My Spiritual Journey
By Dalai Lama and Sofia Stril-Rever
4/5
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About this ebook
In this elegant self-portrait, the world’s most outspoken and influential spiritual leader recounts his epic and engaging life story. The Dalai Lama’s most accessible and intimate book, My Spiritual Journey is an excellent introduction to the larger-than-life leader of Tibetan Buddhism—perfect for anyone curious about Eastern religion, invested in the Free Tibet movement, or simply seeking a richer spiritual life. The Dalai Lama’s riveting, deeply insightful meditations on life will resonate strongly with readers of Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, or the His Holiness’s own The Art of Happiness and Ethics for the New Millennium.
Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Fourteenth DALAI LAMA, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and of Tibetan Buddhism. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. He is the author of, among many other books, the international bestseller An Appeal to the World and the New York Times bestseller The Book of Joy, which he coauthored with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He lives in exile in Dharamsala, India.
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Reviews for My Spiritual Journey
49 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Although this book does provide some autobiographical material, I was disappointed it did not have more. Still, a book well worth reading. Much of it is a reflection by the Dalai Lama on his long career, and focuses most especially on his efforts to free Tibet from the despotic control of the Chinese. I cannot help but feel discouraged for him, as he has spent over 65 years trying to bring peace to Tibet, and it seems like he is not closer today than he was in the 1950s to his goal. I am impressed with his dedication to nonviolent resistance and to pushing for peace against all odds. He also shows a remarkable equanimity toward his enemies, a testament to his spiritual path.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The teachings and memoirs of the Dalai Lama.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dalai Lama’s My Spiritual Journey presents this Buddhist’s life with extraordinary love, compassion and foresight. It’s amazing to understand how at age two as a child he was discovered through established traditional norms to be the spiritual leader of Tibet. Raised in a monastery under a regent the 14th Dalai Lama assumed his responsibility at the age of sixteen when the Chinese first invaded his ancestral home.After failed negotiations with the People’s Republic of China the Dalai Lama escaped via the Himalayas Mountains to India. While in Indian Territory with some eight thousand refugees they re-established Tibet as a refugee nation under the auspices of the Indian government. From their external home in Dharamsala the Dalai Lama persevered in an ongoing campaign with the Chinese officials for Tibet to be returned to Tibetans as an independent country.All these negotiations failed although the Dalai Lama spelled out a Five-Point Peace Plan and had even agreed to drop its demands of an independence homeland to that of having a truly authentic and autonomous state. But the People’s Republic of China viewed the Tibet-in-exile government with suspicion, and thought that their sole intention was to gain independence for Tibet.Since the 1950’s to the early 2000’s Chinese brutality has continued with thousands of Tibetans losing their lives, wounded, and imprisoned. Many Tibetans have continued to flee Tibet to neighboring countries, and died as they attempted to make their way via the Himalayas Mountains. And China has relocated many more Han Chinese to the Tibetan region where they have now outnumbered Tibetans whose culture, language, and ecological means of living have been decimated.But Tenzin Gyasto, Tibet’s spiritual leader has continued his campaign for their homeland. As head of their government-in-exile he has received multiple awards and honorary degrees, including the Congressional Gold Medal and Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his message of peace, nonviolence, interreligious understanding and compassion.
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- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In this loosely organized collection, the 14th Dalai Lama reflects on his life, his spiritual calling, and the fate of Tibet. As a lifelong Buddhist monk, he explains the tenets of his belief system, his interest in science and politics, and his hopes for the future, in an accessible way. He also discusses hobnobbing with the great and the good. For me, the most interesting part was his story of being selected, as a very young boy from an obscure corner of Tibet, as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. I wish he had said more about his and his family's emotional reaction to this rather unexpected development. Tolerance seems to be the main theme of his ministry. He recognizes the value of diverse religious traditions and, surprisingly, doesn't think that everyone should follow Buddhism.All in all, a good, if somewhat repetitive, introduction to this "humble Buddhist monk" (as he sees himself) and his remarkable life.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Here is another book I really wanted to like. Rather than the straightforward biography I was expecting, I found an almost sycophantic collection of quotes from the Dalai Lama’s speeches and interviews shaped to tell the story Stril-Rever wanted to tell. Near the end I started skipping because it had become so repetitive. I would have been better off buying something His Holiness had actually written, or one of the many biographies already on the market.
1 person found this helpful