Consecration of Drepung Gomang Institute and Engaging Compassion in Louisville

Posted: 20 May 2013 09:00 AM PDT

Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 19 May 2013 - In the quiet low light of early morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama left New Orleans and flew to Louisville, Kentucky today. He was received at the airport by Mayor Greg Fischer and his wife and the Drepung Throne Holder, Khensur Lobsang Tenpa. He drove directly to the Drepung Gomang Institute, where children offered him a traditional Tibetan welcome. Responding to requests, he proceeded to perform consecration prayers in the temple and then turned to address the assembled people.
"It's wonderful that you have been able to establish a Drepung Gomang Institute here. I was invited to visit last year, and now I've been able to fulfil the request. It's also very good that the Drepung Throne Holder, a former Abbot of Gomang, has travelled to be here too.
"There are different religious traditions specific to different parts of the world and here in the USA, with its historical links to Europe, the predominant trend is Judeo-Christian. However, the growth of a global economy and large scale tourism means that previous boundaries are less clear. Interest in Christianity is on the rise in Asia and in the Judeo-Christian areas there is growing interest in Hinduism and Buddhist. One reason for the increased interest in Buddhist among more educated people is that it depends less on faith and more on reason. The Buddha himself advised his followers not to take what he said on trust but to examine it carefully for themselves.

"Although there is interest in Buddhist, sometimes misunderstandings prevail so the establishment of a soundly based Gomang centre may be very helpful. The connection to Drepung Gomang Monastery also means that there will always be qualified teachers available to teach here."
He said that something he has emphasised across the Himalayan region is that monasteries no longer be dedicated only to performing rituals, but should become centres of learning. He mentioned that this includes nunneries and noted that we are ab! out to see the graduation of the first Geshemas, qualified female teachers. He remarked that when we think of Nalanda, we do not think of a place where ritual and chanting took place, but of a place of learning. This is what we should aspire to in our monasteries and nunneries today. Traditionally a distinction is made between scriptural teaching and understanding and spiritual realisation, but realisation will only take place on the basis of learning.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during his visit to Drepung Gomang Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 19 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

His Holiness asked if the Institute had a copy of the Kangyur and Tengyur, the Tibetan edition of the canonical scriptures, and when he heard that they do not said that he will see if he has a spare copy for them. He explained that those scriptures can be seen as dealing with Buddhist science and philosophy on the one hand and Buddhist practice on the other. He suggested that the science and philosophy can be of interest to anyone, not only Buddhists, and encouraged the Institute to consider offering academic courses in these areas, something he has lately encouraged Maitripa College in Portland and Deer Park in Madison also to do.
"If you can do this," he said, "you'll truly be representing the Nalanda tradition."
After lunch, His Holiness drove to the KFC Yum Center, where he had been invited to speak as part of a series of events under the banner Engaging Compassion, which is also taking place in conjunction with the annual Festival of Faiths. When Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer took office in 2011, he stated his three top goals for the city: health, education and compassion. He cited as his inspiration the reputed Trappist monk and scholar Thomas Merton, who lived much of his life in an abbey nearby, and who, incidentally, His Holiness counted among his friends. Since then, Mayor Fischer has signed a resolution adopting the international 'Charter for Compassion,' making Louisville the largest city in America to take such action. Mayor Fischer introduced His Holiness to the spiritual representatives already gathered on the stage and to the audience of 14,000 in the Yum Center as a man radiating peace and joy, and asked him to say a few words.
"Respected spiritual brothers and sisters, esteemed Mayor and my dear brothers and sisters in the audience," His Holiness began, "I am very happy to be here in Louisville again. I came here once before to visit the monastery of my good friend and spiritual brother Thomas Merton and laid a white scarf on his grave. He contributed imm! ensely to a closer understanding between the Christian and Buddhist monastic traditions. And although he is no longer physically with us, his spirit, his hope and determination, lives on.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gestures during his talk on "Engaging Compassion" at the Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky on May 19, 2013. Photo/Sonam Zoksang

"I am very impressed that Louisville has adopted the Charter for Compassion, we need more action like this on a global level. The twentieth century was a period of great technological advancement that increased our comfort in many ways, and yet because it was also an era of unparalleled violence fear increased too. Consequently, we need to exert ourselves to make the twenty-first century a more peaceful, less violent time. This relates directly to developing greater compassion and concern for others. Of course, conflicts will still arise, but when we are faced with disagreements, we need to bear in mind that our opponent is also a human being like us, and on that basis seek a solution through dialogue.
"We need to foster more warm-heartedness and compassion. A compassionate community will not be achieved only through prayer; I pray myself, but I accept its limitations. We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and friends. Peace and warm-heartedness can then spread through the community just as ripples radiate out across the water when you drop a pebble into a pond."
His Holiness explained that if we are open-minded and warm-hearted ourselves then peace of mind will arise from within. He said that all the major religious traditions convey a message of compassion, and because there will be obstacles on the way, they also counsel tolerance and forgiveness.
"I am very happy to see such a gathering of followers of different religious traditions here. And I'd like to share with my spiritual brothers and sisters something I learned once at a conference in Argentina from a Chilean quantum physicist. He told me how much he valued his field of study, but that he had also learned that he could not afford to become attached to it, because attachment clouds our judgement. I thought this was wonderful advice. I realised that I am a Buddhist, but I should not allow myself to become attached or biased toward! s Buddhist, because it would obstruct my view of other traditions. So, although I am a Buddhist, and I hope a sincere Buddhist, I welcome the variety of our spiritual traditions and have great respect for them all."

Some of the more than 14,000 attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama's talk on "Engaging Compassion" at the Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky on May 19, 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

Among questions from the audience was one expressing difficulty with forgiving the perpetrators of the recent bombings in Boston. His Holiness said that in practical terms we have to bring such people to justice, but pointed out that he is a signatory to the Amnesty International campaign to abolish the death penalty. He said we have to distinguish between the action and the agent who carried it out, reminding ourselves that the agent also remains a human being.
Another member of the audience asked His Holiness to recall his favourite moment with Thomas Merton. He remembered that he came to visit for three days in 1968 and they sat together for 2-3 hours each time, sipping tea and having serious discussions about Christianity and the Christian monks' rule and way of life. His Holiness recalled that Thomas Merton was wearing big, heavy boots and a strong leather belt and that the top of his head was shiny - but his face was radiant.
"I think of him as a strong bridge between the Buddhist and Christian traditions. He was a wonderful person and his death was a great loss, but his spirit lives on."
Rajiv Mehrotra, who is the secretary and founding trustee of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India and who has been moderating the meeting of spiritual representatives invited His Holiness to give advice about inter-religious harmony, to which His Holiness responded:
"I think each of our religious traditions is a different expression of the same fundamental message, just as a garden is made more beautiful by a variety of flowers. All our religious traditions are aiming to create better human beings. Notions of one religion, one truth and several religions, several truths seem to be contradictory. However, it is appropriate for an individual to think in terms of one religion, one truth, while at the same time acknowledging the reality that in our human community we have several traditions and several truths."
Rajiv Mehrotra then intro! duced representatives from Science, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam who shared expressions of compassion from their own traditions, each of which drew warm appreciation from the audience. Jazz pianist and composer Harry Pickens played a piece he had composed especially for the occasion and he was followed by the St Stephen Temple Choir who brought events to a joyful end with their rousing rendition of 'O Happy Day.'

The Star, May 13, 2013

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- It was a triple celebration as thousands gathered to mark the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation's 20th anniversary, Mothers Day and Buddha Day.

<< Three in one: Thousands gathering to mark the Tzu Chi Buddist Foundation's 20th anniversary, Mothers Day and Buddha Day at the Kelana Jaya Stadium
Rachel Tan, a 35-year-old mother of two, could hardly control her emotions at the event held at Stadium Kelana Jaya last night.
"The songs played were very meaningful and touching. As a mother, it was very special to me," said the company director from Kepong as she held a small lamp as an offering to Lord Buddha.
Tan, who was there with her sons E Minh, four, and E Fe, one, said it was her second time attending the annual ceremony.
Thousands of Tzu Chi members created a formation in the centre of the stadium, displaying the foundation's logo and the letters "TZ 20" to mark its 20th anniversary.
Tzu Chi is a non-profit, volunteer-based organisation which focuses on providing material aid to the needy, and inspiring love and humanity among its givers and receivers.
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Chinese delegation could attend Buddhist meet in Delhi this year

Posted: 19 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT

by Rajeev Deshpande, TNN, May 14, 2013

NEW DELHI, India -- One-and-a-half years after China rescheduled border talks in a huff over Dalai Lama addressing a global Buddhist meet in Delhi, there are indications of a thaw with the Chinese expressing an interest in the Indian effort to organize another meet this year.

China has worked strenuously to present itself as the main pole of the Buddhist world by backing an ambitious development plan for Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha in Nepal, and organizing major meets on its soil. The success of the Indian global Buddhist conference in November 2011, organized by the Asoka mission, took the Chinese by surprise as major religious leaders who head the Theravada sects in countries like South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam attended the meet.
Sore at India's refusal to deny the Dalai Lama an opportunity to speak at the meeting, China put off its forthcoming border talks, icily informing India that it regards giving the religious leader a major platform as a hostile act.
The jousting for the Buddhist mantle saw India reclaiming its natural advantage of being Buddha's "karma bhoomi" with its myriad monuments and historical treasures associated with the religious leader.
A long period of no contact marked by mutual suspicion ended with China's "official" agencies sending feelers that they will like to meet Asoka mission head Lama Lobsang.
This led to a meeting between Xiao Wunan, executive vice chairman of Asia Pacific exchange and cooperation foundation, an NGO supported by the Chinese government, with Lama Lobsang in Malaysia a few months ago.
Xiao is seen as a communist party cadre and is one of the moving lights behind the Lumbini plan. At the meeting, he is understood to have expressed the willingness to consider the possibility of a Chinese delegation attending the next meet in India slated for later this year.
"We did discuss the possibility of China participating in the global Buddhist meet although we are yet to receive any formal communication," Lama Lobsang said.
The stumbling block is obvious. If the Dalai Lama were to again be a major participant - he is one of the patrons - any official or semi-official participation by the Chinese will be difficult.
However, Chinese authorities are aware that despite denying permission to monks keen to participate in the 2011 meeting, a dozen or so managed to evade scrutiny and made it to India.
These monks came to India in advance of the meeting on tourist visas and attended the Delhi deliberations. They were questioned on their return to China but not unduely harassed. It is possible that the Chinese may find a creative way to dispatch a Buddhist delegation to the Indian meeting slated for September.

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In Search of a Guru

Posted: 19 May 2013 11:00 AM PDT

By Gurugavesaka, The Buddhist Channel, May 20, 2013

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- I love being a Buddhist not because some say it's the best religion in the world; in fact, some don't even consider it as a religion. I love being a Buddhist simply because its just a way of life according to the teachings of the Buddha. There isn't an old dude in the sky whom you have to be afraid of for doing naughty things. You reap what your sow, everything boils down to cause and effect; in a word, karma - you are what you are today because of your past deeds, and the state of your future being and welfare will depend on what you say, do and think now. It's as simple as that but is it really?

It all seems quite easy to understand the teachings of the Buddha, beginning with the Triple Gem, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. However, as I delve deeper into Buddhism, I realize it's not as easy as I first thought it was - simply because understanding the Dhamma is not quite the same as realizing it!
Meditation itself was quite easy in the beginning, but as I practised I soon found that tranquillity meditation (samatha) as it is popularly taught is quite different from mindfulness or insight meditation (vipassana) and that the former leads to mental absorption while the latter to wisdom, which you will realize stage by stage. It can be quite confusing.
Then there is the subject of non-self or anatta which I understand to mean: there is no such thing as "I" or "myself"; there is simply no me or a soul that would go to heaven or hell! Further confusion arises from words such as nibbana, absolute truth as opposed to conventional truth! Then there is no answer as to the purpose of life and the first cause and the last effect of our existence. We pray, we meditate, we do good and avoid evil... who or what are we doing all these for if there is no you and I in the first place? How do you define nibbana anyway?

I soon realized that to fully understand Buddhism, one really needs a guru. Again, this is not as simple as it seems. How then does one go about in search of a guru? Some say that when the time is ripe, one will find a guru or a guru will find one according to one's karma and past conditioning and perhaps, due to some form of affinity from past lives. There is a Buddhist proverb that says "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear". In one particular sect of Buddhism, guru devotion is an absolute resolution: you do as he says with unwavering faithfulness. You just surrender yourself. I wonder where is the wisdom in that if in the unfortunate circumstances, you have chosen a wrong guru. I have known of friends who devoted years to a guru only to find out that he was a charlatan who was more interested in gain and fame and, in some cases, turned out to be sexually inclined and/or involved in occult practices.
One is of course advised to choose a guru with care and intelligence, to know the guru like a goldsmith who knows his gold. But we are all humans and humans make mistakes. Mistakes can come in many forms: either you are gullible and believe that the guru you have chosen would lead and train you on the right path to enlightenment or at least to attain some stages of wisdom, or you choose a guru because of his alluring personality. And gurus are humans too. How could one tell from first impression what appears to be genuine without, but rotten to the core within - with ulterior motives of gain and fame? And who knows, there may be some mentally sick monks as well as bogus ones who may appear quite intelligent too! There is a thin line between a genius and a mad man!¹ There is no denying that there are sincere and well trained gurus who may even be arahants if you are fortunate enough to meet them. But for every genuine guru, there must surely be some who would lead you to the pits instead of enlightenment. And in the process you would be made not only financially poorer but led on the garden path to nowhere but emotional drainage and trauma! And in some cases, a fool and his money are soon parted!
I have known of people who were so dedicated and devoted to their gurus that they spent years serving their cause in the name of Buddhism in exchange for guidance in the Dhamma and meditation. They were seeking the ever elusive truths about life but only to be abused like a slave serving the master, supposedly as a course of training their perseverance, a test of endurance, patience and devotion. Sadly, all these innocent devotees were misguided and taken advantage of, subservient to the guru's tidings for his sensual pleasure, boosting his ego and providing him with a luxurious life.
So how then could you ever find a guru who would be able to guide you on the right path? How do you tell who is and who isn't the right guru? From a lay devotee's perspective, I would say: Only time will tell. There will be tell-tale signs if you are sensible enough to notice whether a guru is genuine or not. However, one would be able to find guidance from several Suttas, notably Kalama Sutta (AN 3:65), Vimamsaka Sutta (MN 47) and Canki Sutta (MN 95) wherein the Buddha gave very clear advice in the search for a right guru. With permission from Bhante Aggacitta, I would now quote excerpts from his Dhamma talk about the search for a suitable teacher and method entitled "Not Too Gullible, Not Too Shrewd - How to Balance Faith and Intelligence"². He referred to the Kalama Sutta as follows:

"Bhante, for us there is doubt, there is uncertainty as to which of these reverend monks and brahmins speak the truth and which falsehood?"
"Come, Kalamas. Do not go
1. by oral tradition,
2. by lineage of teaching,
3. by hearsay,
4. by a collection of scriptures,
5. by logical reasoning,
6. by inferential reasoning,
7. by theorising,
8. by considered acceptance of a view,
9. by the seeming competence of a speaker, or
10. because you think, 'The monk is our teacher.'
"But when you know for yourselves, 'These things are unwholesome, these things are blameable, these things are censured by the wise; these things, if undertaken and practised, lead to harm and suffering', then you should abandon them.... But when you know for yourselves, 'These things are wholesome, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise; these things, if undertaken and practised, lead to welfare and happiness', then you should engage in them...."
The Buddha went on to ask the Kalamas if greed, hate and delusion were evidently unwholesome, blameable things that were censured by the wise and when undertaken and practised, led to harm and suffering. They acknowledged that it was so. They also admitted that non-greed, non-hate and non-delusion were evi¬dently wholesome, blameless things that were praised by the wise and when undertaken and practised, led to welfare and happiness.

Bhante Aggacitta advocated that it was important to have a right guru although difficult to choose one; nevertheless, using the guidelines from the Suttas one should:
Investigate the conduct and behaviour of your potential teacher according to Buddhist ethics, such as:

How pure is he in monastic or lay morality?
Is he conceited, arrogant, condescending, self-important or humble, cautious, understanding, kind, modest?

Investigate how he teaches. Does he teach:

in a graduated, systematic way, according to the maturity, inclination and temperament of the listener?
in a stereo-typed, dogmatic, inflexible manner?
in a haphazard, unsystematic, muddled way?
while blowing his own trumpet and disparaging others groundlessly?

Investigate his teaching

Does it agree with the core teachings of the Buddha such as the Four Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path, three characteristics, dependent origination?
Is it profound, hard to see and hard to understand, yet peaceful and sublime, not the sphere of mere reasoning, subtle, to be experienced by the wise practitioner?
Does it lead to reduction of greed, hate and delusion; and therefore to a more meaningful life with less suffering, more contentment, peace and happiness?

Always be cautious about your decision. Bearing in mind the fallibility of the five grounds of acceptance - faith, fancy, oral tradition, theorising and considered acceptance of a view - never be assertive about your conclusion, but be prepared to change when new observations and facts are known.
Have sufficient faith and confidence to start and persevere. Faith is still necessary because many of your perceptions may not be 100% accurate or verifiable.

But the best yardstick is to check your own mental states and behaviour, or to get candid feedback from a fellow practitioner or a close friend about whether you have reduced bad habits and improved your character.
For those with little faith and more intellectual inclinations, remember to apply the Buddha's instructions in Atthinukho-pariyaya Sutta (SN 35:153): keep a continual watch on the defilements in the mind as it reacts or responds to the 6 senses.

May you be well and happy and, in search of a guru, may you find one as I have.
--------
Notes:1. In fact there is a book called Saints and Psychopaths by William Hamilton, which gives interesting and bizarre stories showing the thin line between them. Download a free copy from http://www.scribd.com/doc/19649507/Saints-and-Psychopaths.
2. It will be released in MP3 format soon. Look out for it in http://www.sasanarakkha.org/mp3.html!

Read also: How to spot a Buddhist cult

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