Dalai Lama-Buddhism

Technique to help in turning a selfish attitude around

Comment August 7, 2016

With a selfish attitude, oneself is important, and others are not so important. According to Shantideva’s advice, a technique to help in turning this attitude around is to imagine- in front of yourself as an unbiased observer- your own selfish self on one side and a limited number of other beings on the other side- ten, fifty, or a hundred. On one side is your proud, selfish self, and on the other side is a group of poor, needy people. You are, in effect, in the middle- as an unbiased, third person. Now, judge. Is this one, single, selfish person more important? Or is the group of people more important? Think. Will you join this side or that side? Naturally, if you are a real human being, your heart will go with the group because the number is greater and they are more needy. The other one is just a single person, proud and stupid. Your feeling naturally goes with the group. By thinking in this way, selfishness gradually decreases,and respect of others grows. This is is the way to practice. ~Dalai Lama
Good wishes are not sufficient

Comment August 7, 2016

In the present circumstances, no one can afford to assume that someone else will solve their problems. Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes are not sufficient; we must become actively engaged. ~Dalai Lama
Meaning of compassion and love

Comment August 7, 2016

Before we can generate compassion and love, it is important to have a clear understanding of what we understand compassion and love to be. In simple terms, compassion and love can be defined as positive thoughts and feelings that give rise to such essential things in life as hope, courage, determination, and inner strength. In the Buddhist tradition, compassion and love are seen as two aspects of the same thing: Compassion is the wish for another being to be free from suffering; love is wanting them to have happiness. ~Dalai Lama
Temples of goodness and compassion

Comment July 6, 2016

The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts. ― Dalai Lama

Ven. Ananda and Upasika Nong Sarun
The only weapon we possess

Comment July 6, 2016

In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess. – Dalai Lama
Time passes unhindered

Comment July 6, 2016

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well. – Dalai Lama
The true hero…

Comment April 21, 2016

The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred. ~Dalai Lama XIV

Vipassana Master Dejapanno Phorn Pheap, of Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, holding the Buddha Relics on Sunday the 11th Waxing Moon of Citta B.E.2559, April 17, A.D.2016 Year of the Monkey. Bhikkhu Dejapanno adhering strictly to the Tipitaka (Buddha’s Teachings). ព្រះភិក្ខុ តេជប្បញ្ញោ ផន ភាព ធម្មាចារ្យផ្នែកសមាធិ វិបស្សនាកម្មដ្ឋាន កំពុងកាន់ព្រះបរមសារី រិកធាតុនៃព្រះបរមសត្ថាទេវមនុស្សនំ នៅថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ១១កើត ខែចេត្រ ឆ្នាំវក អដ្ឋស័ក ព.ស.២៥៥៩ ត្រូវនឹងថ្ងៃទី ១៧ ខែមេសា គ.ស.២០១៦។ ព្រះភិក្ខុ តេជប្បញ្ញោ ប្រកាន់ខ្ជាប់ខ្ជួនតាមគម្ពីរព្រះត្រៃបិដក។

Vipassana Master Dejapanno Phorn Pheap, of Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam

Kali and the forest monk in western Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Developing compassion

Comment April 20, 2016

Compassion and the Individual

Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

The purpose of life
One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it consciously or not: What is the purpose of life? I have considered this question and would like to share my thoughts in the hope that they may be of direct, practical benefit to those who read them.

I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

How to achieve happiness
For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical. Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us. Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life. If the body is content, we virtually ignore it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing about mental peace.

From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
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Brothers and Sisters

54 April 19, 2016

Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same. ~Dalai Lama
If we have true compassion in our hearts

Comment April 12, 2016

The Dalai Lama has asked that the following practice be shared with as many people as possible.

A group spent days visiting with the Dalai Lama focusing upon what they believe are five most important questions to be considered.

The five questions were:

1. How do we address the widening gap between rich and poor?
2. How do we protect the earth?
3. How do we educate our children?
4. How do we help Tibet and other oppressed countries and peoples of the world?
5. How do we bring spirituality (deep caring for one another) through all disciplines of life?

The Dalai Lama said all five questions fall under the last one. If we have true compassion in our hearts, our children will be educated wisely, we will care for the earth, those who “have not” will be cared for.

The group asked the Dalai Lama, “Do you think love on the planet is increasing or staying the same?” His response: “My experience leads me to believe that love is increasing.”

He shared a simple practice that will increase love and compassion in the world. He asked everyone in the group to share it with as many people as they can.

The Practice

1. Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and to be loved) and we are all connected to one another.

2. Spend 5 minutes — breathing in — cherishing yourself; and, breathing out cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway.

3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the “simplest” person (clerks, attendants, etc.), as well as the “important” people in your life; cherish the people you love and the people you dislike.

4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you. These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deep if done wordlessly, allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exists in your heart.

Will you commit to creating Peace in yourself and thereby “On Earth” by spending 10 minutes a day with this simple meditation? Peace on Earth Good Will To All…

Not a season, It’s a daily practice.

Source: Highonlife1