The Essential Dalai Lama: His Important Teachings (Paperback)

by Rajiv Mehrotra (Editor) "O Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and disciples of the past, present, and future:..." (more)
Key Phrases: calm abiding meditation, mental pliancy, settled meditation, Four Noble Truths, Greater Vehicle, Buddha Shakyamuni (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The Dalai Lama reaches out to a global following with a vision that is transforming, secular, and accessible to all. -- Rajiv Mehrotra

Review
The Dalai Lama reaches out to a global following with a vision that is transforming, secular, and accessible to all. (Rajiv Mehrotra)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143037803
• ISBN-13: 978-0143037804
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #820,873 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to Buddhism, June 7, 2007

By	A. Chiu "happy camper" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Essential Dalai Lama: His Important Teachings (Hardcover)

Before reading this book, I have read his two other phenomenal books by His Holiness - The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living and The Art of Happiness at Work. These two books are very practical books with concepts that we can easily relate to and apply to our day to day lives. I read them in a time of sadness and confusion, and they have really helped to put me on the right track again.

The Essential Dalai Lama provided a great introduction of the essential Buddhist concepts to me. The books is actually a collection of chapters from various books by His Holiness. The pace is good for beginners and the ideas are presented in great clarity.

From my point of view, most of the teachings from His Holiness are actually religiously neutral. Many of the concepts are simply ancient wisdoms that have been passed through the experience of many generations. These wisdoms can serve as short-cuts to help all of us, regardless of religious and cultural background, to understand our mind better, to live happier and healthier, and to make this world a better place for our fellow human beings.

To summarize, I think this book could be a bit theoretical as the first introduction to Buddhism. It's easier to read the two books that I mentioned earlier or other books by Thich Nhat Hanh such as Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. On the other hand, for someone who wants to learn the key buddhist concepts in a systematic way for the first time, the Essential Dalai Lama offers an excellent choice.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unimpressive, December 10, 2007

By	guest (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Dalai Lama: His Important Teachings (Hardcover)

Normally I am very impressed after reading Dalai Lama books; however, this one didn't leave me with the same feeling.

I suppose the title of this book: "The Essential Dalai Lama - His Important Teachings", was chosen because each chapter of this book consists of an excerpt taken from other Dalai Lama books. I think the best aspect of this book is that even though this book in its entirety is a compilation of sections taken from about 20 different Dalai Lama books, it flows and reads well, as if all the chapters were written for this one book.

The most disappointing feature of this book is that I didn't get anything out of it. Even the chapters that are sections out of what I think are from the "best" Dalai Lama books, are uninspiring in this book because this book lacks the many pages of "lead-in" that the original more thorough books have.

Fortunately, I have read many other Dalai Lama books prior to this one. I find that some of the Dalai Lama books are a waste of time to read, while others are some of the most enlightening books I've ever read.

To date, my two most favorite (5 Star)and highly recommended (essential) Dalai Lama books are:

A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night - A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life

The Heart of the Buddha's Path