Dede Cummings - Questions for the Dalai Lama: Answers on Love, Success, Happiness, & the Meaning of Life

One of the most powerful visions I have experienced was the first photograph of the Earth from outer space. The image of a blue planet floating in deep space, glowing like the full moon on a clear night, brought home powerfully to me the recognition that we are indeed all members of a single family sharing one little house.

H IS H OLINESS THE XIV D ALAI L AMA

N OBEL P EACE P RIZE L AUREATE , spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people, philosopher, humanitarian, promoter of scientific understanding, simple monkHis Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet represents different things to different people. Whether addressing world leaders with the message of peace; convening the most brilliant minds in the scientific community to bridge an understanding between cognitive reason and religious practice; training thousands of Buddhist monks while reciting ancient sutras; shaking hands with Tibetan refugees who risked their lives crossing the Himalayas on foot in hopes of getting a glimpse of the Dalai Lama; or speaking to students at colleges in the United States; His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama tirelessly dedicates his efforts to promote inner peace and global understanding.

It has been a profound privilege to be present in many of these settings, observing the Dalai Lamas ability to touch so many lives, including mine. Leading a typical American life in most ways, I have also had the great fortune to spend many years in India collaborating with the Tibetan community. Through these experiences, my life has forever changed; it has changed by osmosis, in large part through hearing the refrains from His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama over many years: Do not waste this precious human life; kindness is my religion; do not harm others; love, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.

These ideas and others included in Questions for the Dalai Lama gather profound thinking and deep inspiration from one of the most highly trained minds and compassionate hearts of a single individual living on the planet today. It is very heartening that this book is now widely accessible, further promoting His Holiness message of peace and harmony to an increasingly large audience. The answers His Holiness gives are thoughts we can return to time and again: during lifes challenges, when contemplating happiness, or simply when seeking an inspiration for the day. Whatever the reason may be, may their meaning seep into your heart and mind, contributing to your own inner peace and happiness; and in so doing, creating greater peace and happiness in the world.

L AUREN A LDERFER

I N EARLY July of 1935, The XIV Dalai Lama was born to a farming and horse-trading family in a village on the Tibetan border of China.

One of seven siblings, he was plucked from the family farm at the early age of two years old. He became the Tibetan religious and temporal ruler at 15, and then moved into exile in 1959, where he has remained until nowa spokesman for Tibetan sovereignty and an unwavering advocate for world peace.

His Holiness is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, and frequently states that his life is guided by three major commitments: the promotion of basic human values, or secular ethics, in the interest of human happiness; the fostering of inter-religious harmony; and the preservation of Tibets Buddhist culture, a tradition of peace and non-violence.

I am just like you, he says. And indeed, the Dalai Lama is a humble man; he likes to tell stories and laugh at his own jokes. But his sage wisdom is meant for humankind, and it is the focus of this book.

People all over the world, regardless of their religious affiliations, respect the practical approach to living espoused by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. We all relate to his charismatic way of being, which is humble, thoughtful, and giving.

For centuries, millions upon millions of people have sought out the timeless wisdom of the Dalai Lama. Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, has traveled the world and has given numerous speeches and lectures on countless humanistic topics, such as womens equality, the environment, non-violence, and human rights.

His messages resonate with everyone; it is to present these words, and to let them bolster your personal determination, that this book has been written. We have sought out His Holiness words of wisdom, given as always, without reservation, to the people he serves. To find a list of the many books written by His Holiness and about the teachings, visit the official website of the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at www.dalailama.com.

A healthy mind is the most important element for a healthy body, he told an American audience recently. If you help others, and serve others as much as you can, thats the proper way to lead a meaningful life.

The Dalai Lama agrees that modern life has become materialistic. But still he insists: Everything is connected, the whole world, and we must all, collectively, take action to work for peace.

It is the intention of this little book to keep the teachings of His Holiness short and accessible. Organized into five sections,