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Becoming Enlightened (2009)

by Dalai Lama XIV(Favorite Author)

4.13 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1416565833 (ISBN13: 9781416565833)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Atria Books

review 1: A beautiful and moving book, and a fabulous primer for anyone who is interested in Buddhism, as a practitioner or simply from curiosity. With its emphasis on universal benevolence and mortality, it is one of the most profound books I have ever read, and I found it useful and inspiring even though I am not Buddhist and do not plan on becoming Buddhist.(If you are interested in the beneficial, practical, aspects of Buddhism and not so interested in Buddhist dogma, I would recommend The Art of Happiness over this book, however...in that book, the Dalai Lama offers ways for Christians, Jews, Agnostics, and Atheists to integrate some Buddhist ideas and practices into their lives and worldviews in order to be happier, more benevolent, and more in control of negative emotion... mores...)
review 2: Tibet is famous throughout the Buddhist world for introducing in layman’s terms, the practice of enlightenment. The Dalai Lama shows us in a comprehensive yet simplistic way, the practical methods of learning to cope with daily stress from the complexity of today’s society, and the benefits these practices can reap once the ancient art of enlightenment is achieved. In this short but concise book, he outlines practical ways to end our suffering through promoting kindness & tolerance, and by putting an end to the many actions that can cause our emotions to spin out of control. He displays candidly how we all get stuck by not taking time to use logic & reason, or to meditate when we become mired in the mud of our problems. Our behavior can often hurt our lives and those around us that we love when we don’t take proper time to evaluate situations that are escalating out of control, or when we become so caught up in our own traumas we forget other people in our lives.He teaches us to shift away from tunnel-visioning and narrow mindedness to a more ‘big picture’ awareness. He asks us to be more in-tuned to the heartache and suffering of others around us, to extend more kindness with a listening ear that will support our loved ones in times of need, versus allowing ourselves to focus on our own lives, egos, and personal gains or successes. The act of caring and sharing that will ensure a path to a more calmer life, is the pervasive theme here in this thought provoking book. The Dalai Lama approaches the reader with a step by step plan that introduces us to the basics of the Buddhist practice of enlightenment by discussing the topics of religion, death and dying, altruism, karma, acts of compassion, and of the ways we create our own suffering through repeated behavior that is not beneficial. Many chapters detail the Dalai Lama’s perceptive and personal views on how people today need to embrace & cherish other races, cultures, and religious diversity. Changing our behavior to show more respect & patience towards the unfamiliar, and welcoming unknown philosophies including other people’s attitudes on life, love & the pursuit of happiness, can guide us further towards becoming more insightful individuals. The reader will soon grasp the concept his holiness easily conveys and can soon appreciate the wisdom he offers us all. To not just live in the moment but to plan for the future, to be free of endless suffering and angst & to hone our senses regarding life and death and to the fact we are here on this earth a very short time, is a key factor in this wonderful book. He urges us to veer away from a materialistic world and to swerve instead on to a path of appreciating the small things this world has to offer by taking time to “smell the roses” while we are here, instead of speeding through life at top speed. Point by point, paragraph after paragraph, the Dalai Lama generously offers many easy to accomplish methods that can have us all practicing selflessness, appreciating our friends and family more by offering them our hearts and minds more often, and gives us his unending wisdom towards a better life of reduced suffering. We all need more inner peace, and a personal world of harmony and love. Reading Becoming Enlightened is a way to begin that journey. less

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