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The Meaning of Life (Abridged): Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect Audiobook
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(3.10) - 82 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Dalai Lama presents the basic worldview of Buddhism while offering answers to some of life's most profound and challenging questions: Why are we in this situation? Where are we going? Do our lives have any meaning? How should we live our lives? Basing his explanation on the twelve links of dependent-arising as depicted in the Buddhist image of the Wheel of Life, His Holiness vividly describes how human beings become trapped in a counterproductive prison of selfishness and suffering, and shows how to reverse the process, changing the limiting prison into a source of help and happiness for others. Suffused with the Dalai Lama's intelligence, wit, and kindness, these teachings address such issues as how to deal with aggression from within and without; how to reconcile personal responsibility with the doctrine of selflessness; how to face a terminal illness; how to help someone who is dying; how to reconcile love for family with love for all beings; and how to integrate this practice into everyday life.
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"Re-reading this one for its great explanation of the links of cyclical existence, and how dependent origination is the same as impermanence. Plus HH is a pretty funny guy."
— John (5 out of 5 stars)
The Meaning of Life Listener Reviews
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" As always, very solid ! "
— Sabio, 9/2/2013 -
" basic buddhist beliefs explained by the dalai lama "
— Bryan, 8/21/2008 -
" Is the Dalai Lama really a Tibetan gang leader with secret nazi sympathies? Google it and wonder. "
— Carrie, 1/9/2008 -
" First book out of grad school. What did I get from it: Compassion not anger. "
— Shephali, 3/23/2002
About the Authors
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet and was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor. As the world’s foremost Buddhist leader, he travels extensively, speaking eloquently in favor of ecumenical understanding, kindness and compassion, respect for the environment, and world peace. He is the author of over seventy books and has received a number of awards, honorary doctorates, and other accolades for his work.
Jeffrey Hopkins, PhD, served for a decade as the interpreter for the Dalai Lama. A Buddhist scholar and the author of more than thirty-five books and translations, he is emeritus professor of Tibetan and Buddhist studies at the University of Virginia, where he founded the largest academic program of Tibetan Buddhist studies in the West.