The first volume in a multivolume collection presenting the Dalai Lama's comprehensive explanation of the Buddhist path--now in paperback!

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been publicly teaching Buddhism for decades. This series collects his presentations of every step of the path to enlightenment, compiled and coauthored by one of his chief Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron.

The Buddha wanted his students to investigate, to see for themselves whether what he said was true. As a student of the Buddha, the Dalai Lama promotes the same spirit of investigation, and as the rich tradition of the Buddha makes its way into new lands and cultures, His Holiness has recognized that new approaches are needed to allow seekers in the West to experience the relevance of the liberating message in their own lives. Such an approach cannot assume listeners are free from doubt and already have faith in Buddhism's basic tenets. The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, therefore, starts from the universal human wish for happiness and presents the dynamic nature of the mind. This first volume, now in paperback, also provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama's own personal experiences. It stands alone as an introduction to Buddhism but also provides a foundation for the systematic illumination of the path in the volumes to come.
Approaching the Buddhist Path, The Dalai Lama, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 360 pages, $21.95

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and an advocate for compassion and peace throughout the world. He promotes harmony among the world's religions and engages in dialogue with leading scientists. Ordained as a Buddhist monk when he was a child, he completed the traditional monastic studies and earned his geshe degree (equivalent to a PhD). Renowned for his erudite and open-minded scholarship, his meditative attainments, and his humility, Bhiksu Tenzin Gyatso says, "I am a simple Buddhist monk."

Bhiksuni Thubten Codron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. Growing up in Los Angeles, she graduated with honors in history from UCLA and did graduate work in education at USC. After years studying and teaching Buddhism in Asia, Europe, and the United States, she became the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. A popular speaker for her practical explanations of how to apply Busddhist teachings in daily life, she is the author of several bestselling books, including Buddhism for Beginners. She is the editor of Khensur Jampa Tegchok's Insight into Emptiness. For more information, visit sravastiabbey.org and thubtenchodron.org.

	Prologue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama	xi
	Preface by Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron	xv
	Abbreviations	xxvii
1.	EXPLORING BUDDHISM	3
	The Purpose of Existence and the Meaning of Life	4
	A Middle Way between the Theistic Religions and Scientific Reductionism	6
	Buddhadharma and Other Religions	8
	Religion in the Modern World	11
	A Broad Perspective	13
2.	THE BUDDHIST VIEW OF LIFE	17
	What Is Mind?	17
	Body, Mind, Rebirth, and Self	22
	The Four Truths of the Aryas	27
	Dependent Arising and Emptiness	31
	Dependent Arising and the Three Jewels	33
	The Possibility of Ending Duhkha	36
3.	MIND AND EMOTIONS	39
	Buddhism, Science, and Emotions	39
	Happiness and Unhappiness, Virtue and Nonvirtue	42
	Emotions and Klesas	44
	Constructive and Destructive Emotions	45
	Emotions and Survival	52
	Working with Afflictions	55
	Cultivating Love and Compassion	61
	A Good State of Mind	63
	Working with Fear, Developing Courage	63
	Hope, Desire, and Acceptance	65
	Comparing Ourselves with Others and Self-Worth	66
	Counteracting Depression	67
	Disagreement and Conflict	68
	Survival of the Most Cooperative	72
4.	THE SPREAD OF THE BUDDHADHARMA AND BUDDHIST CANONS	75
	Vehicles and Paths	76
	The Buddha's Life	78
	Early Buddhist Schools	79
	Early Buddhism in Sri Lanka	82
	Growth of the Mahayana	86
	The Development of Tantra	89
	Buddhist Canons	90
	Philosophical Systems	97
5.	THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS FORM A COHESIVE WHOLE	99
	Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel	99
	Authenticity of the Mahayana Scriptures	104
	Nagarjuna on the Authenticity of the Mahayana	109
	Is the Buddha's Word Always Spoken by the Buddha?	112
	Four Authenticities	114
	Four Buddha Bodies	116
	Buddhism in Tibet	119
6.	INVESTIGATING THE TEACHINGS	125
	The Kalamas' Experience	126
	Reliable Teachings	127
	Treasure Teachings and Pure Vision Teachings	131
	Exaggerated Statements?	134
	Correctly Understanding the Point	137
	Can the Dharma Change?	141
	Being Practical	143
7.	THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION	147
	A Peaceful Mind	147
	The Importance of Motivation	149
	Cultivating a Compassionate Intention	152
	Mind Training	155
	Eight Verses	159
8.	A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH	171
	Paths for Spiritual Development	172
	The Four Truths and Three Levels of Practitioners	178
	More Than One Approach	178
	Teachings for a Contemporary Audience	181
	Value of the Stages of the Path	183
	Two Aims and Four Reliances	185
9.	TOOLS FOR THE PATH	191
	General Advice	191
	Wisdom and Faith	194
	Proper Practice	198
	Purification and Collection of Merit	199
	Prayers and Rituals	201
	Study, Reflection, and Meditation	204
	Memorization and Debate	208
	Role Models	213
10.	MAKING PROGRESS	217
	Realistic Expectations	217
	Advanced Practices at the Right Time	222
	Checking Our Meditation Experiences	224
	Signs of Progress	227
11.	PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE PATH	231
	My Day	231
	Gradual Progress	233
	Cultivating Bodhicitta	236
	Willingness to Undergo Hardship	240
	Keeping a Happy Mind	241
	Realized Beings	242
	What I Have Learned in Life	244
12.	WORKING IN THE WORLD	247
	Good Health and Dealing with Illness and Injury	248
	Maintaining a Positive Attitude	250
	Using Diverse Methods to Benefit Others	252
	Engaged Buddhism and Political Involvement	254
	Consumerism and the Environment	258
	The World of Business and Finance	260
	Media and the Arts	263
	Science	265
	Gender Equality	267
	Interfaith	271
	Incorporating Practices from Other Religions	274
	A Nonsectarian Approach	275
	Notes	279
	Glossary	285
	Further Reading	295
	Index	297
	About the Authors	325