The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, Volume 2

By: Thubten Chodron, Dalai Lama

Narrated by: Peter Aronson

The second volume in the Dalai Lama’s definitive and comprehensive series on the stages of the Buddhist path, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion.

Volume 1, Approaching the Buddhist Path, contained introductory material that set the context for Buddhist practice. This second volume, The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, describes the important teachings that will help us establish a flourishing Dharma practice.

Traditional presentations of the path in Tibetan Buddhism assume the audience already has faith in the Buddha and believes in rebirth and karma, but the Dalai Lama realized early on that a different approach was needed for his Western and contemporary Asian students. Starting with the four seals and the two truths, His Holiness illuminates key Buddhist ideas, such as dependent arising, emptiness, and karma, to support the reader in engaging with this rich tradition. This second volume in the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series provides a wealth of reflections on the relationship between a spiritual mentor and student, how to begin a meditation practice, and the relationship between the body and mind.

©2018 His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron (P)2023 His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron

Great Listen, but more like textbook

This did not feel very accessible. Many times I felt like I was reading a dictionary or encyclopedia. Very interesting, but also felt like the added unnecessary fluff that has accreted over centuries is nearly impossible to seperate. After reading this I didn’t feel compelled to learn more as I did from most other books.

Excelente but not for entertainment

This is an excellent book for those practicing and studying the Buddha Dharma. It is a ver technical book, defenetly not for beginners.