The Gnu's Room will host a lecture April 4 at 7 p.m. on "How to Solve Our Human Problems," a book written by Buddhist monk Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Gyatso's spiritual student, Gen Kelsang Mondrub, will present the book's contents and offer practical advice. Mondrub is a monk at the Kadampa Meditation Center in Georgia, who has been studying Buddhism for more than 17 years.
"We have eight residents," said Cindy Parker, an education program coordinator at the Center. "It's more a Buddhist center, not a temple. There are different types of Buddhist centers, but our type of Buddhism is called Kadampa Buddhism."
The center has been in Atlanta for more than 12 years, and Mondrub has visited The Gnu's Room twice before.
"The first time he came we were packed," said The Gnu's Room owner Tina Tatum. "Whether or not you feel compelled to lean toward Buddhist teaching, it's common sense psychology on how to deal with things."
The talk will cover "what are problems and where do they come from, how we can respond to difficult people and situations with a positive mind and how can we reduce the painful minds of tension, frustration, anger and resentment," Tatum said. "The fourth part of the talk is advice."
Having an out-of-town speaker is a big deal said Maddie Wilder, employee at The Gnu's Room. "Usually we have mainly locals, like people who are publishing their first book," Wilder said.
While Mondrub is an American born in Toronto, the author is from Tibet.
"Gyatso moved to England in the late '70s to spread Buddhism to the Western world," Parker said. "He has written 21 books, and his latest book...was written to adapt Buddhism to our times."
Gyatso's book espouses the power of positive thinking, Parker said.
"Whenever we have a problem, like our car breaks down or we have a fight with a friend, we think that's our problem," Parker said. "It's all how you respond to it...that's how we can live a happier life, by realizing that it all starts in our minds."
Tatum promises the audience will enjoy Mondrub's lecture.
"He's an engaging speaker," Tatum said "You will leave feeling very relaxed, because he has a soft, even tone when he talks."
The lecture is open to the public and should last no longer than an hour, Tatum said.
"People can ask questions...I'm sure he'd be more than willing to stay after and answer questions," Tatum said.
While the lecture is free, donations will be accepted to offset Mondrub's travel costs.
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