From Publishers Weekly
In this anthology, Willis (Why Meditate?) draws from 17 diverse sources to illuminate the multifaceted life of the 14th Dalai Lama. Both those who follow the Tibetan spiritual leader closely and those who are merely interested in seeing what prompts the global attention can benefit from this artful array of autobiography, biography, conversation, spiritual commentary and essays. Some of the most touching passages are found in the excerpts from the Dalai Lama's My Land and My People, such as this autobiographical memory of the most momentous [day] Lhasa had ever seen.... Everything was fresh and gay with spring: the spears of the new green grass, the delicate buds on the poplar and willow trees, the lotus leaves in the lake thrusting up to the surface and unfolding to the sun all was green.... That was the last brief moment of peace of mind I was to know. The very next moment, Lhasa erupted with thousands of Tibetans in revolt against the Chinese presence. Commentary, such as that found in an excerpt from Stages of Meditation, rests comfortably alongside more popular pieces such as an essay by Heinrich Harrer, whose time teaching the Dalai Lama was chronicled in Seven Years in Tibet. There are also interviews with His Holiness by actor/performance artist Spalding Gray and travel writer Pico Iyer. In Buddhist terms, this choice book is a comprehensive vehicle.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
Readers who want to appreciate and understand the scope and depth of the Dalai Lama’s wisdom must currently select from a variety of books. Now, A Lifetime of Wisdom brings together those writings that, taken together, constitute an essential account of the Dalai Lama’s teaching legacy. A thoughtful, inspirational, and beautifully designed and packaged collection of the most essential writings by the Dalai Lama, A Lifetime of Wisdom includes accounts of the Dalai Lama’s early days as a child plucked from obscurity to rule over Tibet, his struggles with the Chinese who invaded his country, and his tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace. Readers will come away with a comprehensive sense of the Dalai Lama’s fundamental themes, from personal happiness to world peace.
