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

"Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature is the third volume in the series of books coauthored by Ven. Thubten Chodron and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This has proven to be a remarkable partnership, producing lucid, accessible articulations of Buddhadharma and demonstrating the relevance of philosophy to practice. The present volume ably advances the project begun in the first two and expands its scope enormously. His Holiness and Ven. Thubten Chodron together set out a comprehensive vision of the nature of of samsara and nirvana, of the Buddhist understanding of the nature of mind, and of the path to liberation grounded in the realization of our buddha nature. The philosophical analysis is precise and comprehensive. The application to personal practice is insightful, direct, and easy to apply. This is a wonderful example of how Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist practice can be integrated."--Jay L. Garfield, Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities, Smith College and Harvard Divinity School

"Ever since their stellar collaboration on Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, the team of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron have been bringing us teachings aimed at a modern Western-educated audience. In Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature, they have done it again, wonderfully. This third volume in the Wisdom Publication series The Library of Wisdom and Compassion presents an in-depth examination of the idea of 'buddha nature' and explores and illustrates how the mind itself serves as both the basis for our suffering and our liberation. Helpful reflections throughout the text guide our journey. These are truly textbooks tailored for our times."--Jan Willis, author of Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist and Buddhist

"This third volume of the marvelous Library of Wisdom and Compassion series provides an exploration of samsara--the painful cycle of unenlightened existence--as well as its causes and how to attain freedom from it. The final sections contain a beautiful elucidation of the nature of the mind and its potential--buddha nature--signifying that every living being has the ability not only to be free of suffering and its causes but also to attain full awakening. The material in this volume is invaluable for those who sincerely wish to understand the Buddhist path and begin following it."--Venerable Sangye Khadro, author of How to Meditate