The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus

by Dalai Lama, Laurence Freeman (Introduction), Thupten Jinpa Ph.D. (Translator), Robert Kiely (Editor)

Overview

In this landmark book of interfaith dialogue, the Dalai Lama provides an extraordinary Buddhist perspective on the teachings of Jesus, commenting on well-known passages from the four Christian Gospels including the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the mustard seed, the Resurrection, and others. Drawing parallels between Jesus and the Buddha--and the rich traditions from which they hail--His Holiness delivers a profound affirmation of the sacred in all religions. Readers will be inspired by the Dalai Lama's discussion of the endless merits of each tradition and uplifted by the common humanity between them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861719525
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	06/10/2005
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	822,677
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto, “My religion is kindness.”

Dom Laurence Freeman, OSB, is spiritual head of the World Community for Christian Meditation.

Thupten Jinpa Langri was educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and received the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharam (equivalent to a doctorate in divinity). Jinpa also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the University of Cambridge, England. Since 1985, he has been the principal English-language translator to the Dalai Lama. He has translated and edited many books by the Dalai Lama, including The World of Tibetan Buddhism, Essence of the Heart Sutra, and Ethics for the New Millennium. Jinpa has published scholarly articles on various aspects of Tibetan culture, Buddhism, and philosophy, and books such as Songs of Spiritual Experience (co-authored) and Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Thought. He serves on the advisory board of numerous educational and cultural organizations in North America, Europe, and India. He is currently the president and the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Tibetan Classics, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to translating key Tibetan classics into contemporary languages. He also currently chairs the Mind and Life Institute.

Editorial Reviews

...[T]he Dalai Lama is charismatic, dedicated, and wise. His celebrity is earned....his book...merits consideration by Christian readers.
— Books & Culture: A Christian Review

Terry C. Muck

The result of the Dalai Lama's decision to lead the 1994 John Main Seminar sponsored by the World Community for Christian Meditation, this book is a record of the seminar. It is refreshing to read the Dalai Lama's meditations on the New Testament selections, many of which he had never read before this seminar but which are among the most familiar for Christians. As His Holiness thinks about famous passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10) and Jesus' resurrection appearance to Mary (John 20:10-18), we see them from the entirely new perspective of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual knowledge and understanding. Consequently, familiar passages are renewed and opened to unexpected insights. In his readings and his dialogues with other seminar participants, the Dalai Lama establishes himself as an authentic presence respectful of Christian traditions. Indeed, he insists that his purpose in the dialogues is not to cast doubt on Christianity but to help others rediscover the deeper meaning and power of the Christian tradition. This is a fascinating book which deserves a great deal of attention in these times of multicultural exchange. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In 1994, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhism, participated in a series of conversations with Christian leaders in London about the relationship between Buddhism and Christianity. With his typical modesty and eloquence, the Dalai Lama here looks at selected Gospel accounts of Jesus' life and work through the lenses of Buddhism. For example, reading a passage in which Jesus requires his disciples to take nothing with them on their journey, the Dalai Lama compares this command to the Buddhist monk's vow of simplicity and modesty. Sparkling wit and compassionate understanding mark these penetrating insights of the Dalai Lama into spiritual foundations of two of the world's great religious traditions. Highly recommended.

Library Journal

An illuminating handbook for the study of both religions.

UTNE Reader

Arguably the best book on interreligious dialogue published to date. One does not say such things lightly, but in a very real sense this is a holy book.

Huston Smith

"The Jesus who emerges from this exegesis is a person remarkably similar to the Dalai Lama himself: someone able to hold passionate commitments about the religious life, to advocate those teachings to others, but to do so in a way that unifies people around their common humanness rather than destructively promoting division."

Books & Culture: A Christian Review

"An illuminating handbook for the study of both religions."

Utne Reader

"A fine addition to the growing body of literature on Christian-Buddhist discussion."

Shambhala Sun

"Stirring and revelatory commentary on the Gospels."

Booklist

"Models the elements of a meaningful interfaith dialogue."

Tricycle

"One hopes for more interfaith dialogues such as this one."

Timeline

"[The Dalai Lama's] reading of the meeting between Mary Magdalene and Jesus in Saint John's account of the Resurrection brought many to tears. It would be hard to say exactly why. Some said later that it was as if they were hearing the words for the very first time, as though their tenderness and mystery and beauty had been taken for granted and were brought to life again, like a gift from an unexpected courier."

Robert Kiely