Tibet after the Dalai Lama

An exiled Tibetan government official paying his respects to the Dalai Lama, as Tibetans gathered to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, yesterday. Photo: AP
BY BRAHMA CHELLANEY PUBLISHED: 4:16 AM, JULY 7, 2015

On the 80th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, who has been in exile in India since 1959, Tibet’s future looks more uncertain than ever. During his reign, the current Dalai Lama has seen his homeland — the world’s largest and highest plateau —lose its independence to China. Once he dies, China is likely to install a puppet as his successor, potentially eroding the institution.

China already appointed its pawn to the second-highest position in Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchen Lama, in 1995, after abducting the Tibetans’ six-year-old appointee, who had just been confirmed by the Dalai Lama. Twenty years later, the rightful Panchen Lama now ranks among the world’s longest-serving political prisoners. China also appointed the Tibetans’ third-highest religious figure, the Karmapa; but in 1999, at age 14, he fled to India.

This year marks one more meaningful anniversary for Tibet: The 50th anniversary of the founding of what China calls the Tibet Autonomous Region. The name is highly misleading.

The most important thing is to apply Dhamma in life.

If you merely take courses after courses—ten-day courses or long courses—and do not apply it in life, Dhamma will become a lifeless rite or ritual.

Different religions and sects have their own rites, rituals, and ceremonies. It would be very unfortunate if Vipassana courses also become a rite or ritual for a meditator.

Whenever you join a ten-day course or a longer course, you are eradicating your weaknesses and developing your strength. You have to use this strength in your day-to-day life.

In a course, you work at the deeper level of your mind, eradicating layer after layer of complexes. After the course, if you again start accumulating the same complexes, the same impurities, the same defilements, then the purpose is not served. One has not understood what one is doing. The entire life pattern must change.

Dhamma must manifest itself in day-to-day life. One has to keep trying to apply Dhamma in life.

“Whatever strength I have gained in a course like this, I will use it to ensure that my life becomes a Dhamma life. I will perfect my sīla, gain mastery over my mind and purify my mind. While facing different situations in life, I will practice Dhamma instead of generating unwholesome sankhāras (mental reactions).”

In this way, you must keep watch over yourself. You have a human life and have come in contact with the wonderful Dhamma. You have developed confidence in Vipassana. Now you must make best use of it.

Gaining a human life, coming in contact with Dhamma, and learning how to practise Dhamma—this is a rare opportunity indeed.

The goal is clear: to come out of all misery. This is possible only when one eradicates all the defilements.

The aim: at least to reach the goal to become an ariya, a sotāpanna. Then Dhamma will take care because one is liberated from the four lower fields. Before one becomes sotāpanna, one has to develop oneself to becomes a cūla-sotāpanna, a minor sotāpanna. A sotāpanna starts flowing in the stream of liberation, and is bound to reach the final goal of full liberation. A cūḷa-sotāpanna starts flowing in the stream of Dhamma and is bound to become a sotāpanna. ~ S N Goenka

This monk is on a mission to help those in need

Wimala hopes to make a difference in the lives of others through his humanitarian work. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 PEOPLE, STAR2.COM VIDEOBY MAJORIE CHIEW

“Some disabled people crawled for miles to the distribution site. It was heartbreaking to see them crawling away empty-handed,” related Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Bhante Yatirawana Wimala. He was in several remote regions in Kenya to give away 50 wheelchairs in 2002.News of free wheelchairs spread like wildfire and drew a crowd.

“Some mothers had to carry their disabled children home without the wheelchairs. But they did not even complain. They just hoped for better luck the next time round,” noted Wimala, 57, who described his humanitarian work in East Africa as “most gratifying”.

Wimala organised eye screenings for the poor rural communities in East Africa. Hundreds often turned up for the free eye check-ups. Some trekked for miles across arid land. Wimala found sponsors for those who needed cataract operations. However, it was impossible to meet every need, and many had to be turned away.

Among the many lives that Wimala touched was that of a weaving mill worker from Kandy in Sri Lanka. The woman and her adopted handicapped daughter were left in dire straits when a relative cheated the former of her money. They were so poor they did not even have electricity in the house. Wimala visited the family, and made arrangements for electricity to be supplied to her house. He even paid for their electricity bills.

On his next visit, Wimala was overwhelmed by the gratitude shown by the two women.

“They could sleep through the night without any fears or worries. On rainy days, they could heat water and cook without having to gather firewood,” shared Wimala.

The Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda Monastery

by James Blumenthal, Info-Buddhism.com, Oct 8, 2015

Much controversy has been stirred with the establishment of the "new" Nalanda University in Bihar, India. Heavily criticized for neglecting Buddhism, just how much of it has been diverted from the original Nalanda U? Prof James Blumenthal gives a run down on the luminaries that made the original Nalanda one of the greatest learning center in the world.

Oregon, USA -- Nalanda Monastic University was the greatest center of Buddhist learning in India’s glorious past. With upwards of 30,000 monks and nuns including 2,000 teachers living, studying and practicing there during its heyday, Nalanda was unmatched.

Thangka image depicting Shakaymuni Buddha and 17 Nalanda Pandits.
Image courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Established during the Gupta Dynasty in the late 5th to early 6th century C.E. under the patronage of the Gupta king Shakraditra, the institution survived for six hundred years, through the Pala Dynasty, until ultimately being destroyed in 1203 by Turkish Muslim invaders. In 1204 the last throne-holder (abbot) of Nalanda, Shakyashribhadra, fled to Tibet. In the intervening centuries, however, many of India’s greatest Buddhist masters trained and taught at Nalanda.

Mind is the forerunner of states

Mind is the forerunner of states. Mind is chief; mind-

made are they. If one speaks or acts with wicked

mind, because of that, suffering follows one, even as

the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox. 

~ Dhp 1 (trl: Narada)

Buddhists call for strong Paris climate deal to limit warming

By Matt McGrath, BBC, 29 October 2015

The Dalai Lama is one of 15 leading Buddhists who are urging politicians towards a climate agreement

Paris, France -- Senior Buddhists have called on world leaders to agree a new climate change agreement at a conference in Paris next month.

The 15 signatories, including the Dalai Lama, are urging politicians to completely phase out fossil fuels.

They argue that the rise in global temperatures must be limited to 1.5C in the future.
Observers say it is the first time that so many leading Buddhists have joined together on a global issue.

The statement from the leaders of over a billion Buddhists worldwide says that the causes of this "environmental crisis" are the use of fossil fuels, unsustainable consumption patterns, lack of awareness and lack of concern about the consequences of our actions.

---

"We must take action, not out of a sense of duty but out of love for our planet and for each other. The Buddha has shown us that we can all live simply and still be very happy."-  Sister Chan Khong, International Community of Engaged Buddhists

---

The leaders urge negotiators to use "wisdom and compassion" to find an agreement at the Conference of the Parties in the French capital at the end of November.

May we live long in peace

May all misfortunes be warded off, may all ailments

cease; may no calamities befall on us; may we live

long in peace. 

Dr Richard Davidson on Deconstructing Mindfulnessat Davos 2015

Uploaded on Nov 6, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIxU3rjJqXIatch?v=tIxU3rjJqXI

Exclusive interview with Venerable Master Xuecheng: Buddhists need to advance with the times

by Han Bin, CCTV.com, Oct 25, 2015 Jiangsu, China -- The theme of this year's World Buddhist Forum is 'Exchange with Common Aspiration'. For two days, participants will discuss Buddhism's positive roles in resolving problems for human and social development. CCTV reporter has an exclusive interview with Venerable Master Xuecheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China. Why is this year's theme “Exchange with Common Aspiration”? Venerable Master Xuecheng said:"The forefathers say that if there is learning without exchange of ideas, knowledge will lead to narrow and short-sighted experiences. Whatever our school of belief or nationality, we need to exchange with trust, learn from others' strong points, and seek win-win development through cooperation." "Buddhism has a history of over 2,000 years. It’s very significant that Buddhist groups from different occupations, various ethnicities and schools of Buddhism, as well as countries and regions, come to share with each other." "Buddhism stresses thinking big with great motivation to act. We have the determination; the key is to implement and achieve."

CAN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

Bhikkhu Bodhi

According to the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha has given four assurances that clearly meant bad things will never happen to good people even in their present life. And yet, we have come across numerous cases to the contrary. Even Bhikkhu Bodhi has affirmed this.

This post is not meant to judge any person past or present who has encountered such bad things in life, such as suffering from permanent disabilities, paralyzing stroke, mental illnesses, or dying a horrible death although we have known several well-known or prominent Buddhists in Malaysia and elsewhere who have suffered such fate, among the monastics as well as laity community. The most well known case internationally is perhaps that of TNH.

If bad things can happen to good people, where does that leave us? But the Buddha gave us his assurance, so is this a contradiction to the assurances?

An excerpt from Kalama Sutta AN3.65 follows:

“Sense Contact - the Fount of Wisdom" - Ajahn Chah

Where do happiness and suffering lie? Whatever we don't hold fast to, cling to or fix on to, as if it weren't there, suffering doesn't arise. Suffering arises from existence (bhava). If there is existence then there is birth. Upādāna - clinging or attachment - this is the pre-requisite which creates suffering. Wherever suffering arises look into it. Don't look too far away, look right into the present moment. Look at your own mind and body. When suffering arises... ''Why is there suffering?'' Look right now. When happiness arises, what is the cause of that happiness? Look right there. Wherever these things arise be aware. Both happiness and suffering arise from clinging.

The Art of Living~ S N Goenka,

Q: I was wondering whether there are people who cause suffering for us?

Goenkaji: "Nobody causes suffering for you. You cause the suffering for yourself by generating tensions in the mind. If you know how not to do that, it becomes easy to remain peaceful and happy in every situation."

Q: What about when someone else is doing wrong to us?

Goenkaji: "You must not allow people to do wrong to you. Whenever someone does something wrong, he harms others and at the same time he harms himself. If you allow him to do wrong, you are encouraging him to do wrong. You must use all your strength to stop him, but with only good will, compassion, and sympathy for that person. If you act with hatred or anger, then you aggravate the situation. But you cannot have good will for such a person unless your mind is calm and peaceful. So practice to develop peace within yourself, and then you can solve the problem."

Non-Release From Evil Deeds (From the Milinda Panha)

The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, is there any being which transmigrates from one body to another?

Certainly not, your majesty."

"If, venerable Nagasena, there is no-one who transmigrates from one body to another, then would not one be released from evil deeds?"

"Yes, your majesty. If one is not reborn, then one would be released from evil deeds. But indeed because one is reborn, your majesty, then one is not fully released from evil deeds."

"Give me an analogy."

"Just as, your majesty, if some man were to steal the mangos of another, would this be an offense worthy of punishment?"

"Yes, venerable sir, it would be an offense worthy of punishment."

"But, your majesty, since these mangos that he stole were not the same mangos that the other had planted, why would it be punishable?"

"Venerable sir, they came into existence by means of those mangos that were planted, therefore it would be punishable."

"Indeed just so, your majesty, it is by the deeds that one does in this mind-and-body, lovely or unlovely, that one is reborn in another mind-and-body, therefore one would not be fully released from evil deeds ."

"You are clever, venerable Nagasena."