Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, world-renowned as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, titular leader of the Tibetan people, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has become so well-known and admired world wide that his appearances often draw larger crowds than those at rock concerts. Something very special about His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, inspires those who see him in person or on television.

Therefore this month we examine two books about the Dalai Lama and his thoughts. The first work is an insightful, intimate look into the life and mind of the Dalai Lama: The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Conversations and Journeys by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan (Riverhead Books, Penguin Group, 2004). This work, based on conversations that took place over many years, acknowledges the Dalai Lama as co-author with the actual writer, Victor Chan. This book is highly readable, deeply interesting and inspiring and exceptional in its insights into the Dalai Lama’s thinking processes and spiritual practices.

The second work is a more challenging book to read: The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Morgan Road Books, Doubleday, 2005). This work, a new one by the Dalai Lama himself, explores what he has learned from 40 years of study with some of the world’s greatest and most famous scientific minds. The work reflects both his storehouse of knowledge as well as his lifetime of meditative, spiritual and philosophical studies. In this work the Dalai Lama draws parallels between “contemplative and scientific examinations of reality.”

I would recommend that readers absorb the Victor Chan work first. This book is an excellent introduction to the Dalai Lama’s thinking processes and will make the second book easier to understand. The Wisdom of Forgiveness is truly a unique treasure. For three decades Victor Chan traveled around the world with the Dalai Lama and was given unprecedented access to both the private and public moments of the Tibetan leader.

Victor Chan begins his book by noting that the Dalai Lama “has become an international icon.” In New York City in 2004, 100,000 people attended his talk in Central Park, some peeking “through dense foliage from beyond the tree line.” When Chan asked the Dalai Lama why he was so popular, the Dalai Lama seriously mulled over the question and replied, “In my heart I never blame, never think bad things against anyone... I believe others more important than me. Maybe people like me for my good heart.”

This underlying theme of “good heart” and of a compassionate approach to all beings underscores the whole book. As we read the dialogues between Victor Chan and the Dalai Lama, we gain clear insight into how the Dalai Lama achieves his peaceful, centered calm and how he maintains and practices compassion.

It is truly helpful to learn the simple steps he takes so consistently. For example, the Tibetan teacher explains how he deals with difficult situations, tragic news or emotional issues. We find as we learn more throughout the book that the answer comes from much practice and discipline involving both meditation and other Buddhist exercises. But the basic idea is simple. The Dalai Lama describes it as “something like the ocean. On the surface, waves come and go, but underneath always remain calm.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa spoke of the Dalai Lama’s “popularity” as well. Why do so many people revere the Dalai Lama? “Why? Because he is good... I have met very few other persons as holy as His Holiness. I have met very, very few who have his serenity, his deep pool of serenity.” Clearly, most readers will find Chan’s book a wonderful source of insight into this goodness and serenity and how the Dalai Lama acquires these characteristics and how we may work to develop them as well.

This book is extremely easy to read. Each chapter has a setting somewhere in the world and then Chan reveals various insights he gathers from his experiences and conversations with the Dalai Lama. Considering the Tibetan people, for example, Chan says the Dalai Lama “and his countrymen practice a very simple religion – they practice being kind to one another.” Clearly, this is a simple idea and one that we could all practice in our daily lives.

The book’s primary theme, of course, is “forgiveness.” In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Chan notes, “At the heart of the Dalai Lama’s peace philosophy is his ability to cultivate forgiveness.” In many chapters Chan offers various explanations from the Dalai Lama regarding how and why he practices forgiveness. Ultimately we learn that not only is it good for others, it is good for oneself. The Dalai Lama says, “If I develop bad feelings toward those who make me suffer, this will only destroy my own peace of mind. But if I forgive, my mind becomes calm.”

Another part of being peaceful and promoting peace involves tempering emotions. “When human emotions come out of control,” the Dalai Lama says, “then the best part of the brain in which we make judgments cannot function properly.” Acknowledging the reality that conflicts and differences always exist in the world and in human relations, the Dalai Lama advises us to “use the differences in a positive way,” and “through dialogue, (consider) others’ interests and then sharing one’s own, there is a way to solve the problems.”

In one fascinating discussion, the Dalai Lama describes his “give and take” meditative practice, one designed to “reduce hatred and other destructive emotions... (and to) develop their opposite – compassion and kindness.” He makes a “visualization” in which “I send positive emotions like happiness, affection to others.” Then in “another visualization, I visualize receiving their sufferings, their negative emotions.” He does this every day. He breathes in the world’s “poisons” and breathes out the “good things” – compassion, forgiveness. He says this meditation is “very effective.” Clearly the meditator needs to be highly disciplined and practiced to do such meditations. Perhaps average folks could consider a less strenuous practice: visualizing the world’s troubles; then imaging them disappearing and being replaced with kindness, love and peace.

A key philosophy of the Dalai Lama’s is what science might term a “unified field theory.” He sees all humans and himself as well as the same and as “interdependent.” “The universe is looked upon as an enormous web woven of innumerable strands of thread.” Victor Chan emphasizes that “Interdependence conditions both the way he acts and the way he looks at life.” It is a fundamental principle of Buddhism and of ecology as well. According to the Dalai Lama, the whole idea of interdependence helps one see the world differently. Through an “understanding of interconnected reality... you come to realize that if good things happen to others, you will also benefit; if not immediately, then eventually... If they suffer, you eventually suffer.” Therefore, practicing compassion and forgiveness benefits not only others, but oneself as well.

The Wisdom of Forgiveness is so rich with insights and practices that could benefit every reader that it is impossible to touch upon more than just a few. One rather challenging Buddhist concept is that of “emptiness,” an idea often misinterpreted in the West. In several chapters Chan includes lucid discussions by the Dalai Lama that clarify the concept for Western readers. For example, “Emptiness does not mean nothing exists. Things exist, but the way they exist we cannot find. Therefore empty.” Once again, we learn that “emptiness” really means interdependency. Nothing, according to Buddhism, exists independently. “It comes into being only through a complex web of relationships.” Consider anything, from persons to a chair or a tea cup. Their very existence is the result of multiple factors, acts, designs, developments and processes. None originated all by itself. Therefore it is “empty of intrinsic, inherent existence“ – another phrase for “interdependent.”

As a result of his spiritual philosophy, centered in “the fundamental interconnectedness between people and people and between people and things,.. (the Dalai Lama’s) interest and ‘your’ interest are inextricably connected.” Chan notes “that is why he has devoted his entire life to the well-being of others.”
Clearly this delightful book about the Dalai Lama provides insight into the very highest living model for human behavior, a model we would all do well to emulate. This small volume will remain a treasure on my bookshelf for years to come and I hope it will serve you as well.

A chapter in the Victor Chan volume forms an excellent introduction to the Dalai Lama’s book, The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality. In both works we learn of the Dalai Lama’s lifelong inquisitiveness and his interest in learning new things. In his position as a world leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, he has, over many years, met most of the famed scientists, teachers, philosophers and religious leaders of the world.

Over the years the Dalai Lama developed a particular interest in modern science. He noticed various parallels between Buddhist perspectives and scientific practices. He hoped “scientists could open up new directions of exploration by learning to look at reality from a Buddhist perspective (and) he thought Buddhists could take home useful insights about modern science.” This dialogue could “help expand human knowledge.” The idea here is the basis for the Dalai Lama’s new book.

As the Dalai Lama explains in his “Prologue,” “This book is not an attempt to unite science and spirituality,.. but an effort to examine two important human disciplines for the purpose of developing a more holistic and integrated way of understanding the world around us.” Both have the same goal, he says: “to seek the truth.” Moreover, he would like to see the objectivity of science add an altruistic and compassionate element to its practice. “By the same token, spirituality must be tempered by the insights and discoveries of science.”

For readers who may have struggled with current books (and movies like What the Bleep do we Know) to even minimally comprehend the often paradoxical concepts of quantum physics, it is encouraging, even amusing, to read about the Dalai Lama’s own struggle with the theories, even when his instructors were the top scientists in their fields. Because he had to gain his comprehension of these ideas step by step, his descriptions and discussions help readers gain understanding as well. It is clear, moreover, that the Dalai Lama’s education over his lifetime is exceptional in its range and depth.

When readers get to the Dalai Lama’s third chapter, “Emptiness, Relativity and Quantum Physics,” and later ones as well, they will be happy that they read the Victor Chan book first, as everything discussed in that book will make this volume that much easier to comprehend. I am not going to attempt to discuss details from this work since they tend to be complex and interconnected. Nevertheless, this book is extremely thoughtful, informative and helpful to readers who would like to better understand how the sciences and spiritually inter-relate.

Just to give readers an idea of the scope of this book by the Dalai Lama, let’s look at a few chapter headings. Chapter 4 discusses the “Big Bang and the Buddhist Beginning Universe.” Chapter 5 discusses “Evolution, Karma and the World of Sentience.” Chapters 6, 7 and 8 deal with the question, science and spectrum of consciousness. Chapter 9 treats “Ethics and the New Genetics.” The Dalai Lama concludes his book with a discussion of “Science, Spirituality and Humanity.” The book also has a useful index of topics.

We’ll conclude with some words from the Dalai Lama. “My plea is that we bring our spirituality, the full richness and simple wholesomeness of our basic human values, to bear upon the course of science and the direction of technology in human society. In essence, science and spirituality, though differing in their approaches, share the same end, which is the betterment of humanity... Today, science and spirituality have the potential to be closer than ever and to embark upon a collaborative endeavor that has far-reaching potential to help humanity meet the challenges before us. We are all in this together.”

Gayl Woityra, a retired high school English and Humanities teacher, now resides in Arizona where she continues to pursue her eclectic metaphysical studies in consciousness, the Ageless Wisdom, astrology, flower essences, music, color and alternative medicine.