The Dalai Lama holds two-day discussions with Vietnamese disciples

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to disciples from Vietnam in Dharamshala on September 25, 2012. (Photo/OHHDL) September 27: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded a two-day discussion with a group of 102 disciples from Vietnam yesterday. The discussions were held inside his residential premises in his exile hometown of Dharamshala. Beginning his talk on ‘how to lead a meaningful life,’ the Dalai Lama stressed on the commonalty of human nature. “I always have a feeling when I meet people that on a human level we are all the same, there are no differences between us. Whether we are Tibetan or Vietnamese, we are all born the same way and when the time comes we die the same way.” “We have the same kind of emotions, anger, attachment and jealousy, but we also have the same potential to develop love and compassion. Most important, both you and I want a happy life and we have the same right to achieve it. On this sort of level, there are no differences between human beings, so there is no point in our quarrelling with each other.” In response to a question on how to deal with those who obstruct what we are trying to do, His Holiness said that it is important to find out if they are acting out of ignorance or deliberately doing it. “If they are not aware of the problems they are putting in your way, you may be able to explain it to them. However, if they are being deliberately obstructive, you may have to take counter measures, but do so not out of anger, but with a positive motivation.” The Dalai Lama gave the example of Tibetans struggling for justice in Tibet, opposing Chinese actions, without cultivating anger or hatred for them. His Holiness further noted that a happy society must be created by people themselves, not through prayer alone, but by taking action. “Action is the cause of happiness and the distinction between positive and negative action depends largely on our motivation.” Continuing his talk on the Buddhadharma on the second day, the Dalai Lama noted that the two major traditions of Buddhism in India - the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, emerged because of the languages in which their scriptures were written. “The Pali tradition contains the basis of Buddhism and its structure, while the Sanskrit tradition reveals further clarification, enabling the mind to achieve a greater capacity. The nature of the mind is knowing, but just as you cannot see when your eyes are obstructed, so long as the mind is clouded by ignorance, its ability is obstructed. Once ignorance, the negative emotions associated with it and their imprints are removed the mind becomes all knowing.” His Holiness further clarified that Tibetan Buddhism is the “most complete form of Buddhism because it takes the Vinaya of the Pali tradition as the basis, adds to that the Perfection of Wisdom teachings and the Buddhist logic and reasoning of the Sanskrit tradition, as well as the practice of tantra.” From October 1 to 4, His Holiness is scheduled to give a four-day teachings on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron) at the request of a group of Taiwanese at the Tsug-la Khang in Dharamshala.