By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 29: “It is imperative that Buddhist treatises such as Kangyur and Tengyur must be studied and must not become an object of worship,” said the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the first day of the four-day teachings at Thekchen Choeling Tsuglagkhang today.
Teaching on Buddhapalita’s ‘Commentary on the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way’ at the request of a group from Asia, the Tibetan spiritual leader said, “I understand that it will be hard to comprehend if you don’t have earlier practices. Even I would face problem if I have to do in depth. However, you must not stop at the fact that you have received a teaching on it. We must study these commentaries regularly.”
At the teaching attended by over 6000 devotees, the Dalai Lama said that since human beings are a social animal living in an ‘interdependent’ world the happiness and tranquility of the future also depend on the calm situation of the world.
“Given the compassionate nature of humans and the intelligence to analyze the benefits of virtuous actions and consequences of ill-actions, we must use our intelligence and common sense to work together to make this world a peaceful world,” said the 82-year-old leader, “So our first responsibility is to make the entire 7 billion human beings a peace-loving being.”
He, however, added that mere wishing for a peaceful world is not the answer nor asking for a divine intervention is. The Nobel Peace Laureate said that it is up to the people of this world to put more effort in it by first making oneself more ‘compassionate’ and subsequently spreading it to the rest of the community and then to the world.
“We must bear in mind that it is the only way for a peaceful world since we have to exist in this world. So it is in everybody’s interest to live a peaceful life. Instead of incurring expenses on violence, we must concentrate on education. In order to have a more peaceful world, we must gradually make this world free from violence,” the Tibetan exiled spiritual leader said.
Earlier in the day, His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeted the newly appointed 104th Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo, who was appointed after the demise of his predecessor.
The four-day teaching on teaching on Buddhapalita’s “Commentary on the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way” at the request of a group from Asia will conclude on September 1.
