By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, June 16: Over 6000 people turned out on Sunday to hear the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk on ‘Compassionate Ethics’ in Livorno, Italy.
The Tibetan leader also conferred the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment in the morning at the same venue. Also present alongside His Holiness on the stage was Bishop Simone Giusti of Livorno. His Holiness expressed his pleasure over Giusti’s presence. “It is a great honor to have a spiritual brother from a major religious tradition present here ahead of my teachings of the Buddha. I always mention that all religions teach the same message, the practise of love. Philosophically there are major differences between our two religions but the aim is the same – to make everyone a better person with moral ethics.” His Holiness said.
His Holiness said that he considered all actions carried out for the welfare and benefit of other’s wellbeing as ethical. “Sincerely caring for others wellbeing leaves no room to bully, cheat or harm others. This benefits us because our mind will be much happier leading to a happy life.” He also added that developing a sense of concern for wellbeing of others will ultimately benefit oneself.
He further said that the first person who benefits from showing compassion to others is oneself. “So please practise love and compassion.”
The 78 year old Tibetan Nobel laureate also expressed his hopes on the younger generations to bring the change and called for them to pay more attention to inner values, moral ethics and the education system.
Responding to a question from a member in the audience on the protests by Dorje Shugden (dolgyal) supporters, the Tibetan leader said, “the Shugden problem is nearly 400 years old and that the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the 13th Dalai Lama considered this spirit harmful and advocated against its worship.”
The Tibetan leader says he was himself a follower of Dorje Shugden but that he later quit in 1975 for reasons he describes as “strong sectarian overtones” and “a history of contributing to a climate of sectarian disharmony” among the four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The Tibetan leader denounces the worship of Dorje Shugden as “spirit worship” and fears that the propitiation of it might degenerate the “rich tradition of Tibetan Buddhism” into “mere propitiation of spirits.”
On Saturday, Livorno Mayor Filippo Nogarin presented the Key to the City of Livorno to the Dalai Lama who had already received Livorno honorary citizenship during an earlier visit.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama who was on a six day visit to Italy left for India today. This is the Dalai Lama’s 25th visit to Italy with the first taking place in September 1973.
From June 23 to 25, His Holiness will give a teaching on Tsongkhapa’s Concise Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Dudon) and will confer the Avalokiteshvera Initiation (Chenresig Wang) in Padum, Zanskar, J&K.
