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In 1643, one year after he took the throne as ruler of Central Tibet, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso (rgyal dbang lnga pa ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682), composed a history of Tibetan political institutions entitled <i>Song of the Spring Queen</i>. This influential history begins with a short life of the Buddha and a brief discussion of the <i>Kālacakra Tantra</i>, then moves quickly to the history of imperial Tibetan rulers. The central chapters of the work detail the political institutions of Ü (dbus) and Tsang (gtsang) in Central Tibet from the twelfth to the beginning of the seventeenth centuries, including sections on the Sakyapa, Phakmodrupa, and Rinpungpa hegemonies. The concluding chapter lauds the Fifth Dalai Lama's Mongolian patron, Gushri Khan. The Fifth Dalai Lama is occasionally critical of other historians, stating in the conclusion that his work is meant to correct "the foolish and baseless words of proud and haughty 'learned men'." Throughout the book are interspersed examples of ornate poetry, giving the work a tone of both formal eloquence and rhetorical authority. In both style and content, the <i>Song of the Spring Queen</i> is one of the most important historical works dedicated to Central Tibet that we possess. The Fifth Dalai Lama's history has been translated into English in its entirety by Zahiruddin Ahmad, <i>A History of Tibet by the Fifth Dalai Lama of Tibet</i> (Bloomington: Indiana University Research Center for Inner Asian Studies, 1995). (Kurtis Schaeffer 2004-07-16)

<p>In 1643, one year after he took the throne as ruler of Central Tibet, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso (rgyal dbang lnga pa ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682), composed a history of Tibetan political institutions entitled <em>Song of the Spring Queen</em>. This influential history begins with a short life of the Buddha and a brief discussion of the <em>Kālacakra Tantra</em>, then moves quickly to the history of imperial Tibetan rulers. The central chapters of the work detail the political institutions of Ü (dbus) and Tsang (gtsang) in Central Tibet from the twelfth to the beginning of the seventeenth centuries, including sections on the Sakyapa, Phakmodrupa, and Rinpungpa hegemonies. The concluding chapter lauds the Fifth Dalai Lama's Mongolian patron, Gushri Khan. The Fifth Dalai Lama is occasionally critical of other historians, stating in the conclusion that his work is meant to correct "the foolish and baseless words of proud and haughty 'learned men'." Throughout the book are interspersed examples of ornate poetry, giving the work a tone of both formal eloquence and rhetorical authority. In both style and content, the <em>Song of the Spring Queen</em> is one of the most important historical works dedicated to Central Tibet that we possess. The Fifth Dalai Lama's history has been translated into English in its entirety by Zahiruddin Ahmad, <em>A History of Tibet by the Fifth Dalai Lama of Tibet</em> (Bloomington: Indiana University Research Center for Inner Asian Studies, 1995). (Kurtis Schaeffer 2004-07-16)</p>

Engage with leading scientists, academics, ethicists, and activists, as well as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Karmapa, who gathered in Dharamsala, India, for the twenty-third Mind and Life conference to discuss arguably the most urgent questions facing humanity today: What is happening to our planet? What can we do about it? How do we balance the concerns of people against the rights of animals and against the needs of an ecosystem? What is the most skillful way to enact change? And how do we fight on, even when our efforts seem to bear no fruit? Inspiring, edifying, and transformative, this should be required reading for any citizen of the world.

<p>Text of announcement by the 14th Dalai Lama at the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in Washington, D.C., September 21, 1987.</p>

<p>Text of address by the 14th Dalai Lama at European Parliament, Strasbourg, June 15, 1988. (Ben Deitle 2005-12-28)</p>

In 1643, one year after he took the throne as ruler of Central Tibet, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso (rgyal dbang lnga pa ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682), composed a history of Tibetan political institutions entitled <i>Song of the Spring Queen</i>. This influential history begins with a short life of the Buddha and a brief discussion of the <i>Kālacakra Tantra</i>, then moves quickly to the history of imperial Tibetan rulers. The central chapters of the work detail the political institutions of Ü (dbus) and Tsang (gtsang) in Central Tibet from the twelfth to the beginning of the seventeenth centuries, including sections on the Sakyapa, Phakmodrupa, and Rinpungpa hegemonies. The concluding chapter lauds the Fifth Dalai Lama's Mongolian patron, Gushri Khan. The Fifth Dalai Lama is occasionally critical of other historians, stating in the conclusion that his work is meant to correct "the foolish and baseless words of proud and haughty 'learned men'." Throughout the book are interspersed examples of ornate poetry, giving the work a tone of both formal eloquence and rhetorical authority. In both style and content, the <i>Song of the Spring Queen</i> is one of the most important historical works dedicated to Central Tibet that we possess. (Kurtis Schaeffer 2004-07-16)

The Quintessence Tantras of Tibetan Medicine is a thorough, detailed, and systematic analysis of the characteristics of healthy and diseased bodies. Discussed are the diagnostic techniques of pulse and urine analysis, principles of right diet, right lifestyle, and behavioral factors--and a treasury of knowledge about the beneficial applications of herbs, plants, spices, minerals, gems, etc. Also included are the subtle and psychological techniques of therapeutics, and the ethics and conduct required of a Tibetan physician--a warrior-like person equipped to overcome even the most formidable internal and external obstacles.

"The suffering and happiness each of us experiences," says the Dalai Lama, "is a reflection of the distortion or clarity with which we view ourselves and the world." The key is knowing the true nature of self.

<p>This essay was penned by the Dalai Lama in response to conversations with Western scientists, philosophers, and psychologists and others during a conference in 1995. He argues that without coming to some sort of agreement about human nature, regardless of its form, it will be impossible to establish universal ethics. Drawing upon his own observations and recent discoveries in science showing the importance of a mother's care during early development, he proposes that human nature is fundamentally gentle and compassionate. He also discusses some of the logical and ethical problems inherent in formulating a model of human nature.</p>