Dalai Lama Dispenses Spiritual Advice At Radio City Music Hall

Despite the zen presence of guest speaker the Dalai Lama, New York's Radio City Music Hall was a madhouse Friday morning. Due to heightened security -- no doubt escalated by China's unhappiness over the exiled Tibetan monk's official meeting with President Bush next Tuesday -- scores of ticket holders found themselves barred from the beginning of the spiritual leader's lesson as they waited for extra security escorts. As one of the penned-up ticket holders waiting to be shown my seat, I found myself impatiently thumbing through the program guide and grumbling with my new queue buddies until I was finally led to my row, forty minutes late. Honestly, still a bit peeved over missing a quarter of the pricey lecture I (okay, my company) had paid for, I settled down just in time to hear his Holiness comment, "Having a peaceful mind, a calm mind, is very important." Touche. I got over myself rather quickly.

Though I grew up with a Buddhist tradition, I never became seriously interested in the religion until about two years ago and now try to attend as many Buddhist-themed events as time permits. Though I'm not quite a believer yet, it's hard to argue with any religion that bluntly declares all life is suffering and promotes compassion for all -- two statements touched upon by the Dalai Lama in the first of three spiritual lessons he'll be giving while in the city. Seated cross-legged on an over-sized chair with rows of kneeling monks (as well as the actor and known Buddhist practitioner Richard Gere) on either side, the red and saffron-robed -- and red-visored -- monk warmly welcomed the crowd in English, before switching to Tibetan (with a translator) for the heart of his talk: the Diamond Cutter Sutra.

In basic terms, a sutra is a narrative text generally regarded as a discourse of the Buddha. The Diamond Cutter Sutra, in particular, is one of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras, and teaches followers that although they "may aspire to attainment enlightenment in order to benefit others, [they] must question whether there exists an actual self that can become enlightened." Not exactly light stuff. In fact, the very name Diamond Cutter Sutra refers to the fact that the heart of the text -- honing the ability to realize the illusory nature of daily life -- is a wisdom that cuts through misconceptions like a diamond. As the Dalai Lama emphasized over and over again, the root of human suffering is being in a state of fundamental ignorance, of having a false sense of self. To attain freedom, we must all cultivate insight into ourselves and rid ourselves of our distorted states of mind. We must also beware the danger of "extreme self-centeredness," and cherish others' welfare as much as our own, although our compassion for others must also be tempered by our knowledge of "not being."

Although the four-plus hour lecture was quite dense at times, I was heartened by the number of attendees, many of whom were Westerners seeing the Dalai Lama for the first time. For even if philosophical discussions of the "not self" and "turning the wheel of the dharma" take years to fully unlock and understand (if ever), the central tenets of recognizing suffering and using it to become more mindful and compassionate to others in our lives are universal.

Comments

[serialcoma]

IT's obvious from the posts here that there are quite a few people who fail to grasp what the Dalai Lama means when he says "My religion is kindness".

I'm not a Buddhist though my wife is, I'm a secular humanist.. I have read some of the teachings and have attended public talks by the Dalai Lama...

It's unfortunate that so many people overlay their own agendas on something as simple as kindness.

[abdiel]

Buddhism is just a bunch of gobbledygook.

Buddha:

“Whatever form, feelings, perceptions, experiences, or consciousness there is (the five aggregates), these he sees to be without permanence, as suffering...So he turns his mind away from these...”

So basically, Buddhism is nihilism -- I know -- Buddha strongly argued that he was not a nihilist “Both formerly and now, I’ve never been a nihilist (vinayika), never been one who teaches the annihilation of a being, rather taught only the source of suffering, and its ending”

Yeah, you end suffering by annihilating the belief in the "self" and all associated experiences ("form, feelings, perceptions, experiences, [and] consciousness")! This is just more of the same circuitous thinking associated with Buddhism.

That's just malarkey. I'll take Descartes:"Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am") Simply put, if there is an "I" to think, then "I" exist.

Of course I also know that this all may just possibly be some kind of chemical/biological dream reaction in some giant head, but does that mean that we should just ignore the rich and wonderful aspects of this dream (as well as the tragic) just because they might not actually exist?

The extremely oppressed and forgotten suffer perhaps their whole lives -- but do they really need a philosophy that tells them all life is suffering and the only way to free yourself from that suffering is to deny your"self" even when you feel for one single moment a sense of beauty and contentment as you watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset?

After all it's just "form, feelings, perceptions, experiences, [and] consciousness."

I get annoyed by this whole "Dalai Lama" thing. The Dalai Lama is understood by Tibetans to be the living incarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion and is sought for among newborn children after the death of the preceding Dalai Lama. Um...can someone tell me how a newborn is recognized as the bodhisattva -- I'll watch for him (always a him and always Asian -- what a sexist racist he is -- reincarnating as the same humanoid type over and over...) after this one.

[RaisingAwareness]

Investigative story about Reincarntion:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EWwzFwUOxA

[Entheo]

descartes' "i think therefore i am" quite misses the mark. "i think, but i'm not my thoughts" comes closer.

awareness of That Which Watches Thoughts is more to the heart of Buddhism, and it ain't nihilism.

[Willl]

Right, Buddhism ain't nihilism.

Buddhism is more akin to "existentialism".

Buddhism teaches of our human tendency toward ignorance, tendency to harbor delusion. We often mislead our own self.

We need to have compassion for abdiel because he seems to reach firm conclusions, based on little evidence about a subject he seems to know next to nothing about. The Tibetan Buddhist cannon consist of over 2000 works, coded in the Tibetan language. Less than a dozen of these works have been translated into English.

Thus, if I were to attempt a serious study of the subject, I would learn the language first.

The Dalai Lama's book, "the universe in a single atom" barely scratches the surface on this tradition, but I would recommend this fine book to anyone interested in this form of Buddhism.

Tibetan Buddhist’s are perhaps at least a century ahead of the west in the field known as psychology. Again, I speculate. One needs to learn to the language to verify belief.

Ignorance is a big, big problem. In the face of the backward nature of the western media, with rampant “infotainment”. Widespread ignorance becomes hypocrisy as a rapidly spreading disease…

To a tradition wherein one never dies; one cannot die. Thank about how that may change the meaning of time. Time is added to the list; may becomes another subject on our list of common dilusions. We are urged to re-think our view of "reality".

Willl

[Crowhaul]

All those who are in favor of Tibet fighting for its independence should have the same stance towards Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, and that little chunk of land on Cuba we affectionately call Gitmo.

With Tibet, China at least has the argument of contiguity on their side...

[BigBagel]

Have plebiscites and if they want to go let em. Guam would vote to stay and I wish Puerto Rico would leave. We have a lease for Gitmo. We don't own it. I live in NY and would vote to leave.

[Crowhaul]

An obtuse and confounded argument at best...

My point is that we have less claim on our 'territories' than China has on theirs. They, at least, are claiming territory that is contiguous to their border.

[MagisterLudi]

"I would like to explain the meaning of compassion which is often misunderstood. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop a genuine concern for his or her problems. This is genuine compassion. Usually when we are concerned about a close friend, we call this compassion. This is not compassion; it is attachment. Even in marriage, those marriages that last only a short time, do so because of attachment - although it is generally present - but because there is also compassion. Marriages that last only a short time do so because of a lack of compassion; there is only emotional attachment based on projection and expectation. When the only bond between close friends is attachment, then even a minor issue may cause one´s projections to change. As soon as our projections change, the attachment disappears, because that attachment was based solely on projection and expectation. It is possible to have compassion without attachment, and similarly, to have anger without hatred. Therefore we need to clarify the distinctions between compassion and attachment, and between anger and hatred. Such clarity is useful in our daily life and in our efforts toward world peace. I consider these to be basic spiritual values for the happiness of all human beings, regardless of whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever."

Dalai Lama

[MagisterLudi]

"The wrath of God is a way of saying that I have been living in a way that is contrary to the love that is God. Anyone who begins to live and grow away from God, who lives away from what is good, is turning his life toward wrath."

Joseph Ratzinger(Pope Benedict XVI)

__________­__________­__________­__________­_
The author of the Satanic Verses book, which is against Islam, the Prophet and the Qu'ran, and all those involved in its publication who were aware of its content, are sentenced to death. I ask all Muslims to execute them wherever they find them. Ayatollah Khomeini
__________­__________­__________­__________­______

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
Dalai Lama
__________­__________­__________­__________­______

Someone asked here why Dalai Lam's message resonates some much with free- thinking Westerners and why dogmatic Judeo-Christian and Muslim religions inspire distrust and even revulsion.

The above 3 quotes pretty much summarize the difference for me.

Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha were mystics who desperately attempted to verbalize a very similar message of self-attainment.

But for whatever reason only Buddha's message did not result in Crusaders,Jihads and subjugation and slaughter of many millions, as so-called Christians and so-called Muslims seemed to enjoy.

Om mani padme hum.

[slim]

I wanna see some miracles before I start believing anything as the "god's truth".

[Entheo]

if you truly mean that start practicing watching your breath and, as its been said, the truth will set you free

[dlc1]

Buddhism is a practice not a philosophy.

Dogen Zenji said,:

"To study the buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the body and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no trace continues endlessly."

[MagisterLudi]

Buddhism in its pure form is a philosophy of living and not a religion.

But some (not all)practice it as a religion, even Zen and Ch'an practitioners, unfortunately.

Certainly, erecting monasteries is a sign of an organized religion.

[desertlover]

I'm sorry but what is the reason this coward does not return to his homeland?

If Aung San Suu Kyi can live in perpetual detention in Burma, why is it the Dalai Lama gets to galavant around receiving awards while his people continue to suffer?

Go home! Your people need you.

[zbig]

The Dalai Lama was about to face the same perpetual detention under Chinese rule, but he chose to escape so that he could make sure the Tibetan way of life can continue to exist rather than be corrupted and extinguished by China. If he were to have been imprisoned, Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture might be dead by now. I'm sure Aung San would also choose exile and try help her the Burmese people from outside Burma rather than be kept in perpetual detention.

Peace be with you.

[mgloraine]

How would the world be better if the Dalai Lama were in perpetual detention or, more likely, executed by the Chinese?

The situation in Burma is not the same as the one in Tibet. Burma is run by a Burmese military junta, very hostile, very violent, but still members of the same culture. Tibet was invaded by a foreign army - the Chinese - who are intent upon eradicating the indigenous culture and replacing it with their own.

The Dalai Lama does not "galavant around receiving awards", he is attempting to maintain a Tibetan government in exile while taking the case for a free Tibet to the international community. That has a greater potential to help the people of Tibet than resigning himself to the perpetual silence of prison or death at the hands of the invaders.

While pursuing Tibetan liberation, he is also fulfilling his spiritual mission in this world, which is to share his wisdom and compassion with anyone who seeks it. His home is wherever he happens to be, and all of humanity is his people.

[kbrown528]

WISDOM:
or some of these posts give me a headache.

Choose your path in Life.

All living (conduct or manner of life) is subject to human interpretation (to conceive in the light of individual belief, judgment, or circumstance).

Don't put any one person, group, or cause on a pedestal.

Unless your a rocket scientist or nuclear physicist, etc. stop analyzing (pick apart to discover it's true nature) every little thing. Try as you might in some cases it ain't gonna happen.

Life will be sweeter.

WISDOM:
look it up yourself http/WWW.m-w.com

[RnldJnsn]

HH the Dalai Lama is not head of the Gelug School, the Ganden Tripa is...

[SmolderingRuin]

For those who are interested, Buddhist teachings from the most basic Theravadan to Tibetan and Zen can be accessed easily at this fine site.

http://www.empty-universe.com/site_map.htm

[Balzac]

Does the Dalai Lama have cooties now that he's met with Bush?

[bar1ed]

the only person you should listen too is yourself ----- have a nice life !!!!!!!

[Choirboy]

Does that mean I shouldn't listen to you?

[ownsthepodium]

What a beautiful man. What a peaceful soul.
If only there was some prize he could be awarded for his gently relentless quest for Peace. Can anyone think of a Peace Prize that would be appropriate? Is there some uber type Peace Prize that can be bestowed upon him? There must not be any such Peace Prize as I can't imagine who would win such a Peace Prize before the Dalai Lama?
Can you think of anyone more deserving of a Peace Prize than the Dalai Lama? That would be one special person to be more deserving than the Dalai Lama wouldn't it?

[ShineTheLight]

He already has the Nobel Peace Prize. They don't come any bigger than that. :-)

[maxfusion]

Perfect

[ownsthepodium]

I'm sure the Tibetans have felt their years of oppression a small price to pay for the lib soul balm of "Free Tibet" bumper stickers.
Libs. All ego. No action.

[Cautious]

"ownsthepodium:

I'm sure the Tibetans have felt their years of oppression a small price to pay for the lib soul balm of "Free Tibet" bumper stickers.
Libs. All ego. No action."

Can you explain what you mean by this? We're in the middle of a discussion about the Dalai Lama and peace, and you come in with your rant about "libs". And the logic of the rant is by no means clear.

What do you mean by "no action"?

[Pacific231]

And how many yellow ribbon magnets do you have on your SUV?

Thanks for sharing.