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Title: The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Journeys and Conversations
ISBN: 1573222771
Author:
Dalai Lama
Chan Victor
Publicate Date: 2004-08-03
Publish: 2004-08-03
List Price: $24.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.85
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.26
Amazon Merchant Price: $24.95
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| Customer Review: |
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1: The Dalai Lama: Emptiness+Compassion=Happiness
This book speaks to me strongly, clearly, and as simply as possible. It is filled with the insights of the Dalai Lama brilliantly communicated with the help of his friend, Victor Chan. All the true essentials of Buddhism are here, shared with love and humor. Myself having first been introduced to Buddhism at the age of 15, now 40 years later I find the Dalai Lama to be a most inspirational practitioner. I am grateful to Victor Chan for helping the sweet light of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to shine through to me through this book.
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2: Misleading Title, Interesting Stories
The title of this book implies that the book is an in-depth look at the issue of forgiveness - a spiritual step that many people struggle with, and an area where you might want to seek out the Dalai Lama's specific advice. This is not a "how-to" book, however. It is a very interesting, personal history of co-author Victor Chan's friendship with the Dalai Lama, a narrative which spans many years.
Chan accompanies HH the DL on a number of trips, including a trip to Northern Ireland, where the issue of forgiveness is addressed. In terms of technique, the book offers the standard Tibetan "giving and taking" meditation (where the meditator "receives" other peoples' sufferings, and then "gives" them joy and happiness), as well as discussions on emptiness and compassion. He also spends time with HH the DL in Dharamsala and in Delhi.
There are better "how-to" books out there. However, if you would like to read about how HH the DL handles everything from dental care (he brushes after every meal) to personal medical emergencies (he considers the worse-off condition of sick street beggars whom his car passes on the way to a hospital in Delhii), then this would be a good book for you. It gives a lot of day-to-day insight into HH the DL's life, shows his sense of humor and personality, and is an easy read. It would probably be a good book to take on a three-hour plane trip.
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3: A big nada, zip, zero
I have read 20+ books on the topic of forgiveness, and this book offered me nothing, nada, zip about forgiveness that I could take away and apply. Perhaps the book should have a different title. At any rate, I hoped for some bread, but ended up with nothing but chaff.
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4: The wisdom of change
I enjoyed this book for its supreme wisdom and forthright application of certain practices to invoke change from within. While this book is filled with nuggets of wisdom, a brief composite looks like this, "to reduce hatred and other destructive emotions, you must develop their opposites--compassion and kindness." Unlike other spiritual books, this one provides authentic practices to accomplish the goal. The Dalai Lama provides insight into engaging breathing exercises and guided meditations to overcome the hegemony of the mind which is sometimes locked into its own agenda to hold on to past hurts, and hatred. Like all human transformation, no easy way to achieve good results, reminding us that authentic change takes hard work. While I see the praxis offered in this book differently than other spiritual teachers who simply promote love in word for the sake of bringing home the bacon, the Dalai Lama has consistently demonstrated in word and deed that his praxis is in alignment with his deeply held values. Something I don't think you will find in other spiritual (New Age) books when measured against the lives of those who write them. In other words, this book delivers the goods in word and deed by a authentic spiritual Master grounded in compassionate action. It also reminds me how far I need to travel in this life, and perhaps many more before I walk in these shoes.
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5: Enlightening Read
"The Wisdom of Forgiveness" is a read that will fascinate accomplished Buddhist practitioners, interested fans and those who have never even heard of the Dalai Lama. The language is easy to understand and the read can go by quite quickly. Do not be fooled though: the book handles such deep topics as emptiness, compassion and of course--forgiveness.
Especially for the price that Amazon is offering, you can't afford to pace this up. Such an uplifting story of the heart, "The Wisdom of Forgiveness" will open your consciousness and your heart.
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