During April 1985 and then again in October 1986 His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivered a series of discourses-on Buddhist view meditation and action. The discourses and ensuing discussions were recorded at the time, and later prepared into an edited text of the encounter the result of which is this book. In his discourses His Holiness touches upon all the essential points of the Buddhadharma, and provides a clear and simple method to cultivate a daily practice of meditation. He also-goes into depth on how we should proceed in the effort to generate both the heart of compassion and the expansive view of emptiness the Great Void, in our daily life. In addition, the question and answer sessions that follow each talk make for both inspirational and informative reading; being open discussions, they often lead to issues that arise in the course of a layperson's practice. In a sense His Holiness' discourses are principally a commentary on how one should proceed in order to cultivate a daily tantric meditational practice .- The visualization used as the basis of the contemplation is that of Buddha; and the four great Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and the female bodhisattva Arya Tara, and explains the symbolic significance of these figures. The picture that emerges from the totality of His Holiness' exposition is that Buddhism, in spite of its being labelled a religion; is mainly a way of life programmed to ensure that we bring some happiness, peace, meaning and purpose into our lives, and that we learn to live in-harmony with the environment.

Cultivating a Daily Meditation, Dalai Lama, LTWA, Paperback, 1991/2004, 131 Pages, $11.00

The 14th Dalai Lama, born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935 to a peasant family in Northeastern Tibet, was recognized as the reincarnation of the spiritual and temporal leader of his nation at the age of two and officially enthroned on February 22, 1940. He served as the leader of Tibet until 1959, when he and 100,000 followers fled the country following a revolt against the Communist Chinese forces that had occupied Tibet for almost a decade. Since that time, the Dalai Lama has met with world leaders and U. N. officials and traveled the world in a tireless effort to free his country. Although he remains in exile, living in India, he was rewarded for his efforts in 1989, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He accepted the award in the name of oppressed people everywhere. The Dalai Lama, spiritual & political leader of the Tibetan people & a Nobel Peace Laureate, has in the last decade become a global spiritual leader whose message of universal & individual responsibility has won worldwide acclaim.

	Contents: Cultivating a Daily Meditation
	Publishers Preface	v
	Foreword by Rajiv Mehrotra	xi
1.	Attitude and Activity	1
	The Character of Tibetan Buddhism	1
	The Nature of the Mind	7
	Questions and Answers	11
2.	The Nature of the Path	19
	The Two Levels of Truth	19
	The Self	22
	Questions and Answers	24
3.	Two Essential Texts	37
	Eight Verses for Training the Mind	37
	A Tantric Meditation	43
	Questions and Answers	49
4.	Buddhist Perspectives	57
	Integrating Practice	57
	The Four Noble Truths and Dependent Arising	58
	Hinayana, Mahayana, Tantrayana	63
	Correct Environment	64
	Symbols of Refuge	66
	Physical Posture and Breathing	68
	Questions and Answers	69
5.	Discovering Wisdom	75
	Motivation	75
	Consciousness	76
	Ignorance: Grasping at an Independent Self	80
	Visualizing the Object of Refuge	83
	Generating the Mind of Enlightenment	85
	Questions and Answers	91
6.	The Buddha's Way	95
	Meditation on the Mind of Enlightenment	95
	Concentration Meditation	97
	Mantra Recitation	101
	Meditation on Emptiness	105
	Questions and Answers	109
	Appendix:
	A Tantric Meditation Simplified for Beginners	121
	Preparing for the Sessions	121
	The Preliminary Meditations	122
	Taking Refuge	123
	The Visualization	124
	The Mantra Recitation	128
	Text Quoted by His Holiness	131