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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
The first thing to be aware of this book is that it isn’t written by Dalai Lama, it is written by a Western Psychologist named Howard Cutler. It is mostly presented as interviews or meetings between himself and the Dalai Lama. I thoroughly enjoyed all segments that were pure quotes from the Dalai Lama. To me, the Dalai Lama has such a wonderful perspective and insight. I should warn you that the narrator, the psychologist, is far from a mindful person! I think a lot of people found his questions and attitude in the book very frustrating and distracting, however, having said that I still think it is worth a read because there are pockets of genuine rare insight in the book by the Dalai Lama.
An attempt to point out connections between Buddhist spirituality and cognitive behavioral therapy, this book is okay, but it's mostly common sense. I thought the discussion of proximity to suffering in Western (developed nations) and developing nations was noteworthy. Suffering is a natural part of life when it is obvious in a society. When we are removed from people groups who are suffering, as often happens in the West, we see suffering as a source of unhappiness and discontent. Therefore, when we suffer, we are fighting something that we might be better off accepting as a normal state of being. The only difficulty I have with this philosophy is that it assumes the human being is innately good. That's just not my worldview. I'm pretty sure our hearts are evil. Any goodness in me is the working of Christ in my life.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Putting aside the criticisms of Cutler in other reviews (which are valid and I completely agree with) this is a good introductory book. What makes the book good is the Dalai Lama's practical wisdom. The fact that his training of the mind is something we can all do and many of the tools and mindsets discussed in this book will likely feel familiar to anyone who has participated in cognitive-behavioral therapy. This book helped me to understand why I have never enjoyed organized religion but that "basic spirituality" (a desire for happiness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance) is something can connect all of us.
This is really a summary of the Dalai Lama's ideas by an American psychologist and I found it simplistic, superficial, and patronizing.