Luminous Wisdom

Tibet

Tibet has been called the most religious country in the world. I cannot judge if that is so or not, but certainly all normal Tibetans regarded spiritual matters as no less important than material matters, and the most remarkable thing about Tibet was the enormous number of monasteries in it. There are no exact figures, but probably ten per cent of the total population were monks or nuns. This gave a dual nature to the whole of our social system. In fact, it was only in my position as Dalai Lama that lay and monastic authority was combined. I had two prime ministers, one a monk and one a layman, and below them most others offices were duplicated.

My Land and My People; Memoirs of HH the Dalai Lama of Tibet, HH the Dalai Lama

We are the same!

Again I must emphasize that we are the same! Some of you may have the impression that the Dalai Lama is somehow different. That is absolutely wrong. I am a human being like all of you. We have the same potential.

An Open Heart; Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, HH the Dalai Lama

Nonviolence

Nonviolence does not mean that we remain indifferent to a problem. On the contrary, it is important to be fully engaged. However, we must behave in a way that does not benefit us alone. We must not harm the interests of others. Nonviolence therefore is not merely the absence of violence. It involves a sense of compassion and caring. It is almost the manifestation of compassion. I strongly believe that we must promote such a concept of nonviolence at the level of the family as well as at the national and international levels. Each individual has the ability to contribute to such compassionate nonviolence.

An Open Heart; Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, HH the Dalai Lama

Most Valuable Teachers

The Dalai Lama has this uncanny ability to put himself in the other person’s shoes. Especially if that person is his enemy. As he has told me before, he considers his enemies to be his most valuable teachers. He loves and cherishes his friends. But he believes it is our enemies who can truly provide us with the challenge we need to cultivate qualities like forgiveness and compassion. Forgiveness and compassion, in turn, are essential ingredients for peace of mind.

The Wisdom of Forgiveness; Intimate Conversations and Journeys, Victor Chan & His Holiness the Dalai Lama

China Has Eaten Tibet

In general what you experience during hard times is the best lesson. Therefore we have learned a lot over the past years since [the] Chinese occupation. During this period the Chinese have created such enormous problems, but the main advice in Mahayana Buddhism is that there is no point in taking revenge. The Tibetans who can understand this advice will not have any bad feelings towards the Chinese. I used to say China has eaten Tibet, but cannot digest it; now that still seems to be true.

H.H. Dalai Lama The World of the Dalai Lama; An Inside Look at His Life, His People, and His Vision, Gill Farrer-Halls

"Tibetans are a distinct and separate race"

“Before I tell of the disaster which has overtaken Tibet, I must try to give an impression of the life of our people in our happier days.

Tibet has many neighbors: China, Mongolia, East Turkestan in the east and north, and India, Burma, and the states of Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan in the south. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union are also close to us. For many centuries, we have had relationships with several of these neighbors. With India in particular, we have had strong religious ties during the past thousand years; indeed, our alphabet was derived from Sanskrit, because when Buddhism was brought to Tibet from India these was no Tibetan script, and a script was needed so that religious works could be translated and read by Tibetans. We also had religious and political ties with Mongolia and China. And in earlier times we had connections with Persia and eastern Turkey, so that there is still resemblance between Persian and Tibetan dress. In more recent history, about the beginning of the twentieth century, we had political relations with Russia, and after that, for a longer period, with Britain.

But despite these neighborly relationships, Tibetans are a distinct and separate race. Our physical appearance and our language and customs are entirely different from those of any of our neighbors. We have no ethnological connection with anyone else in our part of Asia.”

My Land and My People: The Original Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Stories

I'd like to finish off my month long marathon of Dalai Lama quotes and stories (in honor of his July 6th birthday) with two of my favorite stories about His Holiness.

I saw both of these on film years ago, years before I thought about becoming a Buddhist. The film was in black and white, which may give you some indication of how long ago this was. The images have stayed with me. I hope my descriptions are good enough for you to understand why.

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In one scene, the Dalai Lama is being interviewed. The discussion has moved to the issue of non-violence. I think His Holiness has been asked if it's ever right to kill. He pantomimes a mosquito landing on his arm and he kindly blows it off. Next, he mimes the mosquito landing again. This time he flicks it off gently. Third time. The mosquito lands again and SMACK! His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ocean of Wisdom, reincarnation of Avalokitshvara Buddha of Compassion crushes the little bugger with his free hand! He just chuckles.

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Another scene (same film?) His Holiness is standing in a receiving line in India, meeting the Tibetan refugees, locals and pilgrims who come to see him. The line is endless. Two young nuns come before him. They have arrived in India only a few hours ago, surviving a long and dangerous trek from Tibet. They are clearly traumatized, but their devotion in seeing the Dalai Lama is palpable. His Holiness takes a few moments to greet them then starts to move on to the next person in line. Suddenly he turns his attention back to them and asks "Where are you staying?" Now all their exhaustion, all their barely contained trauma springs forward, "We don't know, we just arrived, we have no place to stay." They are sobbing uncontrollably. In the space of 3 seconds, The Dalai Lama calms them, motions to someone off screen, gives some commands, and tells the young women to follow this person. Not to worry now. They will be fed, sheltered and cared for.

tags technorati : Dalai_Lama Tibet documentary refugees

Instructions for Happiness

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion. 

The Dalai Lama

[I've had this quote for awhile, don't remember the source.]

tags technorati : Dalai_Lama quotes happiness compassion be_happy

Seeing Faults

It is far more useful to be aware of a single shortcoming in ourselves than it is to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. For when the fault is our own, we are in a position to correct it.

The Dalai Lama, Ethics for the New Millennium
(Link will open a new window with book reviews and prices.)

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Facing Problems

If we think of ourselves as very precious and absolute, our whole mental focus becomes very narrow and limited and even minor problems can seem unbearable... If we switch our mental attitude from concern for our own welfare to that of others, our mind automatically widens and our own problems appear much less important and easier to face.

The Dalai Lama, Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment
(Link will open a new window with book reviews and prices.)

tags technorati : Dalai_Lama quotes mental_attitude Buddhism