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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious life & practice > General
Each one of us is responsible for all of humankind, and for the
environment in which we live. . . . We must seek to lessen the
suffering of others. Rather than working solely to acquire wealth,
we need to do something meaningful, something seriously directed
toward the welfare of humanity as a whole. To do this, you need to
recognize that the whole world is part of you. --from "How to Be
Compassionate"
The surest path to true happiness lies in being intimately
concerned with the welfare of others. Or, as His Holiness the Dalai
Lama would say, in "compassion."
In "How to Be Compassionate, "His Holiness reveals basic mistakes
of attitude that lead us to inner turmoil, and how we can correct
them to achieve a better tomorrow. He demonstrates precisely how
opening our hearts and minds to other people is the best way to
overcome the misguided ideas that are at the root of all our
problems. He shows us how compassion can be a continuous wellspring
of happiness in our own lives and how our newfound happiness can
extend outward from us in ever wider and wider circles.
As we become more compassionate human beings, our friends, family,
neighbors, loved ones--and even our enemies--will find themselves
less frequently in the thrall of destructive emotions like anger,
jealousy, and fear, prompting them to become more warmhearted,
kind, and harmonious forces within their own circles. With simple
language and startling clarity, His Holiness makes evident as never
before that the path to global harmony begins in the hearts of
individual women and men. Enlivened by personal anecdotes and
intimate accounts of the Dalai Lama's experiences as a student,
thinker, political leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, "How to
Be Compassionate "gives seekers of all faiths the keys to
overcoming anger, hatred, and selfishness-- the primary obstacles
to happiness--and to becoming agents of positive transformation in
our communities and the world at large.
Writers of church and mission history have devoted very few pages
to George Liele's ministry and most mentions ignore the global
nature of his pioneer work, international influence, intelligence,
and legacy. He launched a mission movement that reached from
Georgia to Jamaica and from Jamaica to Sierra Leone and Nova
Scotia-all before the pioneer work of William Carey, Adoniram
Judson, Richard Allen, and Lott Cary. Beginning as a slave
preacher, Liele learned the Baptist story and theology-a message he
preached in South Carolina, Georgia, and Jamaica. In providing a
comprehensive introduction to Liele's life and work, this book
draws readers into identifying with Liele and those who lived
through a difficult historic period and who in the process
developed a theology that guided them through the challenges of
being a Christian leader in a slave society. The Christian movement
has always been greater than any individual or local church
community has imagined it to be. In Liele's time, key leaders among
the "white" church enabled a gifted person like Liele, despite his
slavery, to develop his faith and leadership among blacks and
whites, in spite of the perils of slavery. Liele was an organiser,
mentor, church and school founder, an abolitionist, and a master
negotiator. His roles have been documented by other scholars, but
largely as footnotes or a tiny part of their analysis. Approaching
the many parts of Liele's life and legacy globally, theologically,
and historically, this book is the byproduct of a collaboration of
scholars and historians who share the belief that George Liele is
truly an unsung hero and one whose leadership and journey needs to
be recognized at this particular time in history. Those reading
these perspectives on Liele will find new truths about Christian
ministry and missions.
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