Best Dalai Lama Books

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 10 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #153 in Religion, #7,306 overall

Top books by the most inspiring spiritual teacher today

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 continuing attempts at peaceful dialog with the Chinese government is amazing. 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.

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

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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Learn more about Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama 

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

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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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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: $10.36 (as of 11/25/2009)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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More about the Dalai Lama and his books 

Glücksregeln für den Alltag / Happiness at work by Dalai Lama ...
Journal entry 1 by Maika621 from Villingen-Schwenningen, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Monday, November 23, 2009. I hope that somebody finds the book and can read it. Maybe the book goes afterwards still further on travelling. ...
PQ365 » Book Rallying for Social Change Fails to Inspire the Masses
During his recent visit to Europe, the Dalai Lama has garnered quite a number of honors, including honorary citizenship in Rome and a honorary citizen of Venice the next day before arriving in Germany to receive the German Media Prize. ...
- BASIL AND SPICE MIND AND BODY - Book Review: Be The Change By Ed ...
The award-winning authors of 14 other books on meditation, they have taught this art at corporations as well as jails. The forewords are written by the His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also Robert Thurman (a professor of Indio-Tibetan ...

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