His Holiness the Dalai Lama Interacts with Students and Gives a Public Talk on Ethics for a Whole World in Dunedin
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama Interacts with Students and Gives a Public Talk on Ethics for a Whole World in Dunedin
- Boundless Way Zen sangha opens on Massachusetts’ South Shore
- Welcome, Enid Beatrice Boyce!
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meets with Parliamentarians and Students on his Second Day in Christchurch
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Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT
Dunedin, New Zealand, 11 June 2013 - There was a brisk chill in the air today when more than 30 local church leaders and representatives of various religions and faith communities belonging to the Dunedin Interfaith Council gathered on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Dunedin.
From there it was short drive to the University of Otago Clocktower Building where he was met by Vice-Chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne. A group of Maoris sang and an elder declaimed a traditional Maori welcome. Afterwards His Holiness quizzed them about Maori accounts of life after death, creation and their place in the natural world. On the walk to the University's St David Lecture Theatre a bagpiper led the way. In the theatre the Vice-Chancellor introduced His Holiness, pointing out that he was making his first visit to a New Zealand university by visiting New Zealand's first university. He proceeded to respond to a series of questions before an audience of 550 students and staff.
The first question was about the Buddhist view of creation. His Holiness explained that Buddhists like Jains have no concept of a creator, instead they believe in causality and that the world is beginningless. The universe comes about, persists and eventually disappears, only to reappear again in a continuing cycle
"However," he said, "much more relevant to our lives today is how to make this a century of peace." Another questioner asked when you're asleep who observes your dreams? His Holiness replied that Buddhist teaches there is no independent self, but that this does not mean there is no self at all. There is a conventional self designated on the combination of body and mind. "Just now we are using our sensory consciousnesses, but when we are asleep and dreaming they are turned off. This indicates that there is a subtler level of consciousness that continues to function when the sensory consciousnesses don't. Another example of this was the monk who died! here in 2011, and whose body remained fresh for 17 days after clinical death. This is a phenomenon that scientists are beginning to take an interest in that suggests there is a yet deeper level of consciousness that is not dependent on the brain."
Asked what bearing death has on our lives, His Holiness pointed out that things in general are not permanent but change from moment to moment. Where there is birth there will be death. Given the certainty of death, His Holiness explained that practitioners like him visualise the process of death in meditation several times every day in preparation for the actual event, to make themselves familiar with the process of dissolution. He said that if you disregard death it is likely to catch you unawares. Another questioner wanted to know if he really wanted to separate Tibet from mainland China; he replied: "In 1974 we decided that eventually we would have to talk to the Chinese authorities and that it would not be realistic to seek outright independence. In 1979 a message from Deng Xiaoping said that everything was open to discussion barring independence. Under the leadership of Hu Yaobang we might have solved the issue of Tibet, but he was removed, the Tiananmen event took place and hardliners took charge. Chinese friends have told me that if the Chinese public understood our stand, our Middle Way Approach that seeks not independence but genuine autonomy, they would support it wholeheartedly. Tibetan Buddhist culture is a culture of peace, compassion and non-violence and as such is of great value to the world. We urgently wi! sh to preserve it."
"Please think seriously about our inner values which are the source of peace of mind. And because we can't rely on the use of force, please think about resolving conflict through dialogue. I am convinced of the importance of acknowledging the oneness of humanity, so try not to think only of New Zealand, but think instead of the whole world." After lunching with the Vice-Chancellor and university officials at the Executive Residence, His Holiness drove to the Town Hall to speak to an audience of 2100 about 'Ethics for a Whole World.' "Brothers and sisters I'm happy to have this opportunity to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you. My day began with a period of inter-faith silence on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral. We need to make an effort to foster religious harmony, acknowledging that our different traditions evolved at different times, in different locations with different ways of life, but sharing a common goal. We can learn from each other. Personally we need faith in our own tradition, but at the same time we need to cultivate understanding and respect for others'." He explained that in the past religious institutions, as opposed to religious doctrine, have been targeted because of their tendency to manipulate and exploit. If we ask why this occurs, he said it is due to a lack of ethics. Ethics are a source of peace. Ethics are opposed to corruption, bullying and exploitation. They lead to living life honestly and truthfully, which gives rise to trust. Trust is the basis of friendship and friendship thrives on warm-heartedness. "Who sows the seed of compassion in us?" he asked, "not religion but our mother. We are all born from a mother and receive unconditional affection from her. This is a deep source of happiness for the rest of our lives. Those who receive less affection, or are abused a! s children, tend to grow up feeling insecure and troubled by fear.
His Holiness said we need to promote ethics through education, a system of secular education that has universal appeal and which anyone can adopt. A question was asked about how to prevent others' behaviour disturbing our inner peace. His Holiness replied that we need patience to protect our peace of mind, our compassionate mind. Patience is part of our defence, as is forgiveness. Enemies and troublemakers are helpful in that they give us the opportunity to exercise our patience and forgiveness. To a question about guilt he said that regret can be helpful in a way that guilt may not. Asked to name the biggest change he has seen in his life, His Holiness replied that the fall of the Berlin Wall was momentous. Today, we hear more leaders using the word 'compassion' and where people once only spoke of religion, nowadays they naturally speak of religions. As to the keys to cultivating peace of mind, he recommended taking a more holistic long-term view and nurturing compassion. From the Town Hall he returned the Otago University, where he gave a televised and webcast interview to Rev. Professor Sir Lloyd Geering that touched on his early life, his concern to promote secular ethics and his sense that real strength lies in truth. Tomorrow, early in the morning His Holiness flies to Auckland, where in addition to several meetings he will speak ! on 'The Path to Happiness.'  Read More @ Source | ||||||||||
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Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT
There is a new addition to the rapidly-growing Boundless Way Zen community. The sangha is welcoming a new affiliate group, called Bright Sea Zen, located in North Weymouth, Massachusetts.
The center's practice leader is Kate Hartland, a student of Zen starting in the 1970′s. She first trained with Philip Kapleau at the Rochester Zen Center, and later with Toni Packer at the Springwater Center, before coming to Boston and Boundless Way Zen. Her primary teacher is Josh Bartok of the Greater Boston Zen Center. She is a Senior Dharma Teacher within the Boundless Way Zen community, and is on the Board of Directors at the Greater Boston Zen Center. Visit the Bright Sea Zen online here. Read More @ Source | ||||||||||
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Posted: 11 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT
 Enid at ten minutes old; Wilder holds his new sister Read More @ Source | ||||||||||
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Posted: 10 Jun 2013 09:00 PM PDT
Dunedin, New Zealand, 10 June 2013 - The first people His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with today were New Zealand Youth Representatives of the Council for a Parliament of World Religions, who belonged to a wide range of faiths. His Holiness encouraged them, but stressed that working for inter-religious harmony requires us to be really active.
"Religion is about cultivating a more peaceful mind, so it's very disappointing if religion becomes a source of conflict. Our traditions share a common message of love and compassion, patience and tolerance. If we also remember the instructions about forgiveness, there'll be no basis for conflict." The twelve New Zealand parliamentarians he met next coming from all parties represented 10% of the members of parliament. He thanked them for their support. He came straight to the point about relations between Tibet and China stating that as a country and a people the Chinese are wonderful. The problem is the closed totalitarian system.
"1.3 billion Chinese people have a right to know about the reality in which they live and on the basis of that they are quite capable of judging right from wrong. So the censorship they face is morally wrong. Secondly, the judiciary at present only serves the party's interests. The whole judicial system needs to be raised to international standards."
He talked about four eras of Chinese leadership, how Mao's era was marked by ideology, Deng's era by economic liberalisation and opening China up to the world, although it resulted in a totalitarian capitalist society. Jiang Zemin's era brought middle-class interests into the communist party, while Hu Jintao aimed to create a harmonious society. He failed not because there was anything wrong with his goal, but because he applied the wrong method - force. Harmony must come from the heart, it is based on trust. The use of force brings fear, which is the opposite of trust. The goal was good, but the method was wrong. Xi Jinping's elevation to ! the leadership opens a fifth. In a society of 1.3 billion people harmony is essential, which is why former Prime Minister Wen Jiabao spoke of China's need to reform. His Holiness said it is time to watch and see what happens. "We are not seeking independence," he declared, "although Tibet was clearly independent in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries, even according to Chinese records. But times change. Look at India. Before independence from Britain it consisted of many smaller and larger kingdoms and princely states that functioned like independent entities. Once independence was won, they joined the new India. The peoples living in these areas have maintained their languages, scripts and distinct cultures and gained the benefits of development.
He mentioned the irony that reliable reports speak of 400 million Buddhists in China, which means that the country is home to the world's biggest Buddhist population. Since last year, His Holiness has been offering teachings to Chinese Buddhists. His Holiness said that he sees it as free countries' responsibility to encourage China on the path of democracy. From an economic point of view, China has already joined the world community. China's adopting democracy will not only be of benefit to the Chinese people, it will bring this large nuclear armed nation, which already has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, into the mainstream. His Holiness suggested that it may be that smaller nations like Norway and New Zealand have more influence because they pose no threat to China. Asked whether he has hopes that the constitutional movement in China will help Tibet's position, His Holiness said that the Chinese people have no experience of democracy, so a realistic approach is to look for gradual change. He pointed out that many rights included in the constitution have not yet been implemented and this is something that must be done. Another questioner wanted to know how His Holiness feels when leaders give in to Chinese pressure not to meet him. He said that meeting the public is what is mos! t important to him, because one of his main concerns is promoting human values in order to contribute to greater human happiness and inter-religious harmony.
At an event organized by the University of Canterbury Student Association, His Holiness was given a strident and rousing welcome by a team of Maori sportsmen. He responded: "I appreciate your traditional welcome. When I first came to New Zealand I was surprised by what seems to be an aggressive greeting, which feels like you are testing your guest! But I note that you are keeping up your traditional language and customs. "Whenever I meet people I like to greet them as brothers and sisters. In the past, we were isolated from each other, but improved communications have made it evident that we are all the same as human beings. We may have different language and culture, but physically, mentally and emotionally we are all the same. We all want a happy life, and we have a right to achieve it. Great developments in science and technology, whose purpose is to ensure a happier humanity, have sometimes brought more stress and anxiety. Material facilities have given us physical comfort, but have not necessarily put our minds at ease." He mentioned that sensory experiences like listening to music and enjoying delicious food are pleasant, but the satisfaction they bring is short-lived.! We need to find other ways to ensure lasting mental peace. He recalled a Christian monk he met in Barcelona, Spain, who had been in retreat in the mountains with almost no material comfort for five years. He asked him what he had been doing and when the monk told him he had been meditating on love, His Holiness noticed the glow of tranquillity in his eyes. On the other hand, he said, he has met billionaires who seem to have everything they want and remain miserable. This indicates that the ultimate source of joy and peace of mind is within the mind.
The students had prepared a number of questions for His Holiness. In connection with climate change, he advised that our way of life may not go on forever as it is; we have to find a more sustainable way to live. The urgency of this was brought home to him with the recent announcement that CO2 has reached 400 parts per million in our atmosphere and if the increase continues to 450ppm we will reach a dangerous tipping point. We need to address this, but, he said, we also need to address population control. He dismissed a question about relations between Islam and the West being a clash of civilizations as "totally wrong." He conceded that some individuals behave badly, but that this is not grounds for generalizing about an entire community. He suggested that many of the problems we encounter today have their beginnings in mistakes made in the twentieth century, but admitted that these questions are neither simple nor easy. Asked who he looks to for guidance, His Holiness said that our real guide is our own mind, our sense of reason. "I use my own intelligence, on the basis of a calm mind, and employ what I have learned from ancient Indian thought." A question about introducing ethics in schools prompted His Holiness to note that some people feel ethics should be based on religious teachin! gs, but the difficulty in our present world is to ask which religion. He suggested that we need a secular ethics because the real point of ethics is creating respect and concern for others, something good and beneficial for society.
After lunch, His Holiness flew from Christchurch to the southern city of Dunedin. On arrival, he was asked by a television journalist why he had come. He answered: "First of all I received an invitation and when that happens it's foolish to turn it down. But there is a Buddhist centre here founded by a Tibetan lama who I knew very well. He was a good scholar and a good monk. When he passed away, one of his students, also a scholar and a good monk, became the teacher. Sadly, he too passed away unexpectedly, so I'm coming to show my sympathy and to see how these old friends are getting on." Warmly welcomed at Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, His Holiness spoke of being in exile for 54 years, that in the beginning of their life as refugees Tibetans were sad to have lost their country. Now, however, they feel proud of the knowledge and culture they have preserved. Ven Lhagon Rinpoche made a preliminary report about the centre concluding with prayers for His Holiness's long life. In his report the direct! or recalled the work that Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, the founder, and his student Ven Thubten Rinpoche had done. He outlined the classes and meetings that take place in this and affiliated centres. He said that members support the issue of Tibet wherever they can and mentioned the interest that the local University of Otago, with its medical school, has shown in Tibetan medicine.
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