The Power of Compassion: A Collection of Lectures

THE POWER
OF COMPASSION

A Collection of Lectures byHis Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa

Table of Contents

Cover Page

Title Page

Preface

Chapter One: Contentment, Joy and Living Well

Chapter Two: Facing Death and Dying Well

Chapter Three: Dealing with Anger and Emotion

Chapter Four: Giving and Receiving: A Practical Way of Directing Love and Compassion

Chapter Five: Interdependence, Inter-connectedness and the Nature of Reality

Chapter Six: The Challenge for Humanity: An Interfaith Address

Chapter Seven: Questions and Answers

Copyright

About the Publisher

PREFACE

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He is also regarded as the world’s foremost Buddhist leader and the manifestation of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

A scholar and a man of peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has travelled the world, not only to raise international awareness of the enormous suffering of the Tibetan people, but also to talk about Buddhism and the power of compassion.

Since 1959 His Holiness has been living in exile in Dharamsala, India, after China’s troops crushed a Tibetan National Uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. China invaded Tibet in 1949/50.

In 1989 His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. Since coming into exile he has met many of the world’s political and spiritual leaders, including President Clinton, Prime Minister John Major, President Vaclav Havel, His Holiness Pope John Paul, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He has shared with these leaders his views on human interdependence and his concerns about the arms trade, threats to the environment and intolerance.

His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. In lectures and tours, he disarms audiences with his simplicity, humour and great warmth. Everywhere his message is the same – the importance of love, compassion and forgiveness.

The text for this book is taken from a series of public lectures given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Wembley Auditorium in London, England, in May 1993. Although hundreds of people were able to hear these lectures, many people have since asked the Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London, for transcripts. The Office of Tibet is therefore delighted to be able to offer these words of His Holiness to a worldwide audience.

In the original lectures, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke mainly in English, but also to his official translator in Tibetan. The May 1993 visit was sponsored by The Tibet Foundation, London.

The Office of Tibet would like to thank Jane Rasch and Cait Collins for their many hours spent on transcribing the tapes. We would also like to thank His Holiness’s translator, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, and Heather Wardle for their work in editing the text into book form.