Dalai Lama’s tête-à-tête with Tibetan diaspora in US

Minneapolis, USA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama journeyed through a nearly 90-mile drive from Rochester to Minneapolis on February 21, where the local Tibetan community had invited him to teach and interact with the Tibetan diaspora in the city.

Welcomed by the Tibetan community representatives, Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges and State Representative Carolyn Laine, he spoke to scores of the audience gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Dr Tsewang Ngodup, President of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, while briefing the gathering, thanked the spiritual leader for accepting the Foundation's invitation. Affirming the intention of Minnesotan Tibetans to be active members of the Tibetan diaspora, Dr Ngodup said they desire to contribute to their local communities and conduct themselves as global citizens.

We give a brief view of Dalai Lama's speech and other activities that enveloped the event:

• Seated before thangkas of Chenrezig, the Medicine Buddha, and Guru Rinpoche, His Holiness began his talk by appreciating the efforts of the Tibetan diaspora who are trying to maintain their Tibetan values and ethics outside the country as well:

"I always start by greeting my brothers and sisters. That's how I think of you and how I think of all 7 billion human beings, so I'm never lonely. Two years ago we celebrated Losar together and I'm happy to see you all again…"

"I'm glad to know that you are trying to preserve our traditional values. It's 57 years now that we've been in exile while the turmoil in Tibet began 60 years ago. Nevertheless, you've kept your spirits up, which is praiseworthy, and maintained our cherished values, for which I'd like to thank you all. The Tibetan spirit is strong and we've kept our culture and religious traditions alive, which is important because they have a contribution to make to the world at large. That's something to be proud of."

• He then spoke about his experience as a human being and not as a Buddhist or as Dalai Lama:

"The key is to develop a concern for others' well-being; a sense of compassion. If, instead of anger, hatred and suspicion, we were moved by loving-kindness, we would naturally have greater respect for others and our actions would be non-violent."

"In my experience, what we need is a calm mind and warm-heartedness provides a basis for that. I believe that if we can train those who are young today in these qualities the world will be a more peaceful place later in this century. This is not something we can hope the government or the UN can do, real change starts with individuals. We each have to make a contribution. I request you to do so too."

Upon hearing this, the feedback from the 3000-strong audience was a heavy applause.

• The spiritual leader went on to explain his second commitment of promoting inter-religious harmony, declaring that all religions carry a common message of love, forgiveness and tolerance.

"Those of us who follow a religious practice ourselves have a responsibility to work to foster inter-religious harmony."

• Gratifying the nurturing he received from the Tibetan culture while growing up, His Holiness referred to the Tibetan culture as a culture of peace and non-violence:

"I'm also a Tibetan and since I've been nurtured by Tibetans since I was small, I can never give up the cause of Tibet. In 2001, I semi-retired from political responsibility and in 2011 completely retired. I did this to promote democracy. Still, Tibetans both in Tibet and outside have placed their hopes in me…"

"Tibetan culture can contribute to making the world a more peaceful, compassionate place."

He further praised Tibet's Buddhist traditions as a complete transmission of the traditions of India's Nalanda University, including logic, psychology and a range of philosophical views. Translated mostly from Sanskrit into Tibetan, the traditions are contained in the more than 300 volumes of Buddhist literature.

• Continuing to speak about Nalanda's tradition, he spoke of the great Nalanda scholar Shantarakshita. He told how Shantarakshita gave the first monastic ordination in Tibet, helped found the first monastery at Samye, and explained the great treatises. He also encouraged the translation of Buddhist literature into Tibetan.

• Talking about the 'Eight Verses for Training the Mind' by the disciple of Potowa, Geshe Langri Tangpa, His Holiness explained all the verses one by one:

The first verse is about altruism and the need for compassion and affection for others. The second is about humility. The third is about being mindful in daily life while the fourth verse is to not give in to anger but showing compassion upon encountering reckless and unruly people. The fifth suggests accepting defeat and giving the victory to others while the sixth verse recommends cultivating patience around people who mock or despise you. The seventh verse deals with the practice of giving and taking. The final of the eight verses advises not to give in to the eight worldly concerns and to see everything as an illusion, something which completely lacks independent existence.

• Quoting the renowned Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, he said:

A person is not earth, not water,
Not fire, not wind, not space,
Not consciousness, and not all of them.
What person is there other than these?

He said that while a person is designated on the basis of the above six elements, these elements exist only as designations.

• Dalai Lama then led the gathering, including around 2000 Tibetans, in reciting three verses meant to awaken the mind. He concluded his speech by explaining the 'five paths' which led him to the 'Heart of Wisdom' with the first 'gate' indicating the path of seeing and the last gate 'bodhi svaha'- the attainment of enlightenment.

• Being offered a white silk 'katas' as a token of respect, Dalai Lama left the stage smiling and waving to the happy crowd, and afterward was driven back to Rochester. (With picture courtesy and Inputs from tibet.net)

Also Watch this video about how Tibet is Burning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao5NxasryxA