The Buddha wanted his students to investigate, to see for themselves whether what he said were true. As a student of the Buddha, the Dalai Lama promotes the same spirit of investigation, and as the rich tradition of the Buddha makes its way into new lands and cultures, His Holiness has recognized that new approaches are needed to allow seekers in the West to experience the relevance of the liberating message in their own lives. Such an approach cannot assume listeners are free from doubt and already have faith in Buddhism's basic tenets. The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, therefore, starts from the universal human wish for happiness and presents the dynamic nature of the mind. This first volume also provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama's own personal experiences. It stands alone as an introduction to Buddhism, but it also provides a foundation for the systematic illumination of the path in the volumes to come.
Approaching the Buddhist Path, His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Thubten Chodron, Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 2017, 323 pages, $29.95

Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He frequently describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. Born in northeastern Tibet in 1935, he was as a toddler recognized as the incarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and brought to Tibet's capital, Lhasa. In 1950, Mao Zedong's Communist forces made their first incursions into eastern Tibet, shortly after which the young Dalai Lama assumed the political leadership of his country. He passed his scholastic examinations with honors at the Great Prayer Festival in Lhasa in 1959, the same year Chinese forces occupied the city, forcing His Holiness to escape to India. There he set up the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, working to secure the welfare of the more than 100,000 Tibetan exiles and prevent the destruction of Tibetan culture. In his capacity as a spiritual and political leader, he has traveled to more than sixty-two countries on six continents and met with presidents, popes, and leading scientists to foster dialogue and create a better world. In recognition of his tireless work for the nonviolent liberation of Tibet, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. In 2012, he relinquished political authority in his exile government and turned it over to democratically elected representatives.

His Holiness 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 interreligious harmony, and securing the welfare of the Tibetan people, focusing on the survival of their identity, culture, and religion. As a superior scholar trained in the classical texts of the Nalanda tradition of Indian Buddhism, he is able to distill the central tenets of Buddhist philosophy in clear and inspiring language, his gift for pedagogy imbued with his infectious joy. Connecting scientists with Buddhist scholars, he helps unite contemplative and modern modes of investigation, bringing ancient tools and insights to bear on the acute problems facing the contemporary world. His efforts to foster dialogue among leaders of the world's faiths envision a future where people of different beliefs can share the planet in harmony. Wisdom Publications is proud to be the premier publisher of the Dalai Lama's more serious and in-depth works.

Venerable Thubten Chodron is an author, teacher, and the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the US. She graduated from UCLA, and did graduate work in education at USC. Ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in 1977, she has studied extensively with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche.

Ven. Chodron teaches worldwide and is known for her practical (and humorous!) explanations of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily life. She is also involved in prison outreach and interfaith dialogue. She has published many books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation, and has co-authored a book with His Holiness the Dalai Lama--Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions. Visit thubtenchodron.org for a media library of her teachings, and sravasti.org to learn more about the Abbey.

	Prologue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama	xi
	Preface by Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron	xv
	Abbreviations	xxvii
1.	EXPLORING BUDDHISM	3
	The Purpose of Existence and the Meaning of Life	4
	A Middle Way between the Theistic Religions and Scientific Reductionism	6
	Buddhadharma and Other Religions	8
	Religion in the Modern World	11
	A Broad Perspective	13
2.	THE BUDDHIST VIEW OF LIFE	17
	What Is Mind?	17
	Body, Mind, Rebirth, and Self	22
	The Four Truths of the Aryas	27
	Dependent Arising and Emptiness	31
	Dependent Arising and the Three Jewels	33
	The Possibility of Ending Duhkha	36
3.	MIND AND EMOTIONS	39
	Buddhism, Science, and Emotions	39
	Happiness and Unhappiness, Virtue and Nonvirtue	42
	Emotions and Klesas	44
	Constructive and Destructive Emotions	45
	Emotions and Survival	52
	Working with Afflictions	55
	Cultivating Love and Compassion	61
	A Good State of Mind	63
	Working with Fear, Developing Courage	63
	Hope, Desire, and Acceptance	65
	Comparing Ourselves with Others and Self-Worth	66
	Counteracting Depression	67
	Disagreement and Conflict	68
	Survival of the Most Cooperative	72
4.	THE SPREAD OF THE BUDDHADHARMA AND BUDDHIST CANONS	75
	Vehicles and Paths	76
	The Buddha's Life	78
	Early Buddhist Schools	79
	Early Buddhism in Sri Lanka	82
	Growth of the Mahayana	86
	The Development of Tantra	89
	Buddhist Canons	90
	Philosophical Systems	97
5.	THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS FORM A COHESIVE WHOLE	99
	Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel	99
	Authenticity of the Mahayana Scriptures	104
	Nagarjuna on the Authenticity of the Mahayana	109
	Is the Buddha's Word Always Spoken by the Buddha?	112
	Four Authenticities	114
	Four Buddha Bodies	116
	Buddhism in Tibet	119
6.	INVESTIGATING THE TEACHINGS	125
	The Kalamas' Experience	126
	Reliable Teachings	127
	Treasure Teachings and Pure Vision Teachings	131
	Exaggerated Statements?	134
	Correctly Understanding the Point	137
	Can the Dharma Change?	141
	Being Practical	143
7.	THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION	147
	A Peaceful Mind	147
	The Importance of Motivation	149
	Cultivating a Compassionate Intention	152
	Mind Training	155
	Eight Verses	159
8.	A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH	171
	Paths for Spiritual Development	172
	The Four Truths and Three Levels of Practitioners	178
	More Than One Approach	178
	Teachings for a Contemporary Audience	181
	Value of the Stages of the Path	183
	Two Aims and Four Reliances	185
9.	TOOLS FOR THE PATH	191
	General Advice	191
	Wisdom and Faith	194
	Proper Practice	198
	Purification and Collection of Merit	199
	Prayers and Rituals	201
	Study, Reflection, and Meditation	204
	Memorization and Debate	208
	Role Models	213
10.	MAKING PROGRESS	217
	Realistic Expectations	217
	Advanced Practices at the Right Time	222
	Checking Our Meditation Experiences	224
	Signs of Progress	227
11.	PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE PATH	231
	My Day	231
	Gradual Progress	233
	Cultivating Bodhicitta	236
	Willingness to Undergo Hardship	240
	Keeping a Happy Mind	241
	Realized Beings	242
	What I Have Learned in Life	244
12.	WORKING IN THE WORLD	247
	Good Health and Dealing with Illness and Injury	248
	Maintaining a Positive Attitude	250
	Using Diverse Methods to Benefit Others	252
	Engaged Buddhism and Political Involvement	254
	Consumerism and the Environment	258
	The World of Business and Finance	260
	Media and the Arts	263
	Science	265
	Gender Equality	267
	Interfaith	271
	Incorporating Practices from Other Religions	274
	A Nonsectarian Approach	275
	Notes	279
	Glossary	285
	Further Reading	295
	Index	297
	About the Authors	325