Today’s Solution to Racial and Religious Divide, Mental Disharmony and other Worldly Woes: A Strong Mind – Input From One of The World’s Most Exemplary Humans His Holiness the 14th the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso,
On the bridge of retirement, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso shares his “humanity” with all those in attendance at the Finlandia Hall last September 30th with a simple message: “as human beings we need to see reality, we need to be responsible humans as a race-the human race”. After explaining his responsibilities as the spiritual and political leader of his people, usually outlining his 3 purposes;() he makes it crystal clear: “I am here not as the leader of my people, but I am speaking as a human being.”
One can definitely see his human stature, his thoughtfulness, and his humor as he gets on stage of the Finlandia Hall, trying to help organize the interpreters around him. With that familiar twinkle in his eye, he smiles at the crowd of a few thousand in his saffron and red robes, His Holiness chuckled while asked if he was ready to start- and with his trademark smile he answers- “Good good, good, good!” The living incarnation of (the Bodhisattva Buddha) of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people, was ready to speak.
With the burden of his people and his religion still a matter of debate and left at an indefinite political stalemate with China, this man seems the epitome of calm, and definitely practices what he preaches: BEING HAPPY! He looked joyful and he radiated this for the 45 minutes he spoke on his topic of choice:”The Human Approach to World Peace.” One thing that also comes to mind as you listen to him talk, is that he would remind you of that favorite uncle, or that grandpa, or even that great professor you had at University that always had time for your silly questions about life and just sharing some common sense straight talk with you. No, he wasn’t Dr. Phil. But more of someone who you felt a deep respect and esteem for; but didn’t intimidate you with their benevolent speech making; nor made you feel bad for being who you truly are. Herein lies His Holiness’ charm. Simplistic humbled joy.
Modesty aside, this man is no pushover or no lightweight. He has met with the great leaders of our time, secular, political, and religious. He has inspired a multitude of world leaders to change their own minds and approaches to life, and decision-making. Including policy and power hoarder types like George Bush Jr himself who just signed an act of legislation that would allow the American government to offer the Congressional Medal of Honor to this simple monk. His Holiness’ crusade for peace within and shared to the outside, has touched and continues to touch millions of people to look at themselves and each other in a whole different way and in their own way. He puts on his tennis cap (matching his robes and sneakers) and his trademark glasses and tells everyone that he wanted to see everyone better and that “I get the feeling that I am speaking to a human being. And I feel more intimacy” After explaining his 3-fold commitment to the promotion of human rights, racial harmony and of Tibet, he mentioned how as part of a 6 billion population, and a human being himself, he believed that the seminal concern of humanity and his own moral concern (and every human being’s) should be for human rights. Adding that if humanity were happy, all would be happy. If it suffered, then all would suffer.” which he often describes himself, his stance on this topic is fresh, and progressive. He mentioned that he was a “believer” and he understands the value of the varied traditions and their important roles, but in the same breath, he says religion becomes one factor that creates disharmony and sometimes-even bloodshed. He ties this in neatly with the third commitment he had mentioning how good racial connections and his focus on Tibet is on his shoulders and interestingly he says.” Too much expectation, trust and hope is in me therefore I have this commitment.” What he was trying to say, I dare not guess, but it seems that the burden of decades of stalemating had taken its toll on this beloved human being.
As HH himself seems to be moving out of the political role, his focus has shifted to everyone’s innate need to be responsible for our world, it’s condition, and it’s effect on us individually and collectively. This can be achieve he says, through the strength of the mind. With a strong mind, HH says true happiness and discernment can be achieved. Appealing to the open market economies, he mentions that with a strong mind, success can be achieved. Here are his answers to today’s most pressing questions:
What is necessary to fulfill one’s goal for a happy life?
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: “The most important is on the individual level. Our lives are generally bound to face some problems due to nature. Old age, illness, some tragedy. We also face man made problems such as conflicts, terrorism which equals to the raising of oil prices, and then even leading to lots of stops in airports. In our lifetime some kind of problems always is present. So the mental attitude is the crucial factor. In a loss of a loved one. Aside from physical pain one feels, the mental outlook must suffer in spite of the situation/sadness/differences we have with one another. If mentally we are wholistic/realistic, then we are calm. Pains in the physical level are much easier to handle. Generally we can divide our level of experiences into 2 levels for pain and pleasure. The mental level and the physical level. The mental level which is more powerful because the physical level can be subdued by certain mental outlook. But mental pains cannot be subdued. Even in physical activities such as a sportsman inn competition suffers hardships but they voluntarily go through pains. Now scientists begin to feel the importance of our emotions. For example in illnesses. One can calm the é mind as a preventative measure. This will strengthen the immune system. If the patient is very ill, if there is freshness in the mental level then the patient will recover faster.
What about on the community /social/global level?
HH: There are many problems. Obviously the environmental problems, gap between the rich and poor, violence are examples. The key thing is our mental attitude. For the environmental problem there is a lack of responsibility, a narrow-minded desire and greed to disregard the environment. For the gap between rich and poor, it is said that in the US, the #3 of millionaires rises yearly but the poor are still increasing. In a Washington DC gathering I attended I saw there was this big gap between the richest and powerful in it’s own capital and when you pass a suburb, there are many poor people. This is morally wrong. On the global level, there is surplus in some areas and in some others even the basic necessities are not adequate. Why does this happen? Can money fill the gaps? No. But human beings can. We ignore long-term consequences; as a result these problems happen that is why the mental attitude is very important.
What about Terrorism and Violence?
HH: Tthere is a lack of a holistic view. One-sided interests are present. Today reality is no longer just “ nation to nation”, but heavy interdependencies of industrial countries to poor countries. The concept of “we” and “they” are gone as the entire world is one. In the past, war was more direct. Today destruction of your neighbor is the destruction of yourself. Ceratin actions cloud our own perception that doesn’t fit reality. So in the individual and social levels, the mind and mental attitude is very crucial. So now in the mental level if you have a calm mind it would be much easier to handle and see reality.
How so?
HH: With a calm mind, the part of the mind which can judge short term and long-term consequences and responses is clear. If there is too much sadness, fear, hatred, then that part of the brain does not function. Scientists have worked with have discovered that when one develops anger, you cannot see reality. The appearance of an object when you feel hatred, sadness, and fear is thirty percent exaggerated. Simmilarly, too much attachment is a hindrance to reality. Without knowing reality, things will be difficult.
How does one develop a strong mind?
HH: The key factor is more compassion- the human sense of concern/affection.
What are the levels of compassion?
HH: There are 3 levels. Usually when we use the word compassion we think of a lover, parents, children, close person that is nice to you. But this is mixed with attachment, which is not genuine compassion because as soon as there attitude changes you change as well. Then another form is when we see someone in a different situation from us for example an animal, or someone in pain, or someone suffering and we feel a sense of concern. It isn’t genuine because there is some sense of discrimination. The object seems somewhat “lower” and this is called pity. It is one sided and biased. True compassion is not based on attachment. You recognize others like you, want happiness and also want to stop suffering. You feel they are like me, a human being. It is unbiased intention. This kind of compassion will raise your energy even if their attitude is hostile. Then you feel true compassion.
(at this point this writer is tearing up)
How can one develop true compassion?
HH: Firstly, any problem handled without losing that kind of compassion is the human approach to achieve peace in the individual’s mind and not peace in the level of family/community/etc. But through inner peace. Secular ethics can help achieve this on a lager scale.
What is secular ethics?
HH: Some of my friends say that modern ethics must be based on religious faith. And some have the opinion that it isn’t necessary that ethics should be based on religious faith. I am of the belief of the latter, which is secular ethics that is not based on religion or faith. Some scientists have experimented on a monkey baby, which is separated from its mother, and one that stays with its mother. They watched and concluded that the monkey that stayed with the mother was always playful and happy and its physical growth was normal. <<
Access: Public
Print
views (130)
Help
Sign In
Dalai Lama
November 2006 
Maya Alala
