The enlightened individuals known as Karmapas have taught Buddhism in Tibet for nearly 900 years. Now to mark the occasion of his first visit to America, Heart Advice of the Karmapa presents some some of the insight and wisdom of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, for the benefit of beings around the globe.

Through dharma talks, interviews, poetry, and song, this youthful master offers timely teachings on an array of topics: appreciating the environment, applying loving-kindness and compassion, understanding karma, and enjoying harmony with other religious traditions.

A selection of songs, essays, and poems of previous Karmapas is also included in this collection, providing a small glimpse into the rich legacy of these living Buddhas throughout the centuries. i>Heart Advice of the Karmapa celebrates the beginning of the 17th Karmapa's active presence in the West. May it contribute to the flourishing of this enlightened activity throughout the world.

Heart Advice of the Karmapa, The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Altruism Press, Paperback, 188 pages, $18.00

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu, one of the major Tibetan Buddhist schools. The Karmapas are Tibet's great wisdom teachers, and the oldest lineage in Tibetan Buddhism. The 17th Karmapa's dramatic escape from Tibet in 1999 and his current mission to be of benefit to people of all cultures have propelled him onto the world stage. In 2008, he made his historic first visit to America. The 17th Karmapa currently resides at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, near Dharamsala, India.

	Contents: Heart Advice of the Karmapa
	An Aspiration For the World	11
	Teachings By His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa	13
	The Essence of Buddhism	15
	The Unerring Practice of Dharma	19
	Education and Good Conduct	27
	The Power of Motivation	43
	Karma and Motivation	45
	Does Happiness Depend on External Objects?	51
	The Benefit of Knowing the Reason for Our Practice	55
	The Importance of the Determination to Benefit Others	61
	Compassion is the Root of All Practices	65
	Appreciating all Sentient Beings	69
	What Blocks us from Having a Compassionate Heart	75
	Nourishing our Innate Love and Compassion	79
	The All-Pervasive Benefit of Beings - A Meditation on Avalokiteshvara	89
	The Kind Teacher We Rely On	105
	For Teachers, Loving Kindness is Foremost	109
	All Lineages of Tibetan Buddhism Share the Same Views and Practices	113
	Harmony, Ethics, and Power	119
	Harmony Among the Karmapas and Their Heirs	125
	A Mere Reflection of the Dharma Harms Beings	131
	New Year, New Opportunity	133
	Bodhi Magazine Interviews His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa	137
	Teachings by Previous Karmapas	141
	Three Poems by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje	143
	The Suchness of Samsara and Nirvana by the Fifth Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa	153
	A Commentary on Milarepa's Song of Realization to Gampopa by the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje	155
	An Aspiration of Bodhichitta by the Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje	161
	A Song on the View Arising from Understanding and Experience by the Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje	163
	Selected Verses Composed by the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje	173
	Appendix: Who is the Karmapa	181