Approaching the Buddhist Path (1) (The Library of Wisdom and Compassion) - Hardcover

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 in rural eastern Tibet and recognized as a toddler as the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Groomed to be a Buddhist scholar monk and the leader of his people, his life changed dramatically when his homeland was occupied by Chinese Communist forces in the 1950s. Fleeing to India with thousands of his fellow Tibetans, he helped reestablish cultural institutions in exile and went on to become an inspiration and force for peace worldwide for his unyielding commitment to nonviolence, dialogue, and universal ethics. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, he is the now in his eighties and continues to travel and teach extensively.

Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and a bestselling author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners. 

“An excellent and intellectually stimulating introduction to the Buddhist way of life.” Source: Publishers Weekly

“We are living in an era when religion and science appear to be at odds and neither relates deeply to philosophy, and when many people regard all three—religion, science, and philosophy—as having little bearing on their own personal lives or on real-world economic and political crises. In this series of volumes, beginning with Approaching the Buddhist Path, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the capable assistance of Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron, illuminates a path of awakening that is deeply integrative and utterly relevant to all the challenges that face humanity in the twenty-first century. Presented here is an authentic path to freedom from suffering and its inner causes and to tapping into the full potential of consciousness—our own Buddha-nature. There can be no greater gift than this.” Author: B. Alan Wallace, president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies and author of The Attention Revolution

“A distillation of all Buddhist wisdom, Approaching the Buddhist Path covers its history, philosophy and meditation. Flowing in limpid language and powered by the dynamic reasoning of eminent Dharma authorities, it is suitable for all readers, beginner and advanced.” Author: Tulku Thondup, author of The Heart of Unconditional Love

“It’s truly wonderful that His Holiness and Thubten Chodron are collaborating to produce this much-needed series of books on the Lam Rim designed for a modern audience. These books will be highly beneficial for teachers and students alike!” Author: Kathleen McDonald, author of How to Meditate

“Continuing the fruitful collaboration they began with Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron here provide the perfect entry-point for people drawn to the Buddhadharma but uncertain how to understand and practice it in a modern context. Like the great Lam Rim (stages-of-the-path) texts of Tibet, Approaching the Buddhist Path guides readers toward the Dharma by directly addressing their own values, interests, and qualms, utilizing wisdom, sensitivity, and humor to pave the way for confident engagement with the Buddha's teaching. As the debut volume in His Holiness and Ven. Chodron's 8-part Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, Approaching the Buddhist Path leaves us both richly satisfied and anticipating with delight what will come next. Author: Roger Jackson, John W. Nason Professor of Asian Studies and Religion, Emeritus, Carleton College

“This series reflects the fruition of the Dalai Lama’s mind in full maturation. He pushes the boundary of the traditional presentation of the path, thereby paving the way for us. Wherever he goes, we can safely go. Thanks to his unequaled spiritual authority, he may be one of the few, maybe the only, who could do such a thing. His kindness in doing so is profound.”  Author: Fabienne Pradelle, Executive Director, Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture