Craig Hamilton & Dalai Lama on Awakening Through Compassion

Craig Hamilton:

I’ve guided thousands through the Practice of Direct Awakening, and one truth continues to echo through every breakthrough I witness: awakening isn’t something we earn—it’s something we remember.

Yet in a world driven by effort and improvement, many spiritual seekers find themselves trapped in striving—believing they must perfect themselves before they can be free.

That’s why, for this special series, I wanted to speak with someone who embodies compassionate awakening—not as an ideal, but as a living reality.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a beacon of kindness, clarity, and spiritual maturity for decades.

Today, we sit together not to debate methods—but to illuminate a path where effort gives way to ease, striving dissolves into stillness, and awakening becomes a birthright, not a reward.

Welcome to a conversation rooted in presence—and devoted to the possibility of awakening now.

 (Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.)

Topic 1: The Myth of the Hard Path — Awakening Through Compassion, Not Striving

Craig Hamilton (Introduction):
When I first began teaching the Practice of Direct Awakening, I noticed something strange—almost everyone who came to meditation carried an unspoken assumption: that it had to be hard. That struggle, discipline, even self-punishment were part of the price for awakening.

But is that true?

Today, I’m honored to explore this with someone who embodies the gentle power of inner transformation—His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Though exiled from his homeland and tested by unimaginable adversity, his message to the world remains the same: compassion, forgiveness, and joyful presence.

Thank you for joining me.

Craig Hamilton:
Your Holiness, many spiritual seekers—especially in the West—believe awakening must come through struggle or intense effort. Why do you think this belief is so widespread, and is it actually true?

Dalai Lama:
Ah, yes. This belief is very human. In many cultures, the idea of “no pain, no gain” is very strong. People think that if something is precious, it must be difficult to reach. So they bring this idea into spiritual practice.

But in Buddhism, we say the cause of suffering is grasping—the mind trying to control everything. When you bring that same controlling mind to meditation, you create more tension. This tension makes it hard to recognize your true nature, which is already present. You see?

Of course, some effort is needed—like brushing your teeth! But the deepest realization comes not from effort, but from allowing. Allowing the mind to settle. Allowing awareness to recognize itself.

This is why we speak of the “natural mind.” It is not something to build, but to uncover. Like the sun behind the clouds. Effort may move some clouds, but eventually, you must stop pushing the sky.

So the belief in struggle is understandable—but it is not helpful. Compassion helps you relax this struggle. That’s where true insight arises.

Craig Hamilton:
You often speak of compassion not just as a moral ideal, but as a powerful path. How can compassion itself become the vehicle for awakening—not just an outcome of it?

Dalai Lama:
Yes, very important point. Many people think, “I will meditate and become enlightened, then I will be more compassionate.” But it is often the other way around.

When you feel deep compassion for another being—true compassion, not just pity—your own ego softens. You stop thinking about your little problems, your little self. You open.

This openness is not separate from awakening. In fact, it is the condition for it.

In the Tibetan tradition, we speak of Bodhicitta—the awakened heart-mind. It is both the cause and the result of enlightenment. When you meditate with the motivation to benefit others, your practice becomes very powerful.

Also, compassion protects you. Without it, meditation can become cold, self-centered, even dangerous. You may become proud: “Look how peaceful I am.” But with compassion, your heart stays humble, connected.

So I say: don’t wait to be awakened before you are compassionate. Be compassionate, and awakening may sneak in the back door.

Craig Hamilton:
If someone is caught in striving—always trying to “do meditation right” or “fix themselves”—how can they shift into a more effortless, awakened presence without falling into laziness or apathy?

Dalai Lama:
Ah, very good question. Many people fear that if they stop striving, they will do nothing. Sit like a potato! (laughs)

But true non-striving is not laziness. It is a kind of inner dignity—a confidence that awareness itself is already enough.

I tell students: If you are too tight, you will suffer. If you are too loose, you will not grow. So, what is the middle way?

First, notice the striving. Is there tension? Is there grasping? Then gently return to the breath. Return to the intention—not to “be good at meditation,” but simply to be awake, here.

Sometimes I say, “Don’t meditate. Just sit.” This sounds funny, but it means: stop trying to get something. Just be with the moment, like an old friend.

And when you drift? Just smile. Gently come back. This is not failure. This is the practice.

If you keep going like this, with patience and love, something will open. Not from your pushing, but from your letting be.

In Tibetan, we say: “Drop by drop, the bucket fills.”

So keep showing up—but with kindness, not violence. That is the secret.

Craig Hamilton:
There’s something quietly revolutionary in what you’ve shared, Your Holiness. That compassion is not just a result of awakening—but its gateway. That effort may get us to the cushion, but effortlessness gets us home.

In the Practice of Direct Awakening, we also speak of letting go of the effort to “become spiritual” and instead learning to recognize the awakened awareness that’s already here.

What I hear in your words is that we don’t have to fight our way to freedom. We can meet the path with a gentle heart—and that alone can unlock everything.

Thank you, truly, for helping us remember that awakening doesn’t have to be hard. It just has to be real.

Topic 2: Resting in the Eye of the Storm — Finding Unshakable Peace in a World on Fire

Craig Hamilton (Introduction):
There are moments when the world feels like it’s falling apart. From news headlines to personal crises, we’re bombarded by a storm of uncertainty and pain. And for many spiritual seekers, the question becomes: How do we stay rooted in awareness without shutting down or drifting into denial?

Today, I’m deeply honored to explore this with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a man who has lived through exile, political oppression, and cultural trauma—and yet carries a presence of such warmth and peace that it seems untouched by the world’s storms.

Craig Hamilton:
Your Holiness, in a time when the world feels more chaotic than ever—wars, climate crisis, rising anxiety—how can we stay spiritually grounded without turning away from suffering?

Dalai Lama:
Very good, very important. The world is always changing. Sometimes peaceful, sometimes stormy. But one thing is always the same: our need to remain centered—not by ignoring the suffering, but by facing it with a strong heart.

To be grounded, we need perspective. If you only watch the news, your mind becomes filled with fear and anger. But if you look deeper—into the long history of humanity—you will see, this suffering is not new. And yet, the human spirit always rises.

Meditation helps us come back to the bigger view. You are not just a small person watching a terrible story. You are awareness itself—holding space for the whole drama to unfold.

This is not turning away. This is turning toward with wisdom. You become like the eye of a hurricane. Calm at the center. Strong enough to love, even in chaos.

Craig Hamilton:
Many people feel overwhelmed by the pain of the world and paralyzed by their own emotions. How can meditation help us be more available without collapsing under the weight of it all?

Dalai Lama:
Yes, I understand. The heart can feel too much. You see suffering in others, and your own sadness or anger becomes heavy. But here is the key: compassion is not the same as sorrow.

When we meditate, we learn to observe emotions—not as enemies, but as passing clouds. You feel the sadness, the grief, even despair. But you don’t drown. You sit beside it.

I often say: “Open your heart, but do not lose your mind.”

Meditation gives you that strength. You see the pain, and you breathe. You don’t push it away, but you also don’t become it.

And the strange thing is, when you do this, your capacity grows. You can hold more suffering without breaking. Because you are resting in something deeper than emotion—something like the ocean floor, unmoved by the waves.

That is the gift of awareness.

Craig Hamilton:
Is it truly possible to experience deep inner peace when life remains unresolved—personally or globally? What does peace look like in the middle of the storm?

Dalai Lama:
Ah… beautiful question. (smiles)

Peace is not a reward for a perfect life. It is not something you find after everything is fixed. It is something you choose, moment by moment, even in the middle of difficulty.

Look at a mountain. The wind blows, the storms come. But the mountain does not chase the clouds. It remains.

Inner peace is like this. It is not the absence of problems—it is the absence of inner war.

You can lose your country, like I did. You can see your people suffer, and still laugh, still love, still enjoy a flower blooming or a child’s smile. This is not denial. This is freedom.

Many people wait for the world to calm down before they rest. But that day may never come.

Better to find peace now—within yourself—and bring that peace into the world. Not to escape it, but to heal it.

This is what I try to do every day. And I am not special. Anyone can do this.

Craig Hamilton:
Your words land like a deep breath, Your Holiness. In our Practice of Direct Awakening, we teach that true awareness isn’t something we generate through effort—it’s something we recognize, already present.

What you’ve shown us today is that this presence is not separate from peace, even in the face of fire. That resting in the eye of the storm isn’t passive—it’s a profound act of courage and love.

As the world spins around us, may we all remember: peace isn’t on the other side of action or awakening. It is the ground beneath our feet, here and now.

Thank you, Your Holiness, for helping us find that ground again.

Topic 3: Letting Go Without Giving Up — The Balance of Surrender and Responsibility

Craig Hamilton (Introduction):
For so many seekers, the spiritual path becomes a delicate dance: Do I push forward or surrender? Do I strive or rest? And for those of us teaching meditation, we see how easy it is to confuse letting go with giving up—especially when life demands so much of us.

To explore this paradox, I’ve invited one of the world’s most grounded spiritual teachers—His Holiness the Dalai Lama—who has spent a lifetime holding sorrow in one hand and joy in the other, while remaining deeply engaged with the world.

Craig Hamilton:
Your Holiness, many spiritual teachings emphasize letting go or surrender—but what does it really mean to let go without falling into passivity or avoidance?

Dalai Lama:
Ah yes, this is a common misunderstanding. When we speak of “letting go,” we do not mean to drop responsibility or close our eyes. True surrender is not inaction—it is the release of inner resistance.

Letting go means we stop grasping. We stop trying to force life to match our small desires. This creates inner spaciousness. It allows wisdom to guide us, not fear or ego.

But sometimes, people think surrender means “do nothing.” That is a mistake. Even a monk has work to do! (laughs)

We must respond to suffering, care for others, and take action when needed. But the mind is free inside. It acts from peace, not desperation.

So real surrender is very active. It just comes from a different place. A still place.

Craig Hamilton:
You’ve always spoken about non-attachment, yet your commitment to helping others is unwavering. How do we stay engaged in life and service, while remaining inwardly free?

Dalai Lama:
Very important question. Yes, we are called to serve, but we must learn to serve without attachment to outcome.

For example, I work for Tibet. I speak, I travel, I meet world leaders. But I do not carry the illusion that I control the results. That would only create stress and disappointment.

Instead, I do my part sincerely—and then I release the results. This keeps the heart soft and the mind clear.

In meditation, we learn this. We see how thoughts arise and pass. In life, the same: actions arise, results come—or not—but we stay present and kind, no matter what.

When we are non-attached, we do not lose love—we become more loving. We are not trapped by desire. We act from the heart.

And this makes our service stronger.

Craig Hamilton:
In our Practice of Direct Awakening, we invite people to awaken now—not after years of effort. But people often ask, “If I let go of trying, won’t I stop growing?” How do you reconcile surrender with spiritual progress?

Dalai Lama:
Ah, this is a good one. (smiles)

People think, “If I stop trying, I will stop improving.” But what they don’t see is: trying too hard often blocks the very awakening they seek.

Growth does not always come from effort. It comes from clear seeing. And clear seeing happens in stillness.

I will tell you something from my own practice: many of my deepest insights came not from effort, but from silence. From being very still and listening with my whole being.

But this does not mean we are lazy. We show up, we sit, we practice. But we practice with a light touch. Not pushing, not judging, not striving. Just being.

And from that place, something opens—like a flower in the sun.

Awakening is not a reward for effort. It is a gift we receive when we stop standing in our own way.

So you are correct: direct awakening is possible now. But we must relax the grasping mind to see it.

Craig Hamilton:
What you’ve shared, Your Holiness, points to something we often forget: that true effort isn’t about strain—it’s about sincerity. That letting go doesn’t mean stepping away from life, but stepping into it more fully, without fear.

In the Practice of Direct Awakening, we guide people toward that very balance. And what you’ve shown us today is that freedom and responsibility are not opposites. They dance together—just as your life dances between deep presence and tireless service.

Thank you for helping us see that surrender is not the end of the path—it is the beginning of a different way to walk it.

Topic 4: Beyond Self-Improvement — Awakening as the End of the Search

Craig Hamilton (Introduction):
One of the greatest traps on the spiritual path is the belief that we must constantly fix ourselves before we can awaken. The idea that enlightenment is just one more breakthrough, one more healed wound, one more perfect day away.

But in the Practice of Direct Awakening, we invite people to step outside this endless striving—not by abandoning growth, but by realizing that what they seek is already here, now.

Today, to go deeper into this liberating view, I’m joined again by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has long reminded us that “Our true nature is already pure.” His life and teachings reveal that awakening is not a mountain to climb, but a homecoming.

Craig Hamilton:
Your Holiness, so many seekers stay trapped in the belief that they must endlessly improve themselves before awakening is possible. How do we move beyond this cycle of self-fixing?

Dalai Lama:
Yes, this is a big misunderstanding. Many people think spiritual progress means becoming “better”—more perfect, more disciplined, more peaceful. They chase improvement like a donkey chasing a carrot.

But you cannot reach the sky by climbing a ladder made of thoughts.

True awakening is not about adding more to yourself—it is about seeing clearly what is already true.

Of course, growth is good. Compassion, wisdom, patience—we cultivate these things. But if we believe we must be perfect before we awaken, we are always postponing freedom.

You see, the ego likes self-improvement. It keeps it busy. (smiles) But the awakened mind is not concerned with polishing the ego. It sees through it.

Meditation helps us let go of this chasing. We rest. We become still. And then—suddenly—we see: there is nothing missing.

This is freedom.

Craig Hamilton:
You often say that our true nature is already pure. How do we access that in daily life, especially when we feel flawed or broken?

Dalai Lama:
Ah, yes. Sometimes we feel very far from purity. We get angry, afraid, jealous. We make mistakes. But this is only on the surface.

Like a lake with waves—the surface is disturbed, but the depths are still.

Our awareness—what you call “Direct Awakening”—is like this depth. It is never broken. It cannot be harmed by any emotion or experience.

To access it, we don’t need to fight the surface. We only need to sink below it. Gently.

Meditation gives us this doorway. We sit, we breathe, we do nothing—and in that nothing, something vast appears. A quiet presence. Not cold, not empty—but radiant and warm.

And this presence says: “You were never broken.”

From this space, even your flaws become teachers. You don’t reject them—you bow to them, and let them pass.

This is how awakening happens in daily life—not by fixing yourself, but by meeting yourself with gentleness.

Craig Hamilton:
If awakening is not something to achieve but something to recognize, what does it actually feel like to live from that awakened nature?

Dalai Lama:
Mmm… good question. (nods thoughtfully)

Living from awakened nature feels like returning to simplicity.

You are not trying to be someone. You are not acting from fear. You are not rushing to get somewhere. You are just here—present, aware, open.

There is a kind of joy in this. Not excitement. Not a party. But a deep, quiet joy of being.

Things happen—good and bad—but they do not shake you. You respond with care, but you are not pulled by reaction.

It’s like a candle in a dark room. It doesn’t shout. It just shines.

Also, from this awakened place, love becomes effortless. Not romantic love. But a kind of universal friendliness. You see others clearly, without judgment. You want to help, but without pushing.

And you laugh more. (laughs) Because the whole game of ego becomes funny. You see how hard people try to become something—when they already are something wonderful.

This is not mystical. It is very human. And anyone can live this way. Not all the time, maybe—but more and more, as we learn to rest in presence.

Craig Hamilton:
What you’ve shared, Your Holiness, is one of the most compassionate truths on the path—that we are not a project to complete, but a mystery to recognize. That our deepest nature doesn’t need to be earned. It needs to be remembered.

In the Practice of Direct Awakening, we teach that effort has its place—but awakening begins when effort falls away, and we finally listen to the silence behind all striving.

Thank you for reminding us that the search ends not in triumph, but in tender awareness. And that true growth isn’t about becoming someone else—but fully being who we already are.

Topic 5: The Gentle Urgency of Now — Answering the Call Without Forcing the Future

Craig Hamilton (Introduction):
In a world gripped by crises—from climate collapse to loneliness to spiritual confusion—it’s tempting to think awakening must wait. That there’s no time for inner peace when the house is on fire.

But in the Practice of Direct Awakening, we offer a radically different view: that the greatest gift we can offer the world is to meet it as awakened presence. That urgency doesn’t cancel stillness—it requires it.

To explore this sacred tension between stillness and responsibility, I return one final time to a most radiant teacher—His Holiness the Dalai Lama—whose life models how compassion can move swiftly, but never forcefully.

Craig Hamilton:
Your Holiness, we live in urgent times—climate collapse, conflict, mental health crises. How can we respond to these challenges with spiritual clarity, rather than panic or force?

Dalai Lama:
Yes, the world is in great pain. But panic does not help.

It is like this: when a child is crying, do you scream back? No—you hold them. You become still. Then you act.

Spiritual clarity means we begin with inner balance. If our mind is full of fear, our actions become unwise—even dangerous.

So the first response is not “do something fast.” It is “return to presence.”

When I speak with leaders, I tell them: if your heart is not calm, wait before acting.

This calmness is not detachment. It is deep care—care that is not afraid.

Then, from this clarity, we take action. We vote, we speak, we help. But we do not spread more fear.

Compassion, when it is rooted in stillness, becomes a powerful force—like water flowing through stone. It does not force—but it transforms.

Craig Hamilton:
There’s often tension between urgency and patience. How do we stay attuned to the call to act now, without becoming overwhelmed or pushing too hard?

Dalai Lama:
This is a very real tension, yes.

Many young people today feel, “If I don’t fix everything now, it will be too late.” This creates suffering. And burnout.

But urgency without patience is like fire without direction—it can destroy rather than warm.

We need wise urgency.

This means we respond when needed, but we also rest. We breathe. We remember that the world is not saved by one person.

When I was a young monk, I wanted Tibet to be free right away. I was angry. But over time, I saw: some things take many lifetimes.

So I still work, every day. But I am not in a hurry. This gives me joy, even in hardship.

In meditation, we learn this rhythm. Inhale… exhale. Action… rest.

Awakened presence is not sleepy. It is fully awake—but not agitated. This is how we sustain our care, even in crisis.

Craig Hamilton:
In our teachings, we talk about the ‘always already awakened’ nature of reality. How can realizing this help us serve more effectively in a world that feels so fragile?

Dalai Lama:
Mmm… this is very deep. Yes.

When you know your true nature is already awake, you stop grasping. You stop saying, “I need to become someone.”

Instead, you begin serving from wholeness.

This changes everything.

You listen better. You feel less afraid. You do not need to prove yourself. You act not for ego—but from love.

Also, you stop judging others. You see that they, too, are not broken. They are confused, yes—but beneath that, they are also radiant.

From this view, the world is not just a problem. It is a field of compassion.

So service becomes natural. Joyful.

I have seen this in great activists, too. Those who know their being is whole—they do not burn out. They do not hate. They shine.

This is what your teaching—Direct Awakening—offers: a way to act from stillness. To serve without struggle.

It is exactly what our fragile world needs.

Craig Hamilton:
What you’ve offered us today is the answer to one of the most silent questions in every seeker’s heart: Can I truly rest and still make a difference?

And Your Holiness, you’ve shown us: not only can we—we must.

Because urgency without presence becomes panic. And presence without action becomes passivity. But together—they birth wisdom.

In the Practice of Direct Awakening, we teach that awakening doesn’t take you out of the world. It lets you return to it—with clarity, compassion, and unshakable love.

Thank you, from my heart, for reminding us that the most powerful response to crisis isn’t to run harder. It’s to wake up, stand still, and act with peace in our step.

You’ve helped illuminate that rarest of things in this noisy world—a gentle urgency.

Final Thoughts by Craig Hamilton

As we’ve seen in this profound dialogue with the Dalai Lama, true awakening doesn’t demand we climb a spiritual mountain—it asks only that we rest, right here, where we already are.

We’ve explored the myth of the hard path, the subtle power of surrender, and the radical idea that compassion—not control—is the doorway to the sacred.

If the Practice of Direct Awakening has one message, it’s this: your deepest freedom is already alive within you.

My deepest hope is that, through these conversations, you’ll stop waiting, stop striving—and begin listening to the quiet truth that’s always been speaking through your own awareness.

Thank you for walking this path—not later, not someday, but now.

Short Bios:

Craig Hamilton
Craig Hamilton is a pioneering spiritual teacher and founder of The Practice of Direct Awakening, a transformative meditation path that offers direct access to awakened consciousness. With over 16,000 graduates in more than 85 countries, his work bridges ancient wisdom and modern insight, offering a clear, grounded approach to spiritual realization.

The Dalai Lama
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global ambassador of compassion, peace, and nonviolence. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, he has inspired millions with his teachings on universal responsibility, interfaith harmony, and the innate goodness of the human heart.