His Holiness The Dalai Lama - In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

IN MY OWN WORDS

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IN MY OWN WORDS

An Introduction to My
Teachings and Philosophy

HIS HOLINESS
THE DALAI LAMA

Edited by Rajiv Mehrotra

HAY HOUSE, INC.
Carlsbad, California New York City
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Copyright 2008 by Tenzin Gyatso, HH The Dalai Lama, with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of HH The Dalai Lama

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed inthe United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Publishedand distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer Design: Tricia Breidenthal

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008929371

ISBN: 978-1-4019-2008-1

11 10 09 08 4 3 2 1
1st edition, September 2008

Printed in the United States of America

The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) is delighted, blessed, and honored to present this short introduction, in the words of His Holiness himself, to his ideas, teachings, and message for our fractured and troubled world.

Tenzin Gyatso, born of peasant parents, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He is celebrated by millions around the world for his profound insights into the human condition, why we experience suffering, and ways in which we can all find happiness. This is bred of his deep, continuing personal engagement and experience with some of the most sophisticated and complex spiritual techniques and practices evolved in human history.

To Buddhists around the world, he embodies the epitome of their faith, the highest human aspiration; for them he is a bodhisattva, one who consciously chooses to be born in human formwith its inevitable suffering of old age, sickness, and deathin order to teach and serve humanity.

For more than six million Tibetans, despite Chinas continuing genocide, the Dalai Lama represents their hope for a future in Tibet where they will be free to revive an old civilization that will synthesize the ancient with the modern, making his vision real. In keeping with Buddhist teachings, he continues his efforts to democratize Tibetans in exile. He has frequently argued that the issue of Tibet is not that of the future of the Dalai Lama, but of the rights and freedoms of all Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. Today, in exile, there is an elected autonomous parliament, a prime minister, and a judiciary. He makes repeated pleas that he be allowed to retire from the temporal leadership of the Tibetan cause; his preeminent global stature and the devotion of his people have meant that he remains its focal point.

To millions around the world, he is simply His Holiness, familiar for his ever-smiling face and his message of compassion, altruism, and peace.

The Dalai Lama, like all great teachers, embodies what he teaches and practices what he preaches. In his 70s, he follows a regular routine of practices that begins at 4 a.m. every day and continues for several hours. He still receives instructions and initiations from other lamas. For him there has been no single peak, no epiphanic moment, of all-encompassing enlightenment. Although regarded and celebrated as a living Buddha by his followers, he makes no such claims for himself. Like the Buddha, he is an ordinary human being like any of us. Through practicing the stages of the path, we can all find happiness and avoid suffering.

His Holiness celebrates diversity, recognizing the uniqueness of each person on our planettheir individual needs, backgrounds, and perspectives. He invites us to learn from his insights and experiences, as we can and must from all traditions, but also advises us to evolve our own journeys of learning and personal growth. The Dalai Lama encourages the most rigorous scrutiny of any teacher or teaching, urging great care before we commit ourselves to any one, and discourages spiritual dilettantes. There are no shortcuts on the path... no weekend, weeklong, or short courses to happiness and enlightenment. The journey is the destination, and the time to embark on it is the ever-unfolding present.