Violence and Compassion: Dialogues on Life Today [Paperback]

In 1993, well-known French screenwriter Carriere traveled to Dharamsala, India, the encampment and center of exiled Tibetans, to interview the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of a country occupied by China since 1950. In these wide-ranging talks, the Dalai Lama calls for democratic elections in Tibet, supports birth control and women's rights and stresses the global need for population control as a step toward combating poverty and environmental destruction. He suggests that Buddhism, with meditation as its core practice, can be an antidote to racism and fundamentalism of every stripe, because it teaches tolerance, peace of mind, compassion and the interdependence of all things. He touches on a variety of topics, from reincarnation to the big bang. These conversations, introduced by Carriere's interlinking commentaries, apply practical spiritual intelligence to contemporary worldwide problems.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

This book records the conversation that screenwriter Carriere (The Unbearable Lightness of Being) held with the Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1993. The topics covered range from exile and reincarnation to education and science. In each dialog, Carriere questions the Dalai Lama about the meaningfulness of Tibetan Buddhism in the world today. The Dalai Lama's responses are often playful, but they alsoare filled with the penetrating insight we have come to expect from this wise religious leader. Unfortunately, Carriere too often dominates the conversation with his naive questions, sometimes even presuming to answer the question for the Dalai Lama. Not recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Timeless wisdom on life today from a leading French intellectual and one of the greatest of contemporary spiritual leaders that picks up where The Art of Happiness left off.

French film writer Jean-Claude Carri're had the extraordinary opportunity to sit down for a series of conversations with one of today's most respected and popular spiritual leaders His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Those interviews, which make up Violence and Compassion, give readers a historic chance to listen in as two formidable thinkers discuss issues that are of concern to all.

The discussion covers the various problems that confront world civilization today; including terrorism, the population explosion, environmental dangers, and an escalation in random violence. The Dalai Lama exhibits his characteristic warmth and clarity of thought throughout each of these talks, but what readers will find most valuable is his ability to cut through to the essence of each issue and offer insightful guidance. Carri're, though respectful, never settles for pat answers and consistently asks the down-to-earth questions readers themselves would undoubtedly have asked.

The insightful dialogues contained in Violence and Compassion brings humanity the profound wisdom needed to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century.

For many people throughout the world, no other figure more embodies theheart of Buddhist compassion than His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As the wisdomof Tibetan Buddhism has become better known over the past several years, theDalai Lama has become more and more of an important spiritual leader for manyin the West. But while His Holiness has spoken extensively about the practiceof Tibetan Buddhism, he has never before directly addressed the generalquestions that confront the world in the way he does in this special series ofdialogues.

French film writer Jean-Claude Carrière's conversations with the DalaiLama cover the various issues and problems that challenge world civilizationtoday--including women's rights, education, terrorism, the populationexplosion, environmental dangers, and an increase in both random and organizedviolence. The Dalai Lama exhibits his characteristic warmth and clarity ofthought throughout each of these discussions, but what is most valuable is hisability to cut through to the essence of each issue and offer insightfulguidance. From these precious talks come profound wisdom and pragmaticchallenges for humanity's move into the next millennium.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of all Tibetan Buddhists. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet, he has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India.

Jean-Claude Carri're has been the screenwriter for more than fifty films, including The Return of Martin Guerre, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and The Mahabharata, and he is also the author of The Secret Language of Film. He lives in Paris, France.