
The Meaning of Life
Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $10.39
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Ken McLeod
About this listen
Through detailed discussion and lively questions and answers, the teachings of The Meaning of Life address the myriad challenges we meet daily - dealing with aggression from both within and without, facing illness and helping someone who is dying, expanding our capacity to feel love for all beings, and reconciling personal responsibility with the doctrine of selflessness - all suffused with the Dalai Lama's incomparable intelligence, wit, and kindness.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Approaching the Buddhist Path
- The Library of Wisdom and Compassion
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron
- Narrated by: Peter Aronson
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Library of Wisdom and Compassion collects the Dalai Lama’s decades of presentations of every step of the path to enlightenment. It has been compiled and coauthored by one of his chief Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron. This first volume provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama’s own personal experiences.
-
-
Loved it!
- By Matthew Davis on 01-08-20
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Buddhism
- One Teacher, Many Traditions
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the convergences and the divergences between the two major strains of Buddhism - the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
-
-
Very complete instructions on Buddhism.
- By Ricardo on 07-07-19
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Advice on Dying
- And Living a Better Life
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Everyone dies, but no one is dead," goes the Tibetan saying. It is with these words that Advice on Dying takes flight. Using a 17th-century poem written by a prominent scholar-practitioner, His Holiness the Dalai Lama draws from a wide range of traditions and beliefs to explore the stages we all go through when we die, which are the very same stages we experience in life when we go to sleep, faint, or reach orgasm (Shakespeare's "little death").
-
-
Helps me feel more calm
- By Martina K M on 02-02-04
-
From Here to Enlightenment
- An Introduction to Tsong-kha-pa's Classic Text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
- By: Guy Newland - editor and translator, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2008, celebrating the long-awaited completion of the English-language translation of The Great Treatise, the Dalai Lama gave a historic six-day teaching at Lehigh University to explain the meaning of this classic text and to underscore its importance. It is the longest teaching that he has ever given to Westerners on just one text, and Westerners have never before had the opportunity to receive such a complete teaching that encompasses the totality of the Buddhist path from the Dalai Lama.
-
-
An intellectual's guide to Buddhism
- By Joseph Schell on 08-17-18
By: Guy Newland - editor and translator, and others
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Approaching the Buddhist Path
- The Library of Wisdom and Compassion
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron
- Narrated by: Peter Aronson
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Library of Wisdom and Compassion collects the Dalai Lama’s decades of presentations of every step of the path to enlightenment. It has been compiled and coauthored by one of his chief Western disciples, the American nun Thubten Chodron. This first volume provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama’s own personal experiences.
-
-
Loved it!
- By Matthew Davis on 01-08-20
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Buddhism
- One Teacher, Many Traditions
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the convergences and the divergences between the two major strains of Buddhism - the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
-
-
Very complete instructions on Buddhism.
- By Ricardo on 07-07-19
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Advice on Dying
- And Living a Better Life
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Everyone dies, but no one is dead," goes the Tibetan saying. It is with these words that Advice on Dying takes flight. Using a 17th-century poem written by a prominent scholar-practitioner, His Holiness the Dalai Lama draws from a wide range of traditions and beliefs to explore the stages we all go through when we die, which are the very same stages we experience in life when we go to sleep, faint, or reach orgasm (Shakespeare's "little death").
-
-
Helps me feel more calm
- By Martina K M on 02-02-04
-
From Here to Enlightenment
- An Introduction to Tsong-kha-pa's Classic Text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
- By: Guy Newland - editor and translator, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2008, celebrating the long-awaited completion of the English-language translation of The Great Treatise, the Dalai Lama gave a historic six-day teaching at Lehigh University to explain the meaning of this classic text and to underscore its importance. It is the longest teaching that he has ever given to Westerners on just one text, and Westerners have never before had the opportunity to receive such a complete teaching that encompasses the totality of the Buddhist path from the Dalai Lama.
-
-
An intellectual's guide to Buddhism
- By Joseph Schell on 08-17-18
By: Guy Newland - editor and translator, and others
-
How to Expand Love
- Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to Expand Love, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, offers a simple yet illuminating program for transforming self-centered energy into outwardly directed compassion. Drawing on exercises and techniques established in Tibetan monasteries more than a thousand years ago, the Dalai Lama guides us through seven key stages.
-
-
Masterpiece
- By Jason on 12-09-17
-
The World of Tibetan Buddhism
- An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Thupten Jinpa - editor translator annotation
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With characteristic humility, His Holiness the Dalai Lama begins this landmark survey of the entire Buddhist path by saying, "I think an overview of Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of providing a comprehensive framework of the path may prove helpful in deepening your understanding and practice." In this book the Dalai Lama delivers a presentation that is both concise and profound, accessible and engaging.
-
-
Dense, heavy
- By Michael on 12-04-16
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Buddhism for Beginners
- By: Thubten Chodron, His Holiness the Dalai Lama - foreword
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions - beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?” - and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching Buddhism make this an exceptionally complete and accessible introduction - as well as a manual for living a more peaceful, mindful, and satisfying Life.
-
-
Amazing introduction to Buddhism
- By chad d on 07-02-15
By: Thubten Chodron, and others
-
How to Practice
- The Way to a Meaningful Life
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all possess one common desire: the need for happiness and a meaningful life. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the ability to find true fulfillment lies within each of us. Now, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, Nobel Prize winner, and best selling author helps you begin the path to enlightenment in this easy-access reference for daily practice.
-
-
This is a great book!
- By Bryan on 04-01-03
-
The Book of Joy
- Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carlton Abrams
- Narrated by: Douglas Carlton Abrams, full cast, Francois Chau, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.
-
-
This book may have saved my life
- By R. Chandra on 02-08-17
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
For the Benefit of All Beings
- A Commentary on The Way of the Bodhisattva
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: James Gimian, Wulstan Fletcher
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 14th Dalai Lama, a living embodiment of the bodhisattva ideal, presents here detailed practical guidance based on sections of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, the best-known text of Mahayana Buddhism. The Dalai Lama explains this classic and beloved work, showing how anyone can develop a truly "good heart" and the aspiration for the enlightenment of all beings. In this book, the Dalai Lama's profound knowledge is evident - the result of extensive training.
-
-
Buddhist prayer
- By Sandra E. Chatelain on 12-18-22
-
The Path to Enlightenment
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Ken McLeod
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this extensive lesson, Tenzin Gyatso beautifully elucidates the meaning of the path to enlightenment. His discourse arises from the Third Dalai Lama's brilliant and powerful work, Essence of Refined Gold, a classic text that summarizes the meaning of all Buddha's teachings. The subject of Essence is the Lam Rim, a term that literally means "stages on the spiritual path." Through his insightful exploration and interpretation of Essence of Refined Gold, the Dalai Lama speaks directly to the listener, offering spiritual advice, personal reflections, and scriptural commentary.
-
-
The Path to Enlightenment
- By Ginger on 05-24-03
-
An Introduction to Buddhism
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Roger Allam
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha’s first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism’s most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion.
-
-
A Struggle
- By Cornelius on 08-05-21
-
Beyond Religion
- Ethics for a Whole World
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Martin Sheen
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, here elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Transcending the mere "religion wars", he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, those that ground ethics in a belief in God and an afterlife, and those that understand good actions as leading to better states of existence in future lives. And yet, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a claim for what he calls a third way.
-
-
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
- By Mary on 12-20-11
-
The Universe in a Single Atom
- The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Richard Gere
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gallileo, Copernicus, Newton, Niels Bohr, Einstein. Their insights shook our perception of who we are and where we stand in the world and in their wake have left an uneasy co-existence: science vs. religion, faith vs. empirical enquiry. Which is the keeper of truth? Which is the true path to understanding reality?
-
-
This book is right on the mark
- By Theresa on 09-24-05
-
Destructive Emotions
- A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama
- By: Daniel Goleman, Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Ed Levin
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhist philosophy tells us that all personal unhappiness and interpersonal conflict lie in the "three poisons": craving, anger, and delusion. With new high-tech devices, scientists can peer inside the brain centers that calm the inner storms of rage and fear. They also can demonstrate that awareness-training strategies such as meditation strengthen emotional stability - and greatly enhance our positive moods.
-
-
Right Brain/ Left Brain
- By Shannon on 06-18-03
By: Daniel Goleman, and others
-
The Heart of Meditation
- Discovering Innermost Awareness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins - editor/translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzogchen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rinpoche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is directly related to - and in fact a prerequisite for - the very pinnacle of Buddhist meditation.
-
-
What a deep book....
- By Cian on 01-31-18
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
Critic reviews
"Studded with jewels...[The Meaning of Life] brings together the theory of Buddhist teachings and the practice of ordinary life." (Shambhala Sun)
What listeners say about The Meaning of Life
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JK
- 12-06-22
A LOT OF INFORMATION
This is the second book in the series written by the Dalai Lama, when he was a young man.
So amazing, for one so young, to write these books.
There is a lot of information to digest. I have the written versions of all and read/listened to them simultaneously.
It is definitely a book and for that matter, the whole series to listen to and for me to listen to again in the future.
I highly recommend this book when you are studying Buddhism.
The narrator, mr. Ken McLeod, did an excellent job.
My thanks to all involved, JK
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cole Henrich
- 11-16-23
Good Book, Poorly Abridged
I'm slightly biased because I want to rate all Dalai Lama's books 5 stars, so more people will read his teachings. In an honest rating I would say 4 or 5 stars. I found this book was more clear than some of his books (e.g. "Buddhism") and less clear than some of his books (e.g. "Ocean of Wisdom"). Ken McLeod as narrator was fantastic. It is important to have someone who understands the reading material as a narrator, and it seems that Ken McLeod understands it very well. You would hate to have someone reading such sacred words as if they're just syllables to be pronounced.
I did not like the abridgement. Audiobook publisher, why did you do this? I read the less-abridged text ("abridgement" is relative since it's just a collection of lectures, so any lectures cut out technically make it abridged), and never was there a part that was cut from the audiobook that I thought deserved to be cut. It is just illogical. Someone who wants to listen to 4.5 hours of the Dalai Lama's words on complex topics will be just as happy, or happier, if they get to listen to 5 hours of his words. It is arrogant to abridge in the way they did. To cut out some of the Dalai Lama's words from his explanations assumes that (1) the Dalai Lama was speaking unnecessary words, which is unlikely, and to ascertain that, the editor would have to know exactly what the Dalai Lama was trying to convey, and simultaneously be able to convey the Dalai Lama's words more concisely. None of these suppositions are likely. The result of the abridgement is that the listener loses clarity when trying to understand what the Dalai Lama was saying - because potentially explanatory remarks were cut out. Shame.
The content is great, Ken McLeod as narrator is great, but if there was a rating for publishing quality I would give 2 or 3 stars. Overall 4 or 5 stars.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Anonymous User
- 09-15-10
Ignorance leads to rebirth
It is not introduction to Buddhism but an in depth analysis of rebirth and karma. The book details on how ignorance leads to other causes and effect resulting in rebirth. Rebirth can be avoided by overcoming ignorance and enlightening like Buddha. But the concept is not easy to understand. I have to read the book three or four times to get a good understanding. If you have patience, interest in spirituality and Buddhism, then the book may of interest to you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tams Higgins
- 06-08-19
Tough Read
I feel like a lot of this went over my head. I can't say I got nothing out of it, and perhaps listening again in the future would be beneficial
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- ElementsOfJazz
- 05-03-15
This Needed To Be Narrated by Someone Else...
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I would not recommend this book to a friend because of the narrator.
Would you recommend The Meaning of Life to your friends? Why or why not?
I would recommend that they read either the printed or Kindle version of "The Meaning Of Life."
What didn’t you like about Ken McLeod’s performance?
I haven't finished listening to the audiobook because of the monontonic drone of his voice. Thankfully, this is an abridged version of the printed book, I fear that I would never get through it otherwise.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Jayna
- 04-09-08
can't be a novice
This isn't the right book for a multi-tasker to listen to. I never could get on the same plane of thought and consequently didn't finish the book yet even though I've started it over at least 3 times since downloading it. I don't recommenend this for the light reader or novice spiritualist.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Janina
- 01-14-15
Did not find this book engaging.
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
Difficult to follow. Not the right book for me. Other authors flow better with their stories.
Any additional comments?
Regret buying this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!