Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet
by His Holiness The Dalai Lama with artist Patrick McDonnell
I had the pleasure of being at an art exhibit of Patrick McDonnell's work where there was an opportunity to hear the artist talk about his recent work and his greatest influences. While there, I picked up Heart to Heart and The Guard Dog Story: Breaking the Chain. As a yoga teacher, I couldn't let it pass me by to get a picture book by two such esteemed people in the colliding parts of my life: yoga and comics.
Heart to Heart utilizes verses from works of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet in previous publications from 1995 to 2020 and new calls to action from 2023. This book focuses on environmentalism, human impact, climate change, and how billions of humans have seemingly forgotten that they share this planet with other living beings.
The story begins by showing different species of bears from around the world fleeing their forest homes because of habitat loss (fires and logging). The panda bear because the first main character. She walks and walks through spoilt lands where she can't survive until she reaches Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama. While practicing his lovingkindness meditation, the panda knocks on his door. They spend days together honoring the earth mother. They take the time to literally hug the trees.
Here in the United States and so many other places, we have lost this connection to the earth and its other life forms. Certainly our country isn't the only one that pollutes and destroys, but we aren't great. This book is accessible to anyone who is in a position of not having a lot of time; maybe it's a short attention span that technology has caused; maybe it's needing help understanding the crisis in words that aren't used as clickbait.
A book with a message this crucial could be overlooked so easily because it's a picture book. McDonnell's art (though he was academically trained) is made of thin, sketchy aesthestics and minimalism. Yet, every page is either a punch to the gut or a squeeze on the heart.
There's no "religious dogma," because that's not what Buddhism is about. The Buddha is known to have said that he isn't a figure to worship. It's about living a noble life with guidelines given that are clearly universal.
After the panda has felt love, compassion, and has healed from its despair and hunger, she moves on to her own quest to spread kindness hoping to find more of her species. The Dalai Lama is alone in meditation again when there's another knock at his door from a being seeking love.
The calls to action of Heart to Heart is pure:
open your eyes to the world around you;
radical reorientation away from our preoccupation with self;
see and act on the importance of our environment because survival depends on it;
be kind and have a peaceful heart imbued with wisdom.
Here's the version of the mettā-bhāvanā (lovingkindness) meditation in this book:
May I become at all times, both now and forever, A protector for those without protection A guide for those who have lost their way A ship for those with oceans to cross A bridge for those with rivers to cross A sanctuary for those in danger A lamp for those without light A place of refuge for those who lack shelter And a servant to all in need.
After the story, there's another meditation prayer:
May all sentient beings, oneself and others, find constant happiness through love and compassion associated with wisdom.
For a video clip of artist Patrick McDonnell signing and doodling in the books, visit YouTube. McDonnell is an animal lover and dedicates part of his life through art in bringing awareness to animal cruelty and the importance of rescues and shelters.
Publisher's Summary:
From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt’s cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other.
At the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . .
With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet—text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell’s masterful illustrations—Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that “we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house.” Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change.
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow.”
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