By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 6: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today began a four day teachings on Nagarjuna’s “Fundamental Wisdom Treatise of the Middle Way” (Uma Tsawa Sherab) at Tsug-la khang, the main temple in Dharamshala.
The teachings were requested by a group of Taiwanese devotees. More than six thousand people from 62 countries attended the teachings that will conclude on October 9.
His Holiness said the religion in Tibet was earlier described as not of Buddhism but as ‘Lamaism’, a religion of lamas (senior monk). However, he said that the religion in Tibet was not that of Lamas but that it originated from Nalanda university.
“As living beings, everyone wants happiness and no one wants suffering. There is no need of explanation as to why everyone wants happiness and not suffering, it is natural,” he siad.
He further added, “Now-a-days, scientists recognize the importance of peaceful mind; a disturbing mind will cause an unhealthy body. Therefore, it is important to have a healthy mind in order to have a healthy body.”
Live webcasts of the teachings from October 6-9 2014 is available on the official website of the Dalai Lama. His Holiness will be speaking in Tibetan with English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian language translations available.
Following the teachings, the Dalai Lama is then scheduled to visit Canada and the United States of America from October 21- November 4, where he will give public talks, teachings and discussions.
