About the Author

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto: "My religion is kindness."

Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.

Reviews

"Continuing the fruitful collaboration they began with Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron here provide the perfect entry-point for people drawn to the Buddhadharma but uncertain how to understand and practice it in a modern context. Like the great Lam Rim (stages-of-the-path) texts of Tibet, Approaching the Buddhist Path guides readers toward the Dharma by directly addressing their own values, interests, and qualms, utilizing wisdom, sensitivity, and humor to pave the way for confident engagement with the Buddha's teaching. As the debut volume in His Holiness and Ven. Chodron's 8-part Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, Approaching the Buddhist Path leaves us both richly satisfied and anticipating with delight what will come next.--Roger Jackson, John W. Nason Professor of Asian Studies and Religion, Emeritus, Carleton College

"We are living in an era when religion and science appear to be at odds and neither relates deeply to philosophy, and when many people regard all three--religion, science, and philosophy--as having little bearing on their own personal lives or on real-world economic and political crises. In this series of volumes, beginning with Approaching the Buddhist Path, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the capable assistance of Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron, illuminates a path of awakening that is deeply integrative and utterly relevant to all the challenges that face humanity in the twenty-first century. Presented here is an authentic path to freedom from suffering and its inner causes and to tapping into the full potential of consciousness--our own Buddha-nature. There can be no greater gift than this."--B. Alan Wallace, president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies and author of The Attention Revolution

"A distillation of all Buddhist wisdom, Approaching the Buddhist Path covers its history, philosophy and meditation. Flowing in limpid language and powered by the dynamic reasoning of eminent Dharma authorities, it is suitable for all readers, beginner and advanced."--Tulku Thondup, author of The Heart of Unconditional Love