About His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is considered the foremost Buddhist leader of our time. The exiled spiritual head of the Tibetan people, he is a Nobel Peace Laureate, a Congressional Gold Medal recipient, and a remarkable teacher and scholar who has authored over one hundred books. Visit the official website of the Office of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to learn more.

While His Holiness is not formally the head of Tibetan Buddhism (there never was one), he is the figurehead and ambassador of Tibetan Buddhism and culture to the world. Considered the emanation of Avalokiteshvara, he is beloved by practitioners of all the Tibetan traditions. He has taken initiations and teachings from the many branches of the Tibetan Buddhist tree and has worked tirelessly to preserve the rich set of lineages. Most importantly, His Holiness is a living example of the Buddha's teaching that through study and practice, we can all embody the sublime qualities that are to be cultivated on the path.

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The Core Teachings of the Dalai Lama

The Core Teachings of the Dalai Lama series presents essential teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that focus on the essential, practical, and proven methods taught by the Buddha and his followers over the last 2,500 years. The common thread throughout all these teachings by His Holiness is how—through contemplation and meditation—we can transform our minds, freeing us from the weight of our negative emotions and imbuing our hearts with a compassion rooted in the wisdom of how connected we really are.

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An Introduction to Buddhism

There is no one more suited to introduce beginners—and remind seasoned practitioners—of the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism than His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. With clear, accessible language and the familiar sense of humor that infuses nearly all of his work, the Dalai Lama invites us all to develop innermost awareness, a proper understanding of the nature of reality, and heartfelt compassion for all beings.

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The Complete Foundation: The Systematic Approach to Training the Mind

Clear, eloquent, simple, and profound, His Holiness’s teachings are easily accessible to beginning practitioners yet richly nourishing to those more advanced in practice. In The Complete Foundation, the Dalai Lama shows how visualization, reason, and contemplation can be systematically crafted to enhance personal development. With impeccable attention to detail and a seamless balance between technical guidance and a delightful sense of playfulness, this book exemplifies the sophistication and elegance of Tibetan Buddhist methods for spiritual development.

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Where Buddhism Meets Neuroscience: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on the Spiritual and Scientific Views of Our Minds

Is the mind an ephemeral side effect of the brain’s physical processes? Are there forms of consciousness so subtle that science has not yet identified them? How does consciousness happen? Organized by the Mind and Life Institute, this discussion addresses some of the most troublesome questions that have driven a wedge between Western science and religion. The Dalai Lama’s incisive, open-minded approach both challenges and offers inspiration to Western scientists.

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Stages of Meditation: The Buddhist Classic on Training the Mind

The Dalai Lama explains the principles of meditation in a practice-oriented format especially suited to Westerners. Based upon the middle section of the Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila—a translation of which is included—this is the most extensive commentary given by the Dalai Lama on this concise but important meditation handbook. It is a favorite text of the Dalai Lama, and he often takes the opportunity to give teachings on it to audiences throughout the world. In his words, “This text can be like a key that opens the door to all other major Buddhist scriptures.”

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Our Human Potential: The Unassailable Path of Love, Compassion, and Meditation

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a series of lectures at Harvard University, they fulfilled magnificently his intention of providing an in-depth introduction to Buddhist theory and practice. He structured the presentation according to the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and expanded their meaning to cover most of the topics of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama’s combination of superb intellect, power of exposition, and practical implementation are evident in these lectures.

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Perfecting Wisdom: How Things Appear and How They Truly Are

This extraordinarily clear exposition on the wisdom section of A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life is based on an oral teaching given in Switzerland by H.H. the Dalai Lama before an audience of thousands of Tibetans and Westerners in 1979. Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life is one of the most important texts in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhist practice. This invaluable volume with its precise elucidation of the core issues of Tibetan Buddhism stands as a key work in Buddhist literature.

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Perfecting Patience: Buddhist Techniques to Overcome Anger

To cultivate the potential for compassion and love inherent within us, it is crucial to counteract their opposing forces of anger and hatred. In Perfecting Patience, the Dalai Lama shows how, through the practice of patience and tolerance, we can overcome the obstacles of anger and hatred. He bases his discussion on A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, the classic work on the activities of bodhisattvas—those who aspire to attain full enlightenment in order to benefit all beings.

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Refining Gold: Stages in Buddhist Contemplative Practice

In this extensive teaching, the Dalai Lama beautifully elucidates the meaning of the path to enlightenment through his own direct spiritual advice and personal reflections. Based on a very famous Tibetan text, this teaching presents in practical terms the essential instructions for the attainment of enlightenment. Its direct approach and lucid style make Refining Gold one of the most accessible introductions to Tibetan Buddhism ever published.

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Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection

Exploring the esoteric subject of Dzogchen, His Holiness offers insights into one of Buddhism’s most profound systems of meditation. He discusses both the philosophic foundations and the practices of this system—taking into account the approaches of various schools and teachers.

To these teachings, His Holiness brings all those qualities which are so uniquely his—the accumulated knowledge of years of study, his curiosity, humor, and compassion, and his seemingly infinite subtlety of mind. Paying tribute to the uniqueness of Dzogchen, His Holiness sets it within the wider spectrum of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole.

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Kindness, Clarity, and Insight: The Fundamentals of Buddhist Thought and Practice

This beloved classic brings together in one volume all the major themes of the Dalai Lama’s teachings. Drawn from the lectures he gave during his first three visits to North America, the book covers the core subject matter of Tibetan Buddhism, as presented for the first time to an English-speaking audience. The chapters are arranged developmentally from simple to complex topics, which include the luminous nature of the mind, the four noble truths, karma, the common goals of the world’s religions, meditation, deities, and selflessness. Central to all these teachings is the necessity of compassion, which the Dalai Lama declares is “the essence of religion” and “the most precious thing there is.”

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Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Psychology, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection

Can the mind heal the body? The Buddhist tradition says yes—and now many Western scientists are beginning to agree. These discussions between the Dalai Lama and this group of prominent physicians, psychologists, philosophers, and behaviorists shed new light on the mind-body connection. Edited with a new foreword by Pulitzer Prize nominee Daniel Goleman, this exploration of stress, death, meditation, self-compassion, and much more underscores the timeliness and significance of working together—across scientific and religious aisles—for the greater benefit of humankind.

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From Here to Enlightenment: An Introduction to Tsong-kha-pa's Classic Text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

When the Dalai Lama was forced into exile in 1959, he could take only a few items with him. Among these cherished belongings was his copy of Tsong-kha-pa’s classic text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. In 2008, celebrating the long-awaited completion of the English translation of the Great Treatise, the Dalai Lama gave a historic six-day teaching at Lehigh University to explain the meaning of the text and underscore its importance. It is the longest teaching he has ever given to Westerners on just one text—and the most comprehensive. From Here to Enlightenment makes the teachings from this momentous event available for a wider audience.

Shambhala Pocket Library Series

Paperback

The Pocket Dalai Lama

One of the most influential Buddhist leaders of our time, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace Laureate and the exiled spiritual head of the Tibetan people. A tireless teacher and writer, he is the author of dozens of widely acclaimed works, including The Art of Happiness and The Heart of Meditation—and this compact collection brings together a selection of inspiring short teachings from many of his popular books. Addressing a broad range of subjects, such as nonviolence, impermanence, religion, politics, and human rights, these wise words show the power of goodness even in the most uncertain of times.

Paperback

The Boddhisattva Guide: A Commentary on The Way of the Bodhisattva

One of the most beloved of all Buddhist texts, The Way of the Bodhisattva is a practical guide to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. In this commentary on key sections of the text, the Dalai Lama shows how any of us can develop a truly “good heart,” and why aspiring toward the happiness and enlightenment of others is central to any genuinely spiritual path. His Holiness’s profound wisdom—the result of a lifetime of practice and study—shines brilliantly throughout this extraordinary book.

The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra

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The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, Volume 1: Tantra in Tibet (Revised Edition)

Tantra in Tibet is the first volume in The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra series in which the Dalai Lama offers illuminating commentary on Tsongkhapa’s seminal text on Buddhist tantra.

This revised work describes the differences between the Great Vehicle and Lesser Vehicle streams in the sutra tradition, and between the sutra tradition and that of tantra generally. It includes highly practical and compassionate explanations from H.H. the Dalai Lama on tantra for spiritual development; the first part of the classic Great Exposition of Secret Mantra text; and a supplement by Jeffrey Hopkins on the difference between the Vehicles, emptiness, psychological transformation, and the purpose of the four tantras.

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The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, Volume 2: Deity Yoga

Diety Yoga is the second volume in The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra series in which the Dalai Lama offers illuminating commentary on Tsongkhapa’s seminal text on Buddhist tantra.

This revised work describes the profound process of meditation in Action (kriyā) and Performance (caryā) Tantras. Invaluable for anyone who is practicing or is interested in Buddhist tantra, this volume includes a lucid exposition of the meditative techniques of deity yoga from H.H. the Dalai Lama; the second and third chapters of the classic Great Exposition of Secret Mantra text; and a supplement by Jeffrey Hopkins outlining the structure of Action Tantra practices as well as the need for the development of special yogic powers.

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The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, Volume 3: Yoga Tantra

Yoga Tantra is the third volume in The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra series, in which the Dalai Lama offers illuminating commentary on Tsongkhapa’s seminal text on Buddhist tantra.

This work opens with the Dalai Lama presenting the key features of Yoga Tantra then continues with the root text by Tsongkhapa. This is followed by an overview of the central practices by Khaydrub Je. Jeffrey Hopkins concludes the volume with an outline of the steps of Yoga Tantra practice, which is drawn from the Dalai Lama’s, Tsongkhapa’s, and Khaydrub Je’s explanations.

Tibetan Buddhism & More

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The Heart of Meditation: Discovering Innermost Awareness

The heart of meditation—the thing that brings it alive—is compassion. This is not an ordinary compassion but one that is developed and expanded in parallel with wisdom that arises through meditation. Without that essential foundation, other practices are pointless. Fortunately, the mind can be trained in compassion, and the mind thus trained is fertile ground for the practice of the Great Completeness (Dzogchen), which is considered the pinnacle of spiritual practice by many in Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness the Dalai Lama here teaches the Great Completeness simply but thoroughly, using as his reference a visionary poem by the nineteenth-century master Patrul Rinpoche to show that insight can never be separated from compassion.

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Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists

In India, at the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, it became a well-established tradition for the Dalai Lama to spend several days each year giving teachings to Buddhists from all over the world. Following his teachings, he held informal group discussions with Western students of Buddhism. In these lively exchanges, the Dalai Lama exhibits clear and penetrating insight into issues that are most important to Western students. Some of the topics discussed are: psychology, Christianity, being a practicing Buddhist in the West, spiritual teachers, reincarnation, emptiness, tantra, protector deities, liberation, meditation, compassion, disciplining others, the power of holy places, and retreats.

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The Buddhism of Tibet

Unlike most books by the Dalai Lama which are edited compilations of talks that he has given, this book consists of two texts that he himself wrote and two that he chose—all especially aimed at helping Western readers become better grounded in Buddhism. He wrote “The Buddhism of Tibet” and “The Key to the Middle Way” sections to explain the principal topics and central practices of Buddhism.

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Gentle Bridges: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on the Sciences of Mind

What is the essence of the mind? Could computers ever have consciousness? Can compassion be learned? When does consciousness enter the human embryo? These are just some of the many questions that were discussed during a historic meeting that took place between several prominent Western scientists and the Dalai Lama. Gentle Bridges is a chronicle of this extraordinary exchange of ideas.

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The Gelug/Kagyü Tradition of Mahamudra

Mahamudra, the great sealing nature, refers to systems of meditation on both the conventional and ultimate natures of the mind. These have been transmitted through the Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Within the Gelug, Mahamudra teachings occur in a combined Gelug/Kagyu tradition exemplified in the First Panchen Lama's Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. The book opens with an overview of Mahamudra by Alexander Berzin that discusses the relation of mind appearances and reality and offers practical techniques for overcoming problems of excessive worry, anxiety, and disturbing thoughts. This treasury of practical instruction contains extensive teachings on the nature of mind, the development of shamata, sutra and tantra levels of Mahamudra, and the compatibility of Dzogchen and Anuttarayoga Tantra.

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The Union of Bliss and Emptiness: Teachings on the Practice of Guru Yoga

Guru yoga is the force that gives vitality to a serious practitioner's meditation. Combining the essential aspects of the sutra path with the profound tantric techniques that activate the latent spiritual forces within us, it lays the framework of the entire Buddhist path and sets down the guidelines for undertaking a complete form of practice on a daily basis. Tantric meditation depends largely upon inspiration, and this practice taps the inspiration of unbroken lineage.

Videos

Articles

A Reader’s Guide to the Works of the Dalai Lama

The Human Situation | An Excerpt from Refining Gold

Paths and the Utilization of Bliss | An Excerpt from Our Human Potential

Developing Equanimity | An Excerpt from Stages of Mediation

First Session of Day One | An Excerpt from Perfecting Patience

Brain Control of Sleeping and Dreaming States | An Excerpt from Where Buddhism Meets Neuroscience

Preparing the Mind | An Excerpt from The Complete Foundation

“His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama” Free eBook

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