Teachings on wisdom, compassion, and meditation by one of the world's foremost spiritual teachers.

The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), the spiritual leader of Tibet, has lived in exile since 1959. While working to preserve the culture of his homeland, he has also served as one of the preeminent representatives of Buddhism in the West. Through his wide travels and his many bestselling books he has helped to spread the Buddhist precepts of wisdom and compassion, while also fostering peace and understanding between different religious paths. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This anthology, drawing on over twenty books, presents the essential teachings of the Dalai Lama, highlighting a message that speaks to people of all traditions.

Thomas A. Forsthoefel is chair of the religion department at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Soulsong: Seeking Holiness, Coming Home and co-editor of Gurus in America.

	Contents: The Dalai Lama - Essential Writings
	Acknowledgments	7
	Sources	11
	Introduction: The Teachings of Buddhism	13
1.	WISDOM	49
	Premises	51
	An Anthropology	51
	Interdependence	54
	The Awareness of Cause and Effect for Mental Transformation	56
	The Truth of No Fixed Identities and Its Implications	58
	Emptiness	61
	Wisdom and Transformation	65
	Sensibilities and Truths	73
2.	MORALITY	77
	Premises	79
	Compassion	80
	The Enemy	87
	Anger and Afflictive Emotion	88
	Perspectives	94
3.	MEDITATION	104
	Premises	106
	Memento Mori: Death as a Catalyst for Transformation	111
	Approaches and Methods	114
	Equanimity and Impartiality	119
	On Mothers as Source of Meditation	121
	Exchanging Self for Others	125
	Mindfulness	126
	Perspectives	128
4.	RELIGIONS AND THE WORLD	130
	Premises	131
	On Religions	132
	Christians, Christian Beliefs, and Buddhism	138
	Science and Spirit	144
	Politics	148
	Health in Body, Mind, World	152
	The Call	156