Empower oneself with Compassionate Action and Critical Thinking: His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Buddhist Devotees

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message at today’s teaching on Buddhapalita’s Commentary of Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, dwelled on a well-cherished topic, one he has been advocating around the world: Promotion of basic human values for a peaceful world.

More than six thousand devotees and followers had gathered at the main temple, Tsuglagkhang to listen to the teachings of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

From the throne, His Holiness greeted the 104th Gaden Tripa Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo, devotees from the South East Asian countries and the rest of devotees from various other countries.

“If we were to promote love and peace in world, we have to do it by strengthening the seed of compassion that is within us, enhance and promote it; not through religious dogma, wealth or might but through using the critical faculty of intelligence, through education,” His Holiness said, opening the preliminary teachings.

Because human nature is basically compassionate, I believe it is possible that decades from now we will see an era of peace—but we must work together as global citizens of a shared planet, he noted.

He said It is not through prayers but through awareness and compassionate oriented education that we can make the world a peaceful place. “Buddha himself have said that not committing unwholesome actions and cultivating wealth of virtue is common to all religions; what’s unique in Buddhism is that one has to tame the mind thoroughly and that is the teaching of Buddha. So the transformation has to come through by using our critical faculty called intelligence.

“If we use our intelligence, we will be able to weigh the positive aspects of loving and compassionate living versus negative impacts of negative emotions,” he reasoned.

Faith and intelligence are the means to transform our mind; We are all human beings possessing a seed of compassion. We have to use our intelligence to cultivate the inner values associated with it.

“As an old man who has been interacting with people from different backgrounds and looking at different traditions, I have come to conclusion, that with regard to the study of mind, which spread in India extensively, it is only Tibetans today who have kept this tradition alive. You should check whether it is true or not. Ancient India has very profound teaching to make a transformation of our minds. But much have declined.

“Master Shantarakshita was responsible for disseminating the teaching of Buddha from the Nalanda tradition on Tibetan soil, where we have profound philosophical teaching combined with the study of logic. This tradition that Tibetans have kept alive can now, we can share it with other Buddhist and Theravada countries. We could have an exchange of wisdom as followers of Buddha serve the Buddha dharma through collective effort,” His Holiness told the devotees.

Following the address, His Holiness fielded questions from members of the audiences and students, before beginning the main teaching: Buddhapalita’s Commentary of Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way.

The teaching will conclude on 1 September.