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Becoming Enlightened
In Becoming Enlightened , His Holiness the Dalai Lama powerfully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an accessible and practical approach to age-old How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace?
Drawing from traditional Buddhist meditative practices as well as penetrating examples from today's troubled planet, he presents step-by-step exercises designed to expand the reader's capacity for spiritual growth, along with clear milestones to mark the reader's progress. By following the spiritual practices outlined in Becoming Enlightened , we can learn how to replace troublesome feelings with positive attitudes and embark on a path to achieving an exalted state -- within ourselves and within the larger world.
Full of personal anecdotes and intimate accounts of the Dalai Lama's experiences as a lifelong student, thinker, political leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Becoming Enlightened gives readers all the wisdom, support, guidance, and inspiration they need to become successful and fulfilled in their spiritual lives.
This is a remarkable and empowering book that can be read and enjoyed by seekers of all faiths. Readers at every stage of their spiritual development will be captivated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's loving and direct teaching style.
Drawing from traditional Buddhist meditative practices as well as penetrating examples from today's troubled planet, he presents step-by-step exercises designed to expand the reader's capacity for spiritual growth, along with clear milestones to mark the reader's progress. By following the spiritual practices outlined in Becoming Enlightened , we can learn how to replace troublesome feelings with positive attitudes and embark on a path to achieving an exalted state -- within ourselves and within the larger world.
Full of personal anecdotes and intimate accounts of the Dalai Lama's experiences as a lifelong student, thinker, political leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Becoming Enlightened gives readers all the wisdom, support, guidance, and inspiration they need to become successful and fulfilled in their spiritual lives.
This is a remarkable and empowering book that can be read and enjoyed by seekers of all faiths. Readers at every stage of their spiritual development will be captivated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's loving and direct teaching style.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,116 books5,755 followersJetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
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September 14, 2021
You need to develop three levels of wisdom:
* first the "wisdom arisen from hearing," which means becoming capable of properly identifying the teachings either from listening to another's explanation or from reading;
** then the "wisdom arisen from thinking," which means to develop confidence from repeatedly engaging in analytical thinking, to the point where you do not waver if someone else says it is not so;
*** and finally the "wisdom arisen from meditation," which arises from meditative familiarization repeated to the point of utter conviction.
* first the "wisdom arisen from hearing," which means becoming capable of properly identifying the teachings either from listening to another's explanation or from reading;
** then the "wisdom arisen from thinking," which means to develop confidence from repeatedly engaging in analytical thinking, to the point where you do not waver if someone else says it is not so;
*** and finally the "wisdom arisen from meditation," which arises from meditative familiarization repeated to the point of utter conviction.
March 22, 2010
The best vacation I've ever had was the three weeks I spent in Nepal in 1995 or '96. I was lucky. The military junta had been overthrown but the Communist insurgency hadn't begun; the Nepalese were enjoying what turned out to be an all-too-brief peace. Of those 21 days, the best of the best were the eleven I spent at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery north of Kathmandu. I've always had an intellectual interest in Buddhism, and my week and a half of direct exposure to people who were living a version of it made a lasting impression. Fifteen years later, I find that my cast of mind becomes increasingly Buddhist-like. Not to the point of converting - the faith-based assumptions of the various Buddhisms prevent that - but to the point that the four noble truths, the eight-fold path and its universal compassion and my own actions and opinions look much alike.
Becoming Enlightened is not for the already practicing Buddhist or for someone seriously committed to becoming one (except to the extent that it might be useful as a quick reference to doctrine as they become more familiar with actual scripture). Though some Buddhist authorities - Nagarjuna, Shantideva, Aryadeva, among others - are quoted, there is not in-depth discussion of any of them or their doctrines. Instead, I think, His Holiness attempts to speak to the curious nonbeliever, explaining the whats and whys of Buddhism (of course, I doubt he'd be unhappy to pick up a convert along the way). Unfortunately, it makes the bulk of the book (200 pages of 250+) potentially irrelevant as it lays out the program a Buddhist should follow. Yet even if you don't accept reincarnation, the illusory nature of perception, the wisdom of extinguishing the self, or the reality of nirvana, the moral and social consequences that flow from these beliefs are worth considering - indeed, implementing, IMO.
The first six chapters, then, were the most interesting to me - "A Book About Enlightenmnet", "Comparing Religions", "The Buddhist Framework", "Practicing Buddhism", "Knowing the Qualifications of a Teacher", and "Buddhism in India and Tibet". Three of the most attractive features of the religion are its rationality, its inclusiveness and its morality.
An example of that rationality is His Holiness' insistence that every teaching of the Buddha as well as subsequent gurus be able to withstand analysis and reflection. In short, doubt should be the initial reaction of the student to anything they hear. If it can't endure examination, the teaching must be a "wrong view" (more on this below). Another example (and one fundamentalists of any stripe should pay attention to) is the correct interpretation of scriptures. The sacred writings of any faith are guidelines that - if truly inspired - cannot be wrong. If reason, science or experience show that a valid teaching cannot be literally true, don't deny reality or abandon scripture but understand it in another way. There's a variety of scriptures because there's a variety of human experiences and understandings. Validity depends upon implementing a scripture to good effect. If it results in continuing the cycle of suffering, then it cannot be "true" in any sense.
Buddhism's inclusiveness is reflected in the Dalai Lama's belief that any teaching that promotes compassion and altruism has some worth. Different minds understand the Four Noble Truths differently; no one should be pushed into understanding more than they can handle. He explicitly says that Christians, Muslims and others should try to understand via their own faiths; this book is not meant as a call to conversion. (If the teaching's valid, it will eventually bring you to the place the Buddha arrived at, afterall.)
In the final matter of morality, as I reflected on "what I learned from this book" - and what has made it loom larger in my thoughts than it might otherwise have done - I came to the realization of how inhumane we as a society are. As individuals and concerned groups/congregations, most people are pretty good. Not saints but neither sociopathic libertarians when they take the time to reflect on others' situations. It's as a so-called civilization that we're failing. Consider the ten nonvirtues that should be avoided. It seems modern society perversely elevates many, if not all, as virtues:
1. Killing: Wrong under any circumstances, though the details and intent of a death are important. The sheer scale of celebrated murder in the name of state, faith, corporation or for the convenience of low-priced hamburgers beggars the imagination on this one.
2. Stealing: As a society we idolize the accumulation of "things," which fosters covetousness (nonvirtue #8, see below).
3. Sexual misconduct: A tricky concept that the Dalai Lama avoids discussing in much detail but it includes possessive desire.
4. Lying: I don't know that we've enshrined lying as such as a virtue yet but insofar as it's necessary to justify what we have made virtuous, our society tends to practice it to perfection.
5-7. Divisive talk, harsh speech & senseless chatter: Following these injunctions would eliminate 99.9% of what we hear in the media and what passes for entertainment today.
8. Covetousness
9. Harmful intent
10. Wrong views: Another nebulous concept but one that includes beliefs that promote selfishness or any of the other nonvirtues (Objectivism just went out the window).
I don't want to preach, however. As the Dalai Lama argues, a rational, unbiased person who contemplates existence will come to recognize the effects of nonvirtuous conduct and belief and will cultivate their opposites.
Becoming Enlightened is not for the already practicing Buddhist or for someone seriously committed to becoming one (except to the extent that it might be useful as a quick reference to doctrine as they become more familiar with actual scripture). Though some Buddhist authorities - Nagarjuna, Shantideva, Aryadeva, among others - are quoted, there is not in-depth discussion of any of them or their doctrines. Instead, I think, His Holiness attempts to speak to the curious nonbeliever, explaining the whats and whys of Buddhism (of course, I doubt he'd be unhappy to pick up a convert along the way). Unfortunately, it makes the bulk of the book (200 pages of 250+) potentially irrelevant as it lays out the program a Buddhist should follow. Yet even if you don't accept reincarnation, the illusory nature of perception, the wisdom of extinguishing the self, or the reality of nirvana, the moral and social consequences that flow from these beliefs are worth considering - indeed, implementing, IMO.
The first six chapters, then, were the most interesting to me - "A Book About Enlightenmnet", "Comparing Religions", "The Buddhist Framework", "Practicing Buddhism", "Knowing the Qualifications of a Teacher", and "Buddhism in India and Tibet". Three of the most attractive features of the religion are its rationality, its inclusiveness and its morality.
An example of that rationality is His Holiness' insistence that every teaching of the Buddha as well as subsequent gurus be able to withstand analysis and reflection. In short, doubt should be the initial reaction of the student to anything they hear. If it can't endure examination, the teaching must be a "wrong view" (more on this below). Another example (and one fundamentalists of any stripe should pay attention to) is the correct interpretation of scriptures. The sacred writings of any faith are guidelines that - if truly inspired - cannot be wrong. If reason, science or experience show that a valid teaching cannot be literally true, don't deny reality or abandon scripture but understand it in another way. There's a variety of scriptures because there's a variety of human experiences and understandings. Validity depends upon implementing a scripture to good effect. If it results in continuing the cycle of suffering, then it cannot be "true" in any sense.
Buddhism's inclusiveness is reflected in the Dalai Lama's belief that any teaching that promotes compassion and altruism has some worth. Different minds understand the Four Noble Truths differently; no one should be pushed into understanding more than they can handle. He explicitly says that Christians, Muslims and others should try to understand via their own faiths; this book is not meant as a call to conversion. (If the teaching's valid, it will eventually bring you to the place the Buddha arrived at, afterall.)
In the final matter of morality, as I reflected on "what I learned from this book" - and what has made it loom larger in my thoughts than it might otherwise have done - I came to the realization of how inhumane we as a society are. As individuals and concerned groups/congregations, most people are pretty good. Not saints but neither sociopathic libertarians when they take the time to reflect on others' situations. It's as a so-called civilization that we're failing. Consider the ten nonvirtues that should be avoided. It seems modern society perversely elevates many, if not all, as virtues:
1. Killing: Wrong under any circumstances, though the details and intent of a death are important. The sheer scale of celebrated murder in the name of state, faith, corporation or for the convenience of low-priced hamburgers beggars the imagination on this one.
2. Stealing: As a society we idolize the accumulation of "things," which fosters covetousness (nonvirtue #8, see below).
3. Sexual misconduct: A tricky concept that the Dalai Lama avoids discussing in much detail but it includes possessive desire.
4. Lying: I don't know that we've enshrined lying as such as a virtue yet but insofar as it's necessary to justify what we have made virtuous, our society tends to practice it to perfection.
5-7. Divisive talk, harsh speech & senseless chatter: Following these injunctions would eliminate 99.9% of what we hear in the media and what passes for entertainment today.
8. Covetousness
9. Harmful intent
10. Wrong views: Another nebulous concept but one that includes beliefs that promote selfishness or any of the other nonvirtues (Objectivism just went out the window).
I don't want to preach, however. As the Dalai Lama argues, a rational, unbiased person who contemplates existence will come to recognize the effects of nonvirtuous conduct and belief and will cultivate their opposites.
September 20, 2009
To my surprise and regret I find that I'm not yet enlightened after reading this book. No fifth star for you!
Of course it isn't that easy. The Dalai Lama describes three stages or levels of practice in detail, and in the course of 200 pages covers most of the major tenets and history of the Buddhism. He repeats key points and phrases so that the text at times reads like Buddhist scripture, but they are points that bear repeating and re-reading and deep thought.
He mentions toward the beginning of the book that most people who come from other faiths would probably be better off concentrating on their own traditions rather than dabbling in Buddhism. (He points out that the principle of dependent arising, which is central to Buddhist thinking, is completely at odds with a belief in a Creator God, and it sounds like he's tired of talking about emptiness with Westerners who have read Zen for Dummies but haven't thought seriously about the consequences of emptiness.) So there's nothing watered down here. The language is straight forward and the approach is practical, but there's nothing easy about it.
Of course it isn't that easy. The Dalai Lama describes three stages or levels of practice in detail, and in the course of 200 pages covers most of the major tenets and history of the Buddhism. He repeats key points and phrases so that the text at times reads like Buddhist scripture, but they are points that bear repeating and re-reading and deep thought.
He mentions toward the beginning of the book that most people who come from other faiths would probably be better off concentrating on their own traditions rather than dabbling in Buddhism. (He points out that the principle of dependent arising, which is central to Buddhist thinking, is completely at odds with a belief in a Creator God, and it sounds like he's tired of talking about emptiness with Westerners who have read Zen for Dummies but haven't thought seriously about the consequences of emptiness.) So there's nothing watered down here. The language is straight forward and the approach is practical, but there's nothing easy about it.
March 19, 2009
In Becoming Enlightened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama powerfully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an accessible and practical approach to age-old questions: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace?
Dalai Lama says that all religions are valid and each is suited well for a different group of people. It says Buddhists should never go around trying to convert others. Buddhism is not better than other religions. Each religion is a path, each one promotes peace, compassion and charity.
Time is precious, don't waste it by hurrying to do things. Instead meditate daily, to give yourself some calm, quiet time. You should try to bring under control your lust for objects and people. Learn to be content with what you have, to appreciate what you already own.
Focus on appreciating yourself and others. People pray all the time for more money, better health, a better job, etc. - but rarely do they simply focus on being content NOW. In fact, if people relaxed and were content with they had now, they would be healthier and happier now.
Dalai Lama says that all religions are valid and each is suited well for a different group of people. It says Buddhists should never go around trying to convert others. Buddhism is not better than other religions. Each religion is a path, each one promotes peace, compassion and charity.
Time is precious, don't waste it by hurrying to do things. Instead meditate daily, to give yourself some calm, quiet time. You should try to bring under control your lust for objects and people. Learn to be content with what you have, to appreciate what you already own.
Focus on appreciating yourself and others. People pray all the time for more money, better health, a better job, etc. - but rarely do they simply focus on being content NOW. In fact, if people relaxed and were content with they had now, they would be healthier and happier now.
January 23, 2009
I am not a buddhist but I like to pretend to be, no really.. this book is interesting so far. Some of it is hard to wrap my mind around, and while I don't quite follow most of the Dalai Lama's beliefs, I respect them and feel enlighted just reading.
November 19, 2011
This one may have convinced me to become vegetarian.
December 10, 2014
I liked buddism a lot more before reading this book.
April 15, 2020
I assume his Holiness Dalai Lama is the best person from whom to hear what Buddhism is.
The language is very clear and the content is very structured, perfect for an analytical brain like mine (not that it's the best approach).
Caution warranted: Reading the book doesn't make you enlightened :)
The language is very clear and the content is very structured, perfect for an analytical brain like mine (not that it's the best approach).
Caution warranted: Reading the book doesn't make you enlightened :)
April 3, 2016
This was way too much fun - in a nasty way! Here goes:
Because of this book I now know about hungry ghosts, gods and demi-gods, HELL-beings??? and lama's. And here I was thinking that Buddhists are intellectual philosopher's that aren't really religious. (just kidding!) And yet they claim LOVE has priority. Says WHO?
I picked this book up because of the retarded comment on the back:
"It is very important to value all religious systems...since all religions share these goals, it is important to respect them and value their contributions."
Well that just proves that the Dalai Lama is not even a beginner at theology and world religions - he's a Moron. Now look at the world around us: Do religions represent a good attitude towards others based on patience, love, compassion, contentment??? After reading this book I think even Buddhism lies about these issues. Here's why:
It keeps discussing sexual misconduct without carefully explaining what it is. Does the Cosmic oneness even care? Why? How? When was this law officially declared to the human race? Who is incharge of Karma? How? Why? Does Karma care? Says WHO? Where do Hell-beings fit into all this foolishness?
So how does this Buddhistic Enlightened force declare something official: like women's rights? Look at page 105. The total Holiness Dalai Lama boy acts like a coward and leaves the fate of women nuns in the hands of others rather than declare a full ordination be restored. What is his source on any of this? Says WHO? Did the Cosmic (?whatever?) not leave specific early instructions?
And that is my biggest problem with Buddhism: What is it's source for anything? Did Buddha write a book? Did his closest friends and followers of his day? What were the enlightened beliefs for a few thousand years before him? Says who? I honestly think they just make this stuff up as they go along - and a few million easily buy into it - while attempting to carefully place the blame on the Guru's before them.
It came to me while reading this babble that you can take this approach and make anything cosmic enlightenment. Here's how:
Flood the market with endless philosophical discussions about the meaning of nothingness based on what we see around us - and throw in little bits of truths. For instance:
The religion of the great Peanut Butter Sandwich.
How do we know this is GREAT? Because it is - it tells us everything...we just need to see it clearly. The sandwich represents all our desires and struggles. Corners of the bread guide us to truth and ever changing oneness of the sandwich. The jelly has sweetness, but along with the peanut butter we have a connection that cannot be denied. We can oneday become ONE with the sandwich - if we eat it! But then the sandwich and us are one, yet the sandwich ceases to be seen. We must take the sandwich to another in symbolism. We must NOT worship ourselves, but the sandwich that came before us. How do we know all this CRAP? Because there's a room full of writings that tell us. Why do we trust them? Because...? How do we test this teaching... we see that it meets our greatest desires and sufferings. With hunger we long for the sandwich. It offers temporary fulfillment - and yet guides us slowly to eternal fulfillment if we focus on ONLY THE SANDWICH. Says "the sandwich".
I could on like this for months. Create some monasteries and teach disciples this crap for years. It's easy. Pseudo-psychology. Then of course - ALL RELIGIONS point to this Peanut Butter Sandwich. Jesus' wishes he had this peanut-butter sandwich: but fish and bread were all he could manage - for he had not yet achieved full enlightenment.
My first problem with Buddhism is Buddha himself. He had a wife and a child - and he wondered off to find enlightenment. Do you know what that tells us? He was a horrible Father, husband, a deadbeat dad who was only thinking of himself - and then he stumbles across enlightenment? How many times have we heard that story from drunk guys at the pub who should really be home with their families???
This is really just humanistic altruistic philosophy wrapped up in oppressive religion. Satan is proud. Well done! Buddhism does not claim too need a savior - and it offers NONE. It even dismisses what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
I have alot more I could say about this book - but I doubt many want to hear it. That's enough fun for now.
WARNING:
I accidentally became enlightened while reading this crap. What a wonderful experience - I now have the cosmic answers to life, the Universe and everything - except they all came from the Bible that was nearby.
Because of this book I now know about hungry ghosts, gods and demi-gods, HELL-beings??? and lama's. And here I was thinking that Buddhists are intellectual philosopher's that aren't really religious. (just kidding!) And yet they claim LOVE has priority. Says WHO?
I picked this book up because of the retarded comment on the back:
"It is very important to value all religious systems...since all religions share these goals, it is important to respect them and value their contributions."
Well that just proves that the Dalai Lama is not even a beginner at theology and world religions - he's a Moron. Now look at the world around us: Do religions represent a good attitude towards others based on patience, love, compassion, contentment??? After reading this book I think even Buddhism lies about these issues. Here's why:
It keeps discussing sexual misconduct without carefully explaining what it is. Does the Cosmic oneness even care? Why? How? When was this law officially declared to the human race? Who is incharge of Karma? How? Why? Does Karma care? Says WHO? Where do Hell-beings fit into all this foolishness?
So how does this Buddhistic Enlightened force declare something official: like women's rights? Look at page 105. The total Holiness Dalai Lama boy acts like a coward and leaves the fate of women nuns in the hands of others rather than declare a full ordination be restored. What is his source on any of this? Says WHO? Did the Cosmic (?whatever?) not leave specific early instructions?
And that is my biggest problem with Buddhism: What is it's source for anything? Did Buddha write a book? Did his closest friends and followers of his day? What were the enlightened beliefs for a few thousand years before him? Says who? I honestly think they just make this stuff up as they go along - and a few million easily buy into it - while attempting to carefully place the blame on the Guru's before them.
It came to me while reading this babble that you can take this approach and make anything cosmic enlightenment. Here's how:
Flood the market with endless philosophical discussions about the meaning of nothingness based on what we see around us - and throw in little bits of truths. For instance:
The religion of the great Peanut Butter Sandwich.
How do we know this is GREAT? Because it is - it tells us everything...we just need to see it clearly. The sandwich represents all our desires and struggles. Corners of the bread guide us to truth and ever changing oneness of the sandwich. The jelly has sweetness, but along with the peanut butter we have a connection that cannot be denied. We can oneday become ONE with the sandwich - if we eat it! But then the sandwich and us are one, yet the sandwich ceases to be seen. We must take the sandwich to another in symbolism. We must NOT worship ourselves, but the sandwich that came before us. How do we know all this CRAP? Because there's a room full of writings that tell us. Why do we trust them? Because...? How do we test this teaching... we see that it meets our greatest desires and sufferings. With hunger we long for the sandwich. It offers temporary fulfillment - and yet guides us slowly to eternal fulfillment if we focus on ONLY THE SANDWICH. Says "the sandwich".
I could on like this for months. Create some monasteries and teach disciples this crap for years. It's easy. Pseudo-psychology. Then of course - ALL RELIGIONS point to this Peanut Butter Sandwich. Jesus' wishes he had this peanut-butter sandwich: but fish and bread were all he could manage - for he had not yet achieved full enlightenment.
My first problem with Buddhism is Buddha himself. He had a wife and a child - and he wondered off to find enlightenment. Do you know what that tells us? He was a horrible Father, husband, a deadbeat dad who was only thinking of himself - and then he stumbles across enlightenment? How many times have we heard that story from drunk guys at the pub who should really be home with their families???
This is really just humanistic altruistic philosophy wrapped up in oppressive religion. Satan is proud. Well done! Buddhism does not claim too need a savior - and it offers NONE. It even dismisses what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
I have alot more I could say about this book - but I doubt many want to hear it. That's enough fun for now.
WARNING:
I accidentally became enlightened while reading this crap. What a wonderful experience - I now have the cosmic answers to life, the Universe and everything - except they all came from the Bible that was nearby.
August 9, 2011
With no illusions about becoming a Tibetan Buddhist, I humbly review this book.
The Dalai Lama put together something excellent in Becoming Enlightened, a treasury of wisdom both ancient and set to the tune of modern science. Eschewing deeper philosophy for practical basics, one of the contemporary era's most respected religious leaders explains how anyone who wants it can taste a dash of Tibetan Buddhism's peace and compassion for humankind.
"Once when I visited Canada, several Christian demonstrators carried signs saying they had nothing against me personally but that my philosophy was heretical. In Sweden, as I left my car one day I encountered a man carrying a sign. I put my palms together in a gesture of greeting, and he did the same. A journalist took a picture, which appeared in the newspaper the next day, celebrating that both the demonstrator and the object of demonstration were paying respect to each other. That indeed is how it should be, although I have to admit that I had not noticed that he was demonstrating against my views!" - from Chapter 2, "Comparing Religions"
That pretty much says it all right there, peace and compassion-wise. It's catching.
Becoming Enlightened introduces readers to simple yet valuable concepts, like the fact that being human, capable of reason, and free to practice religion is a situation both rare and highly favorable in a world where countless beings are born less privileged. For this reason, and because this situation is (no matter how we slice it) temporary, irrevocably temporary, it would behoove us and all around us to not procrastinate- if we want to adopt a spiritual practice, we had better do it. It's quite a kick in the butt without a whiff of hellfire and/or brimstone.
The Dalai Lama also doesn't shy away from ideas specific to his own religious practice, which means the reader may find themselves googling "hungry ghosts", and cringing at a picture of their worst enemy nursing their infant selves in a past life. "Hence in the cyclic existence of birth and death you may have been born in any place with any type of body.... Thus there is no saying that any particular being has not taken care of you in the past or will not do so in the future." Go ahead, picture the person you hate most changing your diaper. I'll wait.
The meditation is supposed to make you feel more well disposed towards even your worst enemy. It grossed me out, but again, I have no illusions about becoming a Tibetan Buddhist. This book pretty much dispelled any notions I may have had about that.
It may be a sign of weakness; it may be stubbornness or rebellion; but I politely and personally reject the steps to enlightenment as counted by the Dalai Lama. I am not saying he is wrong. I am saying that to attempt to live such a life would be "pushing the river", as Taoists say- unnatural for me, miserable.
It may be virtuous to approach all members of the human race with an unbiased compassion for all, refusing attachment to one's intimates and blessing friend and foe in equal measure. It may be logical to detach oneself from the world's pleasures, material and ineffable, because they only lead to pain on some level, eventually, certainly. Perhaps there is no "I", which also means there is no "you".
But with all due respect to a man who has dedicated his life to the service of his fellow beings (and if his beliefs are to be believed, he has dedicated many many MANY lives to this endeavor), I can't live that way. My loved ones and friends cannot be blended into the crowd. I am temporary, pleasures are temporary, and suffering is *also* temporary, with pleasures sweetened by their precious state; life is what it is and it can't be anything else, and it is a pleasure itself to love life for itself. I could get by with no sense of "I", but I couldn't go on without "you".
Kind of exasperating for the Dalai Lama, I guess. He keeps being reborn specifically to instruct others on the Way to enlightenment. I'm not helping, am I?
I feel like apologizing.
Sorry.
But none of this means I didn't learn. There are important teachings in this book. I want to cultivate love. I want to make the best use of my fortunate situation. I want to serve others as well, as exasperating as it may be. Becoming Enlightened is a great help for one who seeks truth in spiritual things. Hopefully, that will make up for my shortcomings. At least in this life.
The Dalai Lama put together something excellent in Becoming Enlightened, a treasury of wisdom both ancient and set to the tune of modern science. Eschewing deeper philosophy for practical basics, one of the contemporary era's most respected religious leaders explains how anyone who wants it can taste a dash of Tibetan Buddhism's peace and compassion for humankind.
"Once when I visited Canada, several Christian demonstrators carried signs saying they had nothing against me personally but that my philosophy was heretical. In Sweden, as I left my car one day I encountered a man carrying a sign. I put my palms together in a gesture of greeting, and he did the same. A journalist took a picture, which appeared in the newspaper the next day, celebrating that both the demonstrator and the object of demonstration were paying respect to each other. That indeed is how it should be, although I have to admit that I had not noticed that he was demonstrating against my views!" - from Chapter 2, "Comparing Religions"
That pretty much says it all right there, peace and compassion-wise. It's catching.
Becoming Enlightened introduces readers to simple yet valuable concepts, like the fact that being human, capable of reason, and free to practice religion is a situation both rare and highly favorable in a world where countless beings are born less privileged. For this reason, and because this situation is (no matter how we slice it) temporary, irrevocably temporary, it would behoove us and all around us to not procrastinate- if we want to adopt a spiritual practice, we had better do it. It's quite a kick in the butt without a whiff of hellfire and/or brimstone.
The Dalai Lama also doesn't shy away from ideas specific to his own religious practice, which means the reader may find themselves googling "hungry ghosts", and cringing at a picture of their worst enemy nursing their infant selves in a past life. "Hence in the cyclic existence of birth and death you may have been born in any place with any type of body.... Thus there is no saying that any particular being has not taken care of you in the past or will not do so in the future." Go ahead, picture the person you hate most changing your diaper. I'll wait.
The meditation is supposed to make you feel more well disposed towards even your worst enemy. It grossed me out, but again, I have no illusions about becoming a Tibetan Buddhist. This book pretty much dispelled any notions I may have had about that.
It may be a sign of weakness; it may be stubbornness or rebellion; but I politely and personally reject the steps to enlightenment as counted by the Dalai Lama. I am not saying he is wrong. I am saying that to attempt to live such a life would be "pushing the river", as Taoists say- unnatural for me, miserable.
It may be virtuous to approach all members of the human race with an unbiased compassion for all, refusing attachment to one's intimates and blessing friend and foe in equal measure. It may be logical to detach oneself from the world's pleasures, material and ineffable, because they only lead to pain on some level, eventually, certainly. Perhaps there is no "I", which also means there is no "you".
But with all due respect to a man who has dedicated his life to the service of his fellow beings (and if his beliefs are to be believed, he has dedicated many many MANY lives to this endeavor), I can't live that way. My loved ones and friends cannot be blended into the crowd. I am temporary, pleasures are temporary, and suffering is *also* temporary, with pleasures sweetened by their precious state; life is what it is and it can't be anything else, and it is a pleasure itself to love life for itself. I could get by with no sense of "I", but I couldn't go on without "you".
Kind of exasperating for the Dalai Lama, I guess. He keeps being reborn specifically to instruct others on the Way to enlightenment. I'm not helping, am I?
I feel like apologizing.
Sorry.
But none of this means I didn't learn. There are important teachings in this book. I want to cultivate love. I want to make the best use of my fortunate situation. I want to serve others as well, as exasperating as it may be. Becoming Enlightened is a great help for one who seeks truth in spiritual things. Hopefully, that will make up for my shortcomings. At least in this life.
May 26, 2011
Not sure this fits into his usual "Art of Happiness" handbooks style. It seemed to be heavy on the reincarnation and religious side of Buddhism aspects. Although it did have a few of the expected, tasty, enlightened nuggets of wisdom that only bald people wearing pajamas can really provide.
Instead of taking a lot of the non-religous-specific advice to heart, I found myself thinking more often than not, "Yep, this is why I'm not officially a Buddhist." (Hint: it's not because I don't like wearing pajamas in the day or shaving my head). When he's focusing on karma, on rebirth, or the "fact" of past lives, etc., he kinda loses me.
Some of the stronger points of the book were his discussions about how nothing is inherently a certain way (everything is based on a perspective which is subject to moods, emotions, time, etc), the Four Noble Truths, the need to contemplate death now (not just when you are about to die), and the attachment issues we all have (Oprah is helping me with mine though, oh sweet closure!)
Instead of taking a lot of the non-religous-specific advice to heart, I found myself thinking more often than not, "Yep, this is why I'm not officially a Buddhist." (Hint: it's not because I don't like wearing pajamas in the day or shaving my head). When he's focusing on karma, on rebirth, or the "fact" of past lives, etc., he kinda loses me.
Some of the stronger points of the book were his discussions about how nothing is inherently a certain way (everything is based on a perspective which is subject to moods, emotions, time, etc), the Four Noble Truths, the need to contemplate death now (not just when you are about to die), and the attachment issues we all have (Oprah is helping me with mine though, oh sweet closure!)
March 9, 2009
I have read most of his books, and they are, of course, filled with divine wisdom and graciousness. I enjoyed listening to this book, although he repeated some of the key conpcepts, such as the noble truths, and so on. One of his key concepts is loving and cherishing others before we cherish ourselves, which I think it's the leitmotif of the book well-worth repeating, as we constantly seem to forget these simple and noble truths.
Being selfless is also a recurrent theme in the book, which even though it's repeated so much throughout the book, it serves the purpose of raising self-awareness to our absent-minded nature. It also points out that we need to spend more time to develope our inner strength, such as altruistic love, patience, character, inner peace, or what Erkardt Tolle calls inner space.
Overall a good read, which inspires and challenges our intellectual lives amidst the ordinary turmoil and fleetingness of life.
Being selfless is also a recurrent theme in the book, which even though it's repeated so much throughout the book, it serves the purpose of raising self-awareness to our absent-minded nature. It also points out that we need to spend more time to develope our inner strength, such as altruistic love, patience, character, inner peace, or what Erkardt Tolle calls inner space.
Overall a good read, which inspires and challenges our intellectual lives amidst the ordinary turmoil and fleetingness of life.
November 13, 2017
I came to this book already having a pretty solid familiarity with Buddhism. The book's a bit dry and academic, so I can see how it would be difficult for a lot of people. If you really listen (I had the audiobook; if reading, then the word would be "focus") and think about what he's saying, you will get a good sense of the Tibetan branch of Buddhism; this Dalai Lama has really embraced science and reason and it shows, though there are definitely difficulties that come with bringing the language and culture gaps for western audiences. Personally, I think Buddhism makes a lot more sense than many other religions I'm aware of, but your mileage is sure to vary, and that's okay. We all need to find what works best for us to achieve the goals of a contented self and a contented world.
April 11, 2009
Practice avoiding the 10 nonvirtues:
3 main physical nonvirtues: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct
4 main verbal nonvirtues: lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, senseless chatter
3 main mental nonvirtues: covetousness, harmful intent, wrong views
This alone makes the book worth reading.
3 main physical nonvirtues: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct
4 main verbal nonvirtues: lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, senseless chatter
3 main mental nonvirtues: covetousness, harmful intent, wrong views
This alone makes the book worth reading.
February 22, 2009
Much more specific than the last dali lama book I read which was sort of pop psychology or something, this is very specific explanation of the buddhist belief and the steps laid out to enlightenment.
April 6, 2021
It seems very silly to give a star rating to a book like this, which essentially acts as a meditation guide and not so much an academic text but I will do so simply because of the sheer wisdom displayed (expectedly) by the Dalai Lama as well as the accessibility of the text.
For a very long time now I have been fascinated by religion while never really being a practitioner of any faith, so during this period - roughly eight years or so now - I have tried to absorb as much information as possible about different faiths and drew the conclusion that there is a great wealth of wisdom in the words of religious teachers and the general attitude of dismissiveness towards religious practice by many academic types is wholly misguided. During my studies, I have seen great love and compassion from every faith and many different spiritual leaders so I genuinely believe religion to be a force of positivity in this world. It is this journey of fascination that led me to this book.
Thus far my interest hasn't gone much further than casual, like many people I have leant more towards the day-to-day practicality of faiths such as Buddhism and Taoism, practices like meditation and affirmations have been a part of my life for the better part of three years now, so I'm happy to say that my return to reading led me to dive deeper into these pools of great knowledge.
That was a whole lot of pre-amble but I felt the need to share it, I feel very impassioned when I discuss religious groups and the plight of Tibet, in particular, is a fascinating and deeply moving one. So when this book was recommended to me by my friend Ross I had to read it.
What is there to say about this? The Dalai Lama breaks down big ideas in an approachable way with the geniality and humour that he is known for and has made him so respected on a worldwide scale, and in doing so creates a comprehensive, effective beginners guide to the Buddhist faith that's use extends beyond religious practice and into everyday life. Regardless of faith, there is a lot to be learnt here that could help a lot of people, and that's something that is set up very early on within the text, the Dalai Lama speaks at length about his respect and admiration of other religions and scientific leaders in the world and of their wisdom and importance. There is a lot to be learnt from every aspect of life and this book may be a fantastic first step into a greater world of philosophy and knowledge that may have seemed reserved for the highly educated.
I felt like I rambled a bit there but a text like this, which is more of a guidebook, is hard to review but I do highly recommend it, it may well change your life.
For a very long time now I have been fascinated by religion while never really being a practitioner of any faith, so during this period - roughly eight years or so now - I have tried to absorb as much information as possible about different faiths and drew the conclusion that there is a great wealth of wisdom in the words of religious teachers and the general attitude of dismissiveness towards religious practice by many academic types is wholly misguided. During my studies, I have seen great love and compassion from every faith and many different spiritual leaders so I genuinely believe religion to be a force of positivity in this world. It is this journey of fascination that led me to this book.
Thus far my interest hasn't gone much further than casual, like many people I have leant more towards the day-to-day practicality of faiths such as Buddhism and Taoism, practices like meditation and affirmations have been a part of my life for the better part of three years now, so I'm happy to say that my return to reading led me to dive deeper into these pools of great knowledge.
That was a whole lot of pre-amble but I felt the need to share it, I feel very impassioned when I discuss religious groups and the plight of Tibet, in particular, is a fascinating and deeply moving one. So when this book was recommended to me by my friend Ross I had to read it.
What is there to say about this? The Dalai Lama breaks down big ideas in an approachable way with the geniality and humour that he is known for and has made him so respected on a worldwide scale, and in doing so creates a comprehensive, effective beginners guide to the Buddhist faith that's use extends beyond religious practice and into everyday life. Regardless of faith, there is a lot to be learnt here that could help a lot of people, and that's something that is set up very early on within the text, the Dalai Lama speaks at length about his respect and admiration of other religions and scientific leaders in the world and of their wisdom and importance. There is a lot to be learnt from every aspect of life and this book may be a fantastic first step into a greater world of philosophy and knowledge that may have seemed reserved for the highly educated.
I felt like I rambled a bit there but a text like this, which is more of a guidebook, is hard to review but I do highly recommend it, it may well change your life.
August 12, 2022
Very short summary:
The root of all suffering is ignorance.
The antidote to ignorance is wisdom.
Ignorance is thinking that everything exists intrinsically, independently and permanently. This mistaken perception causes attachment and therbey the afflictive emotions of lust and hatred.
Wisdom is arrived at by deep analysis of phenomena and reality.
Wisdom is realizing that everything is one or ‚empty‘ of independent existence.
From that insight into oneness results:
1) Selflessness, realization of Interdependence
2) Other-centeredness instead of self-centeredness (Everyone has the same faulty mind & strives for happiness exactly equally as you do - if everyone is one and the same, preference and dislike make no sense)
3) Altruism, compassion and loving kindness.
The cultivation of these insights brings wisdom and should be the start and content of meditation.
This wisdom brings peace.
You need to develop three levels of wisdom:
First, the “wisdom arisen from hearing,” which means becoming capable of properly identifying the teachings either from listening to another’s explanation or from reading.
Then the “wisdom arisen from thinking,” which means to develop confidence from repeatedly engaging in analytical thinking, to the point where you do not waver if someone else says it is not so.
Finally, the “wisdom arisen from meditation,” which arises from meditative familiarization repeated to the point of utter conviction.
Remember that when you are analyzing, you need mindfulness to stay focused on the object and investigate its nature, in order to keep from straying to other objects. Also, during your analytical search you need to make use of introspection to determine whether you are about to become distracted. If so, you should switch to stabilizing meditation, concentrating just on the meaning found through analysis. This will bring your concentration back full force. The goal is to get to a solid footing, where analytical meditation itself brings about a stable undistracted mind as well as mental and physical flexibility. By repeatedly moving back and forth between 1) stabilizing meditation in which you just focus on a single object and 2) analytical meditation, you will get to a point where these two modes of meditation will eventually promote each other. Then, operating within stabilization itself, you will be capable of strong analysis, which itself will bring about even greater stability.
The root of all suffering is ignorance.
The antidote to ignorance is wisdom.
Ignorance is thinking that everything exists intrinsically, independently and permanently. This mistaken perception causes attachment and therbey the afflictive emotions of lust and hatred.
Wisdom is arrived at by deep analysis of phenomena and reality.
Wisdom is realizing that everything is one or ‚empty‘ of independent existence.
From that insight into oneness results:
1) Selflessness, realization of Interdependence
2) Other-centeredness instead of self-centeredness (Everyone has the same faulty mind & strives for happiness exactly equally as you do - if everyone is one and the same, preference and dislike make no sense)
3) Altruism, compassion and loving kindness.
The cultivation of these insights brings wisdom and should be the start and content of meditation.
This wisdom brings peace.
You need to develop three levels of wisdom:
First, the “wisdom arisen from hearing,” which means becoming capable of properly identifying the teachings either from listening to another’s explanation or from reading.
Then the “wisdom arisen from thinking,” which means to develop confidence from repeatedly engaging in analytical thinking, to the point where you do not waver if someone else says it is not so.
Finally, the “wisdom arisen from meditation,” which arises from meditative familiarization repeated to the point of utter conviction.
Remember that when you are analyzing, you need mindfulness to stay focused on the object and investigate its nature, in order to keep from straying to other objects. Also, during your analytical search you need to make use of introspection to determine whether you are about to become distracted. If so, you should switch to stabilizing meditation, concentrating just on the meaning found through analysis. This will bring your concentration back full force. The goal is to get to a solid footing, where analytical meditation itself brings about a stable undistracted mind as well as mental and physical flexibility. By repeatedly moving back and forth between 1) stabilizing meditation in which you just focus on a single object and 2) analytical meditation, you will get to a point where these two modes of meditation will eventually promote each other. Then, operating within stabilization itself, you will be capable of strong analysis, which itself will bring about even greater stability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2019
I was really excited to get my hands on this book and used a free credit to get it on Audible. Unfortunately I found it difficult to keep my attention on the discussions. I listen to audio books while I commute and, admittedly, I am easily distracted while doing so. However a good book about a topic that interests me usually is enough to keep me engaged for the most part and Becoming Enlightened failed to do so. I caught myself time and again drifting in my thoughts and I think this is to some degree to the way ideas are presented in the book (and also, possibly, how it was read).
Certainly there are more than enough excellent ideas in Becoming Enlightened to make it worthwhile to read it. First and foremost the focus on seeking a good, enlightened life by practising altruism. However there were also a few ideas in the book, I would not readily agree with; such as karma and rebirth; the latter of which is presented as fact and the former which is presented as critical for motivating us to do good in our lives.
As much as I agree that impacts of our actions on future rebirths of ourselves might motivate us to be more virtuous, I also think we should not contradict scientific consensus with our most fundamental believes.
Certainly there are more than enough excellent ideas in Becoming Enlightened to make it worthwhile to read it. First and foremost the focus on seeking a good, enlightened life by practising altruism. However there were also a few ideas in the book, I would not readily agree with; such as karma and rebirth; the latter of which is presented as fact and the former which is presented as critical for motivating us to do good in our lives.
As much as I agree that impacts of our actions on future rebirths of ourselves might motivate us to be more virtuous, I also think we should not contradict scientific consensus with our most fundamental believes.
July 29, 2020
A good book for those looking for an introduction to the tenets of Buddhism and practices to help them move toward Enlightenment. For that purpose, the book is thorough, easy to follow, and contains plenty of references to primary sources, making further investigation into scriptural Buddhism particularly easy.
For those who are committed to another religion (or none, at all) and are simply looking for advice to follow on their spiritual path, I would highly recommend another of the Dali Lama’s books, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, written together with the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. That book is a much more casual (and practical, if you aren’t looking to become Buddhist) discussion about what makes for a good, happy, and satisfying life.
For those who are committed to another religion (or none, at all) and are simply looking for advice to follow on their spiritual path, I would highly recommend another of the Dali Lama’s books, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, written together with the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. That book is a much more casual (and practical, if you aren’t looking to become Buddhist) discussion about what makes for a good, happy, and satisfying life.
September 19, 2018
Nice book, it explains the paths of buddhism and gives some good understanding about what is happiness and how to get it. It is written by The Dalai Lama, so you feel that the teaching is coming from a real monk, from someone who truly believes what he says. As the title suggest, this book is kind of a "how to", it is a practical book, it shows how to meditate and what to think about so you can understand better how your action affects others and yourself. Short say, it gives you good advices to become a better person.
May 2, 2020
This book was a difficult read and I agree with other reviewers that I do not feel anymore enlightened for having read this book. It is more a how-to manual than a guide and was fairly repetitive. While I did pick up certain nuggets of insight and understanding, it is hard to take the writing and apply it. One observation of contrast that I observed is that the drive to be altruistic is often motivated for the attainment of enlightenment and to be reborn at at higher level. Does having a motivation for being altruistic negate truly being altruistic?
July 7, 2017
I thought this book was well targeted at an American audience. I can’t judge it too much, because I didn’t get too far into it. It wasn’t very exciting and I didn’t feel like I was gaining much from it unfortunately. I do appreciate the additional research on Buddhism that this book inspired me to do. I haven’t read any of the Dalia Lama’s other works, but I have a feeling there may be better ones, or at least better Buddhism resources out there, than this one.
August 7, 2018
Just found this so so, although I find the teachings interesting in some ways and Buddhists DO have some fair points and I can see the sense in their beliefs, a lot of the other tenets of the religion do not sit well with me.
Who the hell can LOVE their enemies who have hurt you and be grateful for them teaching them about life and wish them only wonderful things? Some of the morals are just bizarre for modern day living.
I don't think I will be converting from atheism any time soon!
Who the hell can LOVE their enemies who have hurt you and be grateful for them teaching them about life and wish them only wonderful things? Some of the morals are just bizarre for modern day living.
I don't think I will be converting from atheism any time soon!
May 4, 2021
I wanted to love this book, but it just didn't connect with where I am right now. The Dalai Lama's methods and explanations don't match my own experiences in Buddhist practice and meditation, and I found the constant repetitive style of summarizing everything again after it had just been stated to be pretty off-putting. I was hoping for more practical advice that I could integrate into my daily life, but it just wasn't part of this book.
January 21, 2019
I've never found the Dalai Lama to be the most readable Buddhist teacher, but sometimes that is an advantage. This is a good book for those hungry for more than breathing exercises; it explains difficult doctrines and also describes the structure of Tibetan Buddhism as a path or trajectory. It served as a useful reference when I was writing Gods of the Flesh.
September 20, 2021
The Dalai Lama explains Buddhist philosophy in relation to other religious philosophies and discusses natural phenomena and scientific findings in light of Buddhist teachings. His Holiness also recommends ways to improve daily living through the practice of meditation, mindfulness, and loving-kindness.
November 28, 2018
Написанные простым языком основы буддийской философии и светской этики Далай Ламы. В книге описаны довольно базовые и очевидные вещи, которые однако никогда не будет лишним вспомнить, осознать и попытаться в себе воспитать в дальнейшем.
October 3, 2019
I'm fine with a high-level approach to new subjects at a books beginning, but this one never dug any deeper. I finished knowing little more about Buddhism than when I began, details I could have gotten from a tri-fold pamphlet on a booth at a local religious conference.
June 24, 2020
This book graces my shelf. We don't always give gratitude and due recognition to the spiritual leaders here on earth. It is a great gift to have access to the Dalai Lama's teachings. Namaste, Teacher.
March 22, 2023
Anything written by the Dalai Lama is something I will more than likely give 5 stars to because I am on a spiritual journey that includes a lot of Buddhist beliefs and constructs. Very engaging book with lots of great advice and input.
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