Inspiring Teachings Continue By H. H. the Dalai Lama for Southeast Asian guests

Inspiring Teachings Continue By H. H. the Dalai Lama for Southeast Asian guests
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche’s Fall 2012 teaching schedule now online
Coming soon: Vara, a new film from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Watch “The Path of Freedom,” about meditation and prisoners, online now

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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September 6th 2012

Dharamsala, HP, India, 5 September 2012 (By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post International) - As the main temple in the Tibetan-exile community filled with an eager audience; ranging from the visiting Southeast Asian delegation, to robe-clad Buddhist monks and nuns, a sense of anticipation mixed with the plumes of incense that wafted through the rafters of the roof.

The second day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings on Shantideva's 'A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life' were about to commence, and a hushed silence filled the sacred building before the arrival of the great spiritual leader for day two of the event.

Opening with prayers and recitations, His Holiness gave an introduction to the awestruck audience into the fundamental teachings of the Buddha and the 'Four Noble Truths'.

"All our suffering, happiness, pain and pleasure come from these conditions" His Holiness stated. "You don't willingly and happily cause suffering yourself", He said, adding that you must develop a path to aspire to reach the path to enlightenment; that you need preparation to experience emptiness to reach the path of seeing itself.

"Buddhism is about making transformations in our mind...we have to use reasoning, not just because Buddha has said so".

He re-iterated the message that: "Anger harms our health. When you have love and compassion, it benefits us".

Continuing the teachings of Shantideva's 'A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life' from the previous day, verse 59 of Chapter 5, His Holiness clearly and concisely examined and explained the text, adding His wealth of experience, wisdom and warm-hearted humour.

The Dalai Lama highlighted:

"Our bodies should be in the service of other sentient beings...If you are selfish, you will only have suffering in this life. If you can help those who are helpless, the suffering and the sick; this will give rise to great virtue".

"You should not leave these teachings in words, but put them into practice" He concluded, as chapter five drew to a close, and the audience were dismissed for a lunch break and a period to reflect.

For the afternoon teachings, His Holiness drew upon humour and past experiences, adding colour to the text regarding anger:

"The moment anger arises in us, you will lose peace of mind...if you are angry all the time, it eats into your immune system". He stated, drawing upon proven scientific research into the topic.

"If you have peace of mind, your immune system is strengthened. Anger has no benefit whatsoever. When you become angry, immediately, it may seem anger is helping you, giving you more courage...but it is a blind, foolish courage. If you develop courage through reasoning, this is ok. [But] if you develop resentment towards those who harm you, what benefit does it have?"

His Holiness then drew upon the memory of a mechanic from Norbulinka in Tibet, who became very angry while repairing a car. The mechanic became enraged, and: "he hit the car he was repairing, which made the situation worse" His Holiness chuckled, to the amusement of the audience.

Twice during the teachings, generous amounts of tea were offered to the vast crowd, who drank happily while they listened to the words of the great spiritual leader. As the afternoon continued, the clear morning skies turned to a blanket of cloud, which enveloped the temple in a thick mist. His Holiness drew the teachings to a close at the end of Chapter 6, and explained the following day's session would include a ceremony of the regeneration of Bodhisattva, and stressed the importance of the relationship between both Lama and disciple.

As His Holiness left the temple, with an audience of devoted followers and students bowed respectfully before Him, the threatening storm clouds finally let loose an outburst of monsoon rain, and a river of colourful umbrellas jostled their way skyward on the crowded streets below. Though the Southeast Asian guests were treated to a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and culture from the great Tibetan leader in exile, they were also treated to the mercy of the seasonal Indian climate too.

A live webcast, in English, Chinese, Tibetan and Russian languages as well as a video link to the teachings, is available on: http://dalailama.com/liveweb

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Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche’s Fall 2012 teaching schedule now online

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Mangala Shri Bhuti has updated its site to include Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche's Fall 2012 teaching schedule, which includes appearances in Colorado, at Harvard University, and in Brazil, Florida, New York, and Vermont. Click here to view the entire schedule.

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Coming soon: Vara, a new film from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche may be best known as a Buddhist teacher and author, but he also has a well-established second career as a filmmaker. Under the name Khyentse Norbu, he's written and directed two well-reviewed feature films, 1999′s The Cup, about two Tibetan novice monks trying to obtain a television so they can watch the World Cup, and 2003′s Travelers and Musicians, a fantastical film about a young man trying to travel out of Bhutan. He's currently at work on a third film, Vara: A Blessing, which is in post-production.

Set in rural India, Vara tells the story of a young woman named Lila and her mother Vinata, a temple dancer who's married to a Hindu god. Lila meets Shyam, a lower caste village boy and aspiring sculptor, and asks her to model for him, though they both know they could be in danger if they're discovered. According to the film's website, it "seamlessly intertwines vivid dreamworlds of Hindu gods, classical bharatanatyam dance, and music. It's a timeless story of love and devotion."

The film's first trailer is still forthcoming (as is a release date), but there are interviews and some beautiful still photos at the film's website. Here, you can watch a video of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche talking about the making of Vara.

Dzongsar Khyentse has spoken with the Shambhala Sun about his unusual career path before, and these two wide-ranging interviews are worth checking out.

What Changes and What Doesn't — An Interview with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

If I'm Lucky They Call Me Unorthodox — Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on what it's like to live the life of a teacher while also pursuing a film career

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Watch “The Path of Freedom,” about meditation and prisoners, online now

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT

The Path of Freedom is a short film that "enters the harsh environment of a Rhode Island men's prison where a group of fifty inmates are transforming their lives through the practice of meditation. The film follows former inmate Fleet Maull as he visits prison to share his strategies for surviving on the inside. The film offers a rare glimpse into the inner lives of men reaching for forgiveness, inner peace and freedom behind bars." Watch it online here: