The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect (1993)

by Dalai Lama XIV

Other authors: Richard Gere (Introduction)

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Using the traditional Buddhist allegorical image of the Wheel of Life and the teaching of the twelve links of dependent origination, the Dalai Lama deftly illustrates how our existence, though fleeting and often full of woes, brims with the potential for peace and happiness. We can realize that potential by cultivating a wise appreciation of the interdependency of actions and experience, and by living a kind and compassionate life. A life thus lived, the Dalai Lama teaches, becomes thoroughly meaningful for both oneself and for others.… (more)

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This book originates with teachings by HHDL in London in 1984, with Jeffrey Hopkins then acting as his translator. Hopkins updated his translation in 2001, when this book was published. The audio version is read by Ken McLeod, and is listed as an abridgement, though I think the editing was mainly to shrink the extensive Q&A session after each lecture.

The focus of the teachings was on Dependent Origination and Emptiness (Paticca-samuppāda) and the 12 links of conditioned existance (Nidanas), as illustrated in the Wheel of Life (Bhavacakra) paintings.

The teachings are excellent. HH's discussion on the nature of the self (more specificially, the lack of a concrete independent "self" - anatman) helped my understanding of "anatman" and "anicca" (impermance) greatly. (

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bodhisattva | Aug 9, 2007 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Dalai Lama XIV	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Gere, Richard	Introduction	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Hopkins, Jeffrey	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

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Canonical title

The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect

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Original publication date

1993

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Tibetan

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14th Dalai Lama

Juniper Foundation

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Using the traditional Buddhist allegorical image of the Wheel of Life and the teaching of the twelve links of dependent origination, the Dalai Lama deftly illustrates how our existence, though fleeting and often full of woes, brims with the potential for peace and happiness. We can realize that potential by cultivating a wise appreciation of the interdependency of actions and experience, and by living a kind and compassionate life. A life thus lived, the Dalai Lama teaches, becomes thoroughly meaningful for both oneself and for others.

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