The New York Times calls him "America's number one Buddhist." He is the co-founder of Tibet House New York, was the first American Tibetan Buddhist monk, and has shared a thirty-five-year friendship with the Dalai Lama. Now, Robert Thurman presents his first completely original book, an introduction to Buddhism and "an inspiring guide to incorporating Buddhist wisdom into daily life" (USA Today). Written with insight, enthusiasm, and impeccable scholarship, Inner Revolution is not only a national bestseller and practical primer on one of the world's most fascinating traditions, but it is also a wide-ranging look at the course of our civilization--and how we can alter it for the better. "Part spiritual memoir, part philosophical treatise and part religious history, Thurman's book is a passionate declaration of the possibilities of renewing the world" (Publishers Weekly, starred review). "An inspiring guide to incorporating Buddhist wisdom into daily life." – USA Today "Part spiritual memoir, part philosophical treatise and part religious history, Thurman's book is a passionate declaration of the possibilities of renewing the world." – Publishers Weekly (starred review) "The book addresses the corrosive cynicism of our age, which Thurman attributes to a misinterpretation of reality... Clear, accessible writing." – Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "A renowned scholar of Tibetan Buddhism issue a popular appeal to the West to refashion its inner life according to Buddhist enlightenment teachings... Thurman makes an impassioned and engaging guide." - Kirkus Reviews Robert Thurman , a college professor and writer for 30 years, holds the first owed chair in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in America at Columbia University. A co-founder and the president of Tibet House New York, an organization dedicated to preserving the angered civilization of Tibet, he is also the author of Infinite Life . Thurman was the first Western Tibetan Buddhist monk, is the co-founder and president of the Tibet House in New York, and shares a close, 35-year friendship with the Dalai Lama. “A wonderful introduction to the entire sweep of Buddhism, pointing out its continuing, powerful relevance for today’s world. All of Buddhism’s breakthrough realizations are carefully explained, along with their direct application to our own experience and awareness right now, so that the Buddha’s radical enlightenment can be our own, here in the midst of ordinary existence.” —Ken Wilber, author of A Brief History of Everything “Thurman shows how self-examination, far from miring the seeker in navel-gazing, can lead to an expanded sense of connection with others.” — USA Today “The book addresses the corrosive cynicism of our age, which Thurman attributes to a misinterpretation of reality.... Clear, accessible writing.” — Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ALSO BY ROBERT THURMAN Tsong Khapa’s Speech of Gold: Reason and Enlightenment in the Central Philosophy of Tibet The Tibetan Book of the Dead Essential Tibetan Buddhism To Shakyamuni the Buddha, Founder of the inner revolution in our world, In deepest gratitude and ever-growing admiration. Your champion insight into selflessness, Inexhaustible love for beings, Powerful comprehension of the minute processes Of history as theater of human evolution, And inconceivable competence in freeing beings— All moved You to teach deep relativity And begin the cool, inexorable, inner revolution; Founding the Jewel Community for love of freedom, Introducing generosity, justice, and tolerance, Enterprise, concentration, and creative genius To truly civilize our planet home of living beings In Your Buddhaverse You called “Tolerable”! And at our postmodern end of history, to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Prince of Peace and Philosopher King of Tibet, In amazed appreciation of Your creative effort. For the people of Tibet and of the whole world— Champion of the teaching, deep, vast, and exquisite, Simple Shakya monk, Shakyamuni’s devoted heir, Upholder of the common human religion of kindness, Explorer of the sciences of mind, spirit, society, and nature— You exemplify the fine intelligence and the good heart, You bring hope and boundless positivity when all seems doomed, You make peace the path as well as thus the realistic goal, You live again and again to continue inner revolution, Effectual for all beings, believers or nonbelievers, From all world religions and all world sciences, Blessing other species and all of nature! ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I have been working on this book since my address “The Politics of Enlightenment” to the Lindisfarne Association in 1976, so the list of those to whom I am indebted is a long one. In the process of writing, I have had the instruction of many people. To thank those whose teachings and writings have been crucially helpful: Vimalakirti, Nagarjuna, Asanga, Shantideva, Tsong Khapa, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Plato, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Max Weber, Buckminster Fuller, P