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

By Dalai Lama

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.

Replaces ISBN 9781571746092

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781612834320

Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto: “My religion is kindness.”  

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

THE OCEAN OF WISDOM

On my origins

I was born in a small village called Taktser, meaning the roaring tiger, on 6 July 1935. Taktser is in the northeast of Tibet, in Amdo province, which borders on to China. My parents were peasant farmers. On the whole, my parents grew enough to feed the family. In peasant families such as ours, it was important to have many children, and my mother gave birth to 16 children, but nine of them died when they were very young. Of course, at that time nobody imagined that I was anything but an ordinary baby.

After I was born, a couple of crows began frequenting the roof of our house. They would arrive each morning, stay there for a while, and fly off again. This is of interest because a similar event took place after the births of the First, Seventh, and Eighth Dalai Lamas.

How I was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama

When I was barely three years old, a team charged by the Lhasa government with the task of finding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama arrived at the monastery in Kumbum. Various signs led these men to my parents’ farm, where they spent the night playing with me and observing me very closely. They returned a few days later with a set of objects that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, and other identical objects that had not belonged to him. Presented with each one of the objects that had belonged to him, I would cry out, This is mine! This is mine! That is how I was eventually recognized as the new Dalai Lama.

My mother remembers very clearly that as soon as I arrived in Lhasa, I said that my teeth were in a box, in a particular room of the Norbulingka (the summer palace). When the box was opened, it was found to contain a set of teeth, which had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama.

Bodhisattva of compassion, holder of the white lotus

I am considered to be the reincarnation of each one of the previous Dalai Lamas — the first was born in 1351 — and, in turn, each one is considered to be a manifestation of the bodhisattva of compassion, the holder of the white lotus. Tibetans therefore believe me to be the 14th manifestation in a lineage, which goes back to a Brahmin child who lived at the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, some 2,500 years ago.

Very few people indeed have ever been considered in any way divine. Thanks to my role, I am able to bring a lot of benefit, and for this reason I appreciate it. This role is also very useful for people in general, and I owe it to my karma to have been reborn into it. You could say that my circumstances are extremely fortunate. However, behind the idea of good fortune actually lie real causes and conditions: there is the karmic force of my capacity to take on the role, and there is my wish to do so.

The Indian monk Shantideva wrote:

"As long as space endures,

As long as sentient beings remain,

Until then, may I too remain

And dispel the miseries of the world."

I make this wish in my present life, and I am sure I have made it in past lives too.

My mother

My mother was without doubt one of the kindest people I have ever met. She was really wonderful and full of compassion. One day, when there was terrible famine in the neighboring area of China, and when many poor people would cross the border in the hope of finding something to eat in Tibet, one couple came to our door with a dead child. They pleaded with my mother to give them food, which she did immediately. And then, pointing to their child, she asked them whether they needed help to bury him. Once they had understood her question they shook their heads, and gestured that they intended to eat him. Horrified, my mother asked them to come into the house, and gave them everything she had in the larder. Even at the risk of depriving her own family, never would she let a beggar leave empty-handed.

Loneliness as a small child

Several months after the search party had decided that the child they found in Taktser was the true incarnation of the Dalai Lama, my parents took me to Kumbum Monastery where I was enthroned during a ceremony held at dawn. The period after that was a lonely and rather unhappy phase in my childhood. My parents left, and I was alone in a totally unfamiliar environment. It is very hard for a child to be separated from loved ones. Most of the time, I was unhappy. I did not understand what it meant to be a Dalai Lama, because I felt I was a little boy like any other.

In the winter of 1940, I was taken to the Potala where I was officially enthroned as spiritual leader of the Tibetan people during a ceremony that took place in the largest reception room in the palace. I remember especially the first time I sat on the large wooden lion throne, sculpted and encrusted with precious stones.

Soon after, I was taken to the Jokhang Temple, where I took the vows of a novice. Reting Rinpoche symbolically shaved off my hair. He was the Regent, acting as the head of State until I came of age.

Apart from Reting Rinpoche, I had two other preceptors and three monks who served me: the master of ceremonies, the master cook, and the master of robes. Wherever I went I was accompanied by a large retinue of ministers and advisors from the most eminent and noble families in the country, all dressed in sumptuous silk gowns. Each time I left the Potala, almost the entire population of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, would try to catch sight of me. And as my procession went by, everyone would prostrate in respectful silence, frequently in tears.

The master cook

When I was very young, I was very fond of the master cook. I loved him so much I always wanted to be with him, even if this meant just being able to see the hem of his gown below the curtains, which serve as room partitions in Tibetan houses. Luckily, he tolerated my behavior. He was virtually bald, very gentle, and simple. He was not a very good storyteller, and he did not like to play much, but these things did not matter at all.

Since then, I have often wondered about the nature of our relationship. Sometimes I think that food is an essential ingredient in every type of relationship between living beings.

On my studies

My life was strictly regulated. I studied twice a day, for one hour each time, and spent the rest of the day playing. Then, at the age of 13, I was obliged to do the same studies as any monk preparing for a doctorate in Buddhism. There were 10 subject areas, of which the five higher subjects are: the art of healing, Sanskrit, dialectics, arts and crafts, and the philosophy of religion. The five secondary subjects are poetry, astrology, dramatic arts, literary style, and language studies.

My studies were not well balanced and did not meet the training needs of anyone who was to become a national leader in the 20th century. They were based on a routine, but I got used to it. Occasionally I would have holidays, and they were happy times. Lobsang Samten, my older brother, would come to visit me. Sometimes my mother would also come and bring me a loaf of the thick and delicious bread that is a specialty of Amdo province. She would bake it herself.

Losar, the New Year festival

The most important festival in the year is Losar, the New Year, celebrated in February or March of the Western calendar. For me, Losar meant my yearly meeting with Nechung, the State oracle, who would offer me, and the government as a whole, the opportunity to consult the Tibetan deity Dorje Drakden about the year to come.

Contrary to what people

Reviews for The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace

[blacklin_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, I have not finished reading this book. I know. I received it in February of 2009. However, when I began reading it, I was surprised to find that the first half of the book is about his life in Tibet before he had to flee. While interesting, I was expecting more instruction on spiritual wisdom. While I find the first half of the book interesting because it discusses his life and his dealings with the Chinese. I have not finished the book yet because I am not up for a political autobiography right now, but what I have read is interesting. I just wish this book was either an entire autobiography about his life or an entire book full of his spiritual instruction. With the latter,, I probably would have continued reading the book.

[morphidae_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'm highly disappointed in this book and quit reading it about halfway through. I thought I was getting a book that I could read daily with activities or meditative exercises to bring me inner peace. Instead I got an autobiography, a political soap box and lectures on how we are all lazy, weak and ignorant, among other things. I was unpleasantly surprised by the negativity and seeming arrogance of someone who is supposedly so spiritually advanced. No, thanks.

[oldmanriver1951_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love small books, and they make such great reading in small spaces, and they are perfect for gifts. I've always admired the Dali Lama and within these pages you will find a distillation, a condensation of the essence of his life and teachings, the lessons he has learned from his earliest years to the present date. You will find yourself amazed that someone who has had the personal and political struggles that he has had to endure can be so serene and settled into the mindset of 'oneness', as he is. If you want someone to understand the concept of Buddhism in todays world, look no further than this little book...buy two, you'll want to keep one and share the others.

[tehanu_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love this little book! It doesn't flow logically from one chapter to the next but, I think, is meant to be read and savored a chapter at a time; little kernels of wisdom to chew on.

[arctic1stranger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This best way to "read" this book is to just dip into it at random. Sometimes you get lucky, and find somethings that may change your outlook on the day, other times you just nod along, and occasionally, but not often I had a WTF response. Very rarely did the sayings seem trite or contrived.

[biunicorn_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Riki's ReviewsThe Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner PeaceThe Essential Life and Teachingsby His Holiness The Dalai Lama This 382 page totally enlightened book is the prefect bedside buddy. I was able to read it in many different situations. I found it's soothing thoughts helpful for those middle of the night terrors, and I also liked it for those times when I just wanted a little something to think about. Another great feature of this book is when I was in the mood for some spiritually uplifting reading I could just sit and devour it's sage advice for hours. The format was simple and I could feel the love just pouring from every page. I found the definition of karma very apt and easy to understand and the section on the negatives and positives associated with the ego made me do a lot of hard thinking. I would recommend this excellent teacher to anyone who is hungry for another big helping of love & light. I do thank His Holiness for this and a million other things. Love & Light, Riki Frahmann

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful little book containing words of wisdom by the Dalai Lama. Most of this book will make you stop, take a deep breath, and slow down. There a few things I disagreed with, but that is okay. Any book worth reading will make you think.

[kinnicchick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and Teachings is the perfect introductory work for anyone to read from HH The Dalai Lama. I read it in two sittings (it has 379 pages of text but it truly is a little book), but I will definitely read it again in smaller chunks. And I will be purchasing it for people as gifts, the first for my 21 year old daughter, who will find so much wisdom in its pages.It is broken up into several sections, the first describing how he came to be recognized as The Dalai Lama and the history of Tibet during his time as their political and spiritual leader. The next couple of sections cover the world today and how the politics and spirituality of Tibet fits into it. And then he rounds it all out discussing inner peace and practices used to promote it. I liked it so much because of the simplicity of the statements in every section. I appreciated that each section seemed complete in and of itself. I believe everyone who has some interest in the life of this man, in his work, in his history, will find something of value within the pages. I felt peace and hope while reading it. And I will seek out more of his writings for future reading.Personal transformation is key to peace. And as everyone has heard from Ghandi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." HH is all about personal transformation. Not just to save yourself, though. Bodhisattva's are courageous spiritual beings who are dedicated to bringing about the welfare of all sentient beings. That's what it's all about.

[briefmissives · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book for those who are wholly unfamiliar with the Dalai Lama, his life, and his teachings. It's quite short, as the amount of text on each page is quite small - and the pages themselves are rather small, too! Reading it will give you a decent bird's eye view of Tibetan Buddhism, but if you're looking for something more in-depth, you'll have to look elsewhere. I thought that trying to cram in bits about Buddhism and about his life was a little much for this one little book.Also, for those who might care: this is *not* actually written by the Dalai Lama. It's noted in the beginning of the book that it's actually compiled by someone else, based on a number of the Dalai Lama's talks. While I realize the words are still his, I think it's worth pointing this out, as it's clearly marketed to appear as if *written* by him.

[nonobadkitty_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really love this little book, I flip it open to a random page and read what's there. Each entry is very short and most of them are little bits of wisdom or short explanations of Buddhist principles. And a few of them are little tidbits from his own personal life. Interesting and enlightening. I'm not sure reading this book will lead to inner peace, but it at least gives you things to be aware of and think about. Would make a nice gift book for a Buddhist (or even a non-Buddhist.)

[susiebrooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nice little introduction to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and Buddhism. Good read for those who are curious, but aren’t interested in devoting much time to the subject. Very redundant for those who have read any of his other books.

[airycat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and TeachingsI read this little book in one night. The first half of the book gives a brief autobiography, a summary of the state of Tibet and a summary of the state of the world. None of this is in depth. In the second half of the book, he talks about his own beliefs and how they bring inner peace. The book, as a whole, gives a good background of who the Dalai Lama is, in a well rounded, if not detailed, manner. I have several books in my library by the Dalai Lama, but I'm glad that I read this one firstThe book is the words of the Dalai Lama, himself, but the book was put together by Frédérique Hatier. The quotes are kept individual and titled topically. Reading the quote following any title would provide food for thought, and for the most part would be suitable meditation for any religious belief. Even as a Christian, though I disagree with some of his beliefs about God, his words provided me the opportunity to affirm my own beliefs. Though we disagree on that one point, there is very little else we disagree on. And there is no argument with this disagreement. Our paths vary slightly (much less than I thought, though the one point is a major one), but our goals are the same. We both desire love and peace for our world.This is a book I enjoyed reading and will read again, although probably not straight through, but rather, as an adjunct to my personal meditations.