speed of our progress.

Whether or not you agree with the concept of reincarnation as expressed here, this book can certainly help guide you to greater spiritual peace, more ethical actions, and achieving greater wisdom. I found it particularly freeing and fulfilling to think about creating a life dedicated to "the sake of all sentient beings" as part of my focus.

May your heart, mind, and spirit constantly grow in openness and caring!

In my humble belief, this book might have been more appropriately titled, "On Peace: A Guide to Inner and External Happiness." As we go about our somewhat materialistic lives, its important and helpful to consider what it is we desire. As we embark in the passion of work, play or friendship, its important to consider what we are doing on this earth.

Such answers are provided by this book. It is a compilation of the speeches and lessons taught by the Dalai Lama on his three day visit to New York City culminating in a speech given at Central Park to a crowd of 200,000 people.

This book is less about compassion and more about finding an inner meaning to your life. Loosely interpreted, it is about finding peace, a peace which arrives from the happiness of your actions, and a happiness which arrives from assisting others rid themselves of suffering.

I believe Buddism, and this book particularly argue that there is no material self but rather only soul. It serves as an important guide both in a broad and specific sense of how to meditate, open your heart, and perhaps most of all, open your mind. The Dalai Lama speaks of global issues and the way in which one can internalize those issues so as to project compassion both inward and outward. The value of his teachings and this book are twofold. Just by reading this book, you will instantly recognize a path to self improvement, and upon reflection, meditation and most importantly practice, you will reap the eternal benefits of a life dedicated to the betterment of yourself and ultimately mankind.

This glowing review was written a day after having completed the book, and I hope to stand by it, a year, and even a decade or more from now. In the meantime, I hope to read it again, and I hope to impart its wisdom onto my soul and onto the soul of those around me.