The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

About the book

Traditional presentations of the path in Tibetan Buddhism assume the audience already has faith in the Buddha and believes in rebirth and karma. The Dalai Lama realized early on that a different approach was needed for his non-Tibetan students. Starting from the universal human wish for happiness and the dynamic nature of the mind, the Dalai Lama here provides a framework for the modern reader to explore this rich tradition.

This second volume begins with the four seals that determine a philosophy as Buddhist and continues with an explanation of reliable cognition so that we will have the tools to evaluate the veracity of the Buddha’s teachings. Multiple chapters discussing the relationship of a spiritual mentor and student clarify misunderstandings and confusion about this topic and show how to properly rely on a spiritual mentor in a healthy, appropriate, and beneficial manner. Chapters on dying and rebirth unpack the often difficult-to-understand topic of multiple lives and explain how to prepare for death and to aid someone who is dying. This leads into a fascinating and fruitful explanation of karma and its results.

The book is written in easy-to-understand language and contains reflections that help the reader apply the Buddha’s wisdom to their own lives.

Contents

• The Buddhist Approach
• Gaining Nondeceptive Knowledge
• The Basis of the Self: The Body and Mind
• Choosing Spiritual Mentors and Becoming a Qualified Disciple
• Relying on Spiritual Mentors
• How to Structure a Meditation Session
• Mind, Body, and Rebirth
• The Essence of a Meaningful Life
• Looking Beyond This Life
• Karma and its Effects
• Results of Karma
• The Workings of Karma

The story behind the book

Venerable Thubten Chodron reads an excerpt

Excerpts

• “The Faultless Faulty Guru: Teachings from the 14th Dalai Lama,” blogpost on Tibetan Buddhism – Struggling With Diffi·Cult Issues
• L’imparfait maître spirituel sans défaut : Enseignement du 14ème Dalaï-Lama

Teachings

• “Series: The Foundation of Buddhist Practice,” in-depth weekly teachings, Sravasti Abbey, 2018-20
• “The four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma,” Singapore, 2019
• “Karma,” a series of teachings based on The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, Sydney, 2019
• “The Foundation of Buddhist Practice,” a series of teachings based on the book, Singapore, 2018

Talks

• “The Foundation of Buddhist Practice,” a talk based on the book, Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India

Translations

• Available in Chinese (Traditional) and Spanish

Reviews

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The Dalai Lama has a new series that introduces traditional Buddhist practices in a manner specifically designed for new, serious Westerners. These books are very clearly written (with the excellent teacher/writer Ven. Thubten Chodron) and beautifully edited; they explain each topic with meticulous care.

— Guy Newland, author of “A Buddhist Grief Observed”

About the series

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion is a special multi-volume series in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares the Buddha’s teachings on the complete path to full awakening that he himself has practiced his entire life. The topics are arranged especially for people not born in a Buddhist culture and are peppered with the Dalai Lama’s own unique outlook. Coauthored by one of his long-standing Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron, each book can be enjoyed on its own or read as the logical next step in the series.

• Volume 1: Approaching the Buddhist Path
• Volume 3: Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature
• Volume 4: Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps
• Volume 5: In Praise of Great Compassion
• Volume 6: Courageous Compassion
• Volume 7: Searching for the Self
• Volume 8: Realizing the Profound View
• Volume 9: Appearing and Empty