May 28

Through My Eyes

Saturday May 28

(We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of the growth of Buddhism in the west!)

" For what is religion? As far as I am concerned, any deed done with good motivation is a religious act. On the other hand, a gathering of people in a temple or church who do not have good motivation are not performing a religious act when they pray together.

Although I do not seek them out, I have also made the acquaintance of a number of politicians whilst on my travels. One of these was Edward Heath, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, whom I have met four times. Like Nehru, on the occasion of our first private meeting, I found that he seemed to be having trouble concentrating on what I had to say. However, on the last three occasions, we had long and frank discussions about Tibet and China, during which Mr. Heath expressed his enthusiasm for Chinese successes in agriculture. As someone who has visited Tibet more recently than I have, he also said that I should realise that many changes have taken place in my homeland-particularly with regard to support for the Dalai Lama. In his opinion, it is fast vanishing, especially amongst the younger generation.

This was a very interesting point of view to hear from such a senior politician, moreover one who has had extensive dealings with Peking. Nevertheless, I explained that my concern was not for the Dalai Lama's position but for the rights of the six million who live in occupied Tibet. Having said this, I told him that as far as I was aware, support for the Dalai Lama amongst young people in Tibet was at its highest level ever and that my exile had united the Tibetan people in a way that had never been possible before.

We still keep in touch, despite our differences in opinion, and I continue to value Mr. Heath as a man of great knowledge of world affairs. Yet at the same time, I am highly impressed at the effectiveness of Chinese disinformation and deception even on such an experienced person as he is.

An interesting phenomenon of the past two decades or so has been the rapid growth of interest in Buddhism amongst western nations. I see no special significance in this, although of course I am very happy that there should now be more than five hundred centres of Tibetan Buddhism worldwide, many of them in Europe and North America. I am always glad if someone derives benefit from adopting Buddhist practices. However, when it actually comes to people changing their religion, I usually advise them to think the matter through very carefully. Rushing into a new religion can give rise to mental conflict and is nearly always difficult.

Nevertheless, even in those places where Buddhism is quite new, I have, for the benefit of those wishing to participate, performed ceremonies on a few occasions. For example, I have given the Kalachakra initiation in more than one country outside India- my motive for doing so being not only to give some insight into the Tibetan way of life and thinking, but also to make an effort, on an inner level, in favour of world peace.

Whilst on the subject of the spread of Buddhism in the West, I want to say that I have noticed some tendency towards sectarianism amongst new practitioners. This is absolutely wrong. Religion should never become a source of conflict, a further factor of division within the human community. For my own part, I have even, on the basis of my deep respect for the contribution that other faiths can make toward human happiness, participated in the ceremonies of other religions. And, following the example of a great many Tibetan lamas both ancient and modern, I continue to take teachings from as many different teachings as possible. For whilst it is true that some schools of thought felt it desirable for a practitioner to stay within his or her own tradition, people have always been free to do as they think fit. Furthermore, Tibetan society has always been highly tolerant of other people's beliefs. Not only was there a flourishing Muslim community in Tibet but also there were a number of Christian missions which were admitted without hindrance. I am therefore firmly in favour of a liberal approach. Sectarianism is poison.

As for my own religious practice, I try to live my life pursuing what I call the Bodhisattva ideal. According to Buddhist thought, a Bodhisattva is someone on the path to Buddhahood who dedicates themselves entirely to helping all other sentient beings towards release from suffering. The word Bodhisattva can best be understood by translating the Bodhi and Sattva separately: Bodhi means the understanding or wisdom of the ultimate nature of reality, and Sattva is someone who is motivated by universal compassion. The Bodhisattva ideal is thus the aspiration to practise infinite compassion with infinite wisdom."

(The Kalachakra is a shamanic rite that brings incalculable benefit to the beings of this world! I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Through my eyes

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day by heading up gang rinpoche ngah tso gi to continue spraying. Two as one pulling strongly and patiently together we've completed the spraying for the week. It took quite awhile as the trees and native plants are growing fantastically! After that I checked the electric fence. It seems to be working now as I'm seeing no more signs of our Grove hathi's munching. Groundhog tested the fence in a few places though! After we're certain the fence is working we'll put some cabbage leaves not far from his hole as he likes those. After resting by your Medlar tree as usual I returned to our studio to take a big nap. Then I went to spin for you then to work on the printing block which with we two working as one pulling strongly and patiently together is going quite well! After that I worked on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages. I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up for now so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday May 28 (We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of the growth of Buddhism in the west!) " For what is religion? As far as I am concerned, any deed done with good motivation is a religious act. On the other hand, a gathering of people in a temple or church who do not have good motivation are not performing a religious act when they pray together. Although I do not seek them out, I have also made the acquaintance of a number of politicians whilst on my travels. One of these was Edward Heath, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, whom I have met four times. Like Nehru, on the occasion of our first private meeting, I found that he seemed to be having trouble concentrating on what I had to say. However, on the last three occasions, we had long and frank discussions about Tibet and China, during which Mr. Heath expressed his enthusiasm for Chinese successes in agriculture. As someone who has visited Tibet more recently than I have, he also said that I should realise that many changes have taken place in my homeland-particularly with regard to support for the Dalai Lama. In his opinion, it is fast vanishing, especially amongst the younger generation. This was a very interesting point of view to hear from such a senior politician, moreover one who has had extensive dealings with Peking. Nevertheless, I explained that my concern was not for the Dalai Lama's position but for the rights of the six million who live in occupied Tibet. Having said this, I told him that as far as I was aware, support for the Dalai Lama amongst young people in Tibet was at its highest level ever and that my exile had united the Tibetan people in a way that had never been possible before. We still keep in touch, despite our differences in opinion, and I continue to value Mr. Heath as a man of great knowledge of world affairs. Yet at the same time, I am highly impressed at the effectiveness of Chinese disinformation and deception even on such an experienced person as he is. An interesting phenomenon of the past two decades or so has been the rapid growth of interest in Buddhism amongst western nations. I see no special significance in this, although of course I am very happy that there should now be more than five hundred centres of Tibetan Buddhism worldwide, many of them in Europe and North America. I am always glad if someone derives benefit from adopting Buddhist practices. However, when it actually comes to people changing their religion, I usually advise them to think the matter through very carefully. Rushing into a new religion can give rise to mental conflict and is nearly always difficult. Nevertheless, even in those places where Buddhism is quite new, I have, for the benefit of those wishing to participate, performed ceremonies on a few occasions. For example, I have given the Kalachakra initiation in more than one country outside India- my motive for doing so being not only to give some insight into the Tibetan way of life and thinking, but also to make an effort, on an inner level, in favour of world peace. Whilst on the subject of the spread of Buddhism in the West, I want to say that I have noticed some tendency towards sectarianism amongst new practitioners. This is absolutely wrong. Religion should never become a source of conflict, a further factor of division within the human community. For my own part, I have even, on the basis of my deep respect for the contribution that other faiths can make toward human happiness, participated in the ceremonies of other religions. And, following the example of a great many Tibetan lamas both ancient and modern, I continue to take teachings from as many different teachings as possible. For whilst it is true that some schools of thought felt it desirable for a practitioner to stay within his or her own tradition, people have always been free to do as they think fit. Furthermore, Tibetan society has always been highly tolerant of other people's beliefs. Not only was there a flourishing Muslim community in Tibet but also there were a number of Christian missions which were admitted without hindrance. I am therefore firmly in favour of a liberal approach. Sectarianism is poison. As for my own religious practice, I try to live my life pursuing what I call the Bodhisattva ideal. According to Buddhist thought, a Bodhisattva is someone on the path to Buddhahood who dedicates themselves entirely to helping all other sentient beings towards release from suffering. The word Bodhisattva can best be understood by translating the Bodhi and Sattva separately: Bodhi means the understanding or wisdom of the ultimate nature of reality, and Sattva is someone who is motivated by universal compassion. The Bodhisattva ideal is thus the aspiration to practise infinite compassion with infinite wisdom." (The Kalachakra is a shamanic rite that brings incalculable benefit to the beings of this world! I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Through my eyes ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day by heading up gang rinpoche ngah tso gi to continue spraying. Two as one pulling strongly and patiently together we've completed the spraying for the week. It took quite awhile as the trees and native plants are growing fantastically! After that I checked the electric fence. It seems to be working now as I'm seeing no more signs of our Grove hathi's munching. Groundhog tested the fence in a few places though! After we're certain the fence is working we'll put some cabbage leaves not far from his hole as he likes those. After resting by your Medlar tree as usual I returned to our studio to take a big nap. Then I went to spin for you then to work on the printing block which with we two working as one pulling strongly and patiently together is going quite well! After that I worked on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages. I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up for now so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)