Best Dalai Lama Books List 2011, 2012

Ranked #254 in Culture & Society, #6,396 overall

Top books by the most inspiring spiritual teacher today: best sellers

The Dalai Lama is that unique mix of a spiritual teacher and a political leader. Unlike the Pope he is virtually uncontested as a spiritual inspiration. His attempts at peaceful dialog with the Chinese government were amazing. Now that he's retired as a political leader, he can put all his energy into his spiritual teachings. His attempts at finding a meeting ground between Buddhist philosophy and practice and scientific research is inspiring.

What follows are the top 10 (or 11) books he's written - though in most cases he had a co-writer.

See all the Books by the Dalai Lama and Tibet Calendars, Dalai Lama DVD's and Dalai Lama Quotes Posters.

Newest books by the Dalai Lama

Out in 2012 and 2011

1) How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life

A practical introduction into Tibetan Buddhism. As introductions go, this one is mostly about Tibetan Buddhist PRACTICE: meditation, kindness and day to day living.

How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life

Amazon Price: $3.61 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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2) In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

The most popular Dalai Lama book!

An introduction into the work of the Dalai Lama. If you didn't know too much about Buddhism yet, and simply want to start with the most famous teacher of this time, this is the book to get.

In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

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3) The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

A best seller with a whopping 375 reviews in Amazon when I last checked (sure to be more by now).

This book is based on interviews psychiatrist Howard Cutler had with His Holiness about the most essential questions in human existence: about the nature of love, happiness, kindness and sorrow.

Added to these interviews are Cutler's insights based on the Western psychological tradition. This adds depth to the book, as well as placing the Buddhist teachings in a modern context. All in all a classic that anyone who has read it is likely to come back to, time and again.

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

Amazon Price: $1.98 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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4) How to See Yourself As You Really Are

The core of the Buddhist path to Enlightenment is self knowledge. In this book H.H. the Dalai Lama explains that path in detail.

How to See Yourself As You Really Are

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5) The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and Teachings

From the Amazon description:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers powerful, profound advice on how to live a peaceful and fulfilling life amidst all the conflicts of the modern world.

In this distillation of his life and teachings, the Dalai Lama paints a compelling portrait of his early life, reflecting on the personal and political struggles that have helped to shape his understanding of our world. Offering his wisdom and experience to interpret the timeless teachings of the Buddha, The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace is fresh and relevant to our troubled times. He explains in a simple and accessible way how each of us can influence those around us by living with integrity. And he holds out hope that, through personal transformation, we can all contribute to a better world.

The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and Teachings

Amazon Price: $7.47 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

The kind of book you can take with you on any trip, and just ponder on - a sentence at a time, at bed time.
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6) An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life

A paperback reissue of last year's hardcover makes His Holiness the Dalai Lama's wisdom a bit less expensive: "Just as musicians train their hands, athletes their reflexes and techniques, linguists their ears, scholars their perceptions, so we direct our minds and hearts." And so with his characteristic deftness, here he builds bridges from the realities of everyday life to sublimely spiritual pursuits. This compilation, based on teachings delivered by His Holiness in New York in 1999, is founded upon a weaving of two ancient Buddhist texts. These are made accessible here in part by Vreeland's skillful editing and in part by the unflagging style of the Dalai Lama, who continues to spread his message of loving compassion beyond the borders of Buddhism. Readers who savored his The Art of Happiness and Ethics for the New Millennium will likely be ready to take these next steps into practical approaches for everyday living that are supremely grounded in Buddhist philosophy, but extend an open heart to all types of believers and nonbelievers as well. While not a manual in the traditional Western sense of highly sequenced steps, this book is a treasury of teachings that point clearly to a better way to live. Exquisite, perfectly matched photographs round out such chapters as "The Desire for Happiness," "Karma," "Compassion," "Calm Abiding" and "Wisdom." Many books today receive the Dalai Lama's blessing, but this one issues a special invitation to receive ancient wisdom through the mind and heart of a modern spiritual master.

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life

Amazon Price: $6.94 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

Learn more about Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama

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Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama

A moving account of the life of Tenzin Gyatso - from age four to his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. As his life is mixed up with the history of Tibet in this period, you will learn a lot about the occupation by China of Tibet and the horrors that accompanied that rule. As the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is a spiritual teacher as well - and this book breaths his Buddhist inspiration.

Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality (Paperback)

A valuable introduction into the overlap between scientific thought and Buddhist metaphysics. The Dalai Lama goes into the differences in approach between science and spirituality - and faces up to what's missing in each approach.

The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality

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Emotional Awareness

Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion

Paul Ekman and Tenzin Gyatso in another set of great conversations between a psychologist and the Dalai Lama. They cover various topics of psychology and science in depth.

Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion

Amazon Price: $6.98 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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Becoming Enlightened

This book goes to the heart of Buddhist practice: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace? The solution to all that is what Buddhists call 'Nirvana' or Enlightenment. This illusive goal is approachable only by spiritual practice. In this book His Holiness gives practical instruction on that path.

Becoming Enlightened

Amazon Price: $1.23 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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Ethics for the New Millennium

An uncompromising look at our time, our world wide problems - and what each of us can do to solve them. What does taking responsibility mean, and what should be our priority?

Ethics for the New Millennium

Amazon Price: $7.83 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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Healing Anger: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective

A commentary of Shantideva's "Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhisattvacharyavatara) - with anger and patience as the primary subject. A thorough analysis of the subject of anger, and the patience that can heal it. You will never look at your anger in the same way again.

Healing Anger: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective

Amazon Price: $8.96 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

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Author of this page: Katinka Hesselink

Author of this page: Katinka HesselinkKatinka Hesselink has been fascinated with religion for as long as she can remember. She started studying theosophy and the world religions in earnest when she was 19. She loves reading books about any and all the spiritual traditions, and reviews them online.

She even did a stint of university studying World Religion, specializing in Buddhism and Indian religions.

She has gathered inspiring quotes and informative articles on Buddhism, Sufism, Mystic Christianity and of course theosophy on her website Katinka Hesselink Net. On her popular spiritual blog All Considering she shares her knowledge, experiences and thoughts on spiritual topics.
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No. 1 Best Seller 

In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

Amazon Price: $6.67 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

No. 1 best reviewed 

The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living

The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living

Amazon Price: $14.48 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

No. 2 best reviewed, top seller (no. 2) 

How to See Yourself As You Really Are

How to See Yourself As You Really Are

Amazon Price: $6.60 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now