By Tenzin Menkyi
DHARAMSHALA, July 29: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said the purpose of great treatises of Buddhism like Kangyur and Tengyur are not to be merely objects of devotion or to be occasionally recited but that the texts must be objectively studied. “It will be good to recite these collections from time to time,” His Holiness told the gathering. “However, the main purpose of both Kangyur and Tengyur is not to be an object of respect, nor to be occasionally ritually recited, but to be studied,” said the Tibetan leader.
The 80 year old Tibetan leader, currently on 5 day visit to Ladakh, was speaking at an event at the Gonpa Soma or Jokhang Temple, Leh on Tuesday. Also present were Ganden Tripa Rizong Rinpoche and officials of the Ladakh hill administration. His Holiness offered to gift a set of Tengyur texts to the monastery upon being told that there was only a copy of Kangyur.
The Tibetan leader then visited the Jamyang School, a beneficiary of the Dalai Lama Trust, where His Holiness was greeted by thousands of people including Ladakhi students as he inaugurated a new girl’s hostel. “Today, I’m here in Ladakh mainly at the invitation of Spituk Monastery to attend their summer Perfection of Wisdom debates. Tri Rinpoche mentioned to me that it would be good if I could come”, the Tibetan leader told the gathering.
In his public lecture, His Holiness spoke at length about benefit of dialogue between Buddhist science and modern science. He also clarified that he never promotes Buddhism as being better than other traditions of the world, adding that the message of different religions, although approaches may vary, is the same. “The main message of [all] religion is peace. Change in the world comes about through action rather than prayer alone. We’ve prayed for hundreds of years without much effect”, regretted His Holiness.
He also said that the modern education is geared towards materialistic gains and suggested a need to encourage ‘greater warm-heartedness’ by including secular ethics in the school curriculum. “The Buddha taught according to his own experience. A 21st century Buddhist understands that the Buddha’s teaching has nothing to do with faith, rituals and blessings,” the Tibetan leader told the gathering.
His Holiness returned to Spituk Monastery after his lunch at Jamyang School.
The Tibetan leader blessed and inaugurated the 3rd summer Perfection of Wisdom debates at Pegon Nastan Bakula Institute, Spituk, today.
