Jan 17, 2013
Here KGNU’s Claudia Cragg speaks to Victor Chan about “The Wisdom of Compassion” written with His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. This book offers rare insights into the Dalai Lama's life as he interacts with remarkable people from all walks of life. In these deeply engaging behind-the-scenes stories we see not only the Dalai Lama at his most human, and most humane, but also the way he approaches the world with humour and optimism.
Enhanced by the Dalai Lama's seven decades of practice and illuminated through captivating anecdotes, The Wisdom of Compassion gives insight in to how to lead more fulfilling lives. The Dalai Lama also shows how "when we open our hearts and minds to others, we are on the surest path to true happiness."
Chan has travelled extensively through his
work, including numerous treks to Tibet. He wrote the 1,100-page
Tibet Handbook: A Pilgrimage Guide, published by
Moon Travel Handbooks in 1994. The book is recognized as the
most comprehensive guide on the culture, art, sacred sites, and
pilgrimage routes of
Tibet.
Victor Chan has known the Dalai Lama for over 30 years and
co-authored with him
The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Conversations and Journeys.
The book was shortlisted for the Best Spiritual Book of 2005
(Nautilus
Prize, New York) and translated into 14 languages. In 2005,
Chan and the Dalai Lama co-founded the
Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in Vancouver,
Canada.
Chan was Chair of the Organizing Committee responsible for the visit of the Dalai Lama to Vancouver in 2004. He and Professor Pitman Potter, Director of the Institute of Asian Research, UBC convened the symposium on "How to Balance Educating the Mind with Educating the Heart" which featured the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Professor Jo-Ann Archibald. With Potter, Chan was instrumental in establishing a Contemporary Tibetan Studies Program at UBC and was the first Executive Director of that program.
In response to Chan’s invitation, the Dalai Lama returned to Vancouver in September 2006 to attend the Vancouver Dialogues dedicated to promoting the Center’s key themes of compassion, peace and education. In September 2009, the Dalai Lama Center and Chan hosted the Vancouver Peace Summit, featuring five Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and many other visionaries from around the world.
TOBIAS ORLANDO Cragg recorded a follow-up conversation with Victor Chan at the 2013 Irawaddy Literary Festival in Yangon.
You may listen to this at this link