How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Translated and Edited by Jeffery Hopkins, Ph.D.
October 17, 2010 
By Shadi Mogadime
“There are two ways to create happiness. The first is external. The second is through mental development, which yields inner happiness. However, these two approaches are not equally viable. If something is lacking in our perspective – if something is missing in your heart - then despite the most luxurious surroundings you cannot be happy. However, if you have peace of mind, you can find happiness even under the most difficult circumstances.” – H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
In this remarkable book, His Holiness takes us along the entire Buddhist path based on what’s commonly referred to as the three extraordinary trainings. The promise of the book is that these techniques, when implemented in daily practice, lead to an inner peace that he so beautifully describes above.
The book is arranged in six parts. It opens with the Buddha’s life journey to serve as a guide to meaningful living and introduce the three extraordinary trainings of morality, concentrated meditation and wisdom. The second and third parts explore these spiritual principles and their attendant techniques in thorough and inspiring ways. The fourth part is His Holiness’ response to the common and erroneous notion that Buddhism is somehow nihilistic or pessimistic, by describing the compatibility between appearance and reality. He then flows quite naturally into the fifth part, Tantra, with a presentation of yogic practices that combine the three extraordinary trainings. The book concludes with an overview of the path of practice from beginning to enlightenment.
The theme throughout the book is that only through the development of the mind and the heart can true happiness be realized. This understanding is at odds with our current cultural orientation towards external events or material advancement as the source of happiness. His Holiness gently leads the reader to draw this conclusion through reminders of the highest aim of the path – the cultivation of compassion, peacefulness, focus and wisdom in order to be of greatest service to others.
The book is highly recommended for both its intellectual perspectives and practical techniques. Any combination of the chapters, which all end with a “summary for daily practice” section, could be used for a one-day or longer retreat.