Dalai Lama Meets with Teachers & Business Leaders in Newport Beach

Meetings with Teachers and Business Leaders

Newport Beach, CA, USA - Anaheim city school principals and teachers, friends of Mayor Tom Tait came to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning. In his introduction to His Holiness Mayor Tait mentioned the positive change that the City of Kindness project, and participating in the One Million Acts of Kindness campaign, has brought to Anaheim’s schools. He recalled that when Ven Tenzin Dhonden heard about what they were doing, he brought Mayor Tait to meet His Holiness in Dharamsala, for which he thanked him.

“Firstly, I very much appreciate this opportunity to meet with people who are actively involved in education,” His Holiness began. “Our common goal is to build a happier humanity. The greater part of this century is still ahead of us. I believe that if we start working now on this with a clear vision now, the later part of the century could be happier and more peaceful.

“These days if a human being is killed by a tiger or elephant it’s news, but to be killed by another human being is no longer extraordinary. Meanwhile, despite every human being having a right to be happy, we see images on the television of numbers of children dying of starvation. How can we remain indifferent? These people are our brothers and sisters. We have to do something.

“Violence has long been part of human history, but in the past, involving hand to hand combat, its impact was limited. Today, we have weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear weapons, that are so powerful, the whole of humanity is endangered. Violence derives from anger and anger clouds our ability to think straight and properly assess what is happening. Anger in turn is related to fear and anxiety.

“One of the lessons we need to learn is how to cultivate those positive emotions that counter destructive emotions like anger and fear. Compassion, for example, brings self-confidence and the ability to act transparently. It strengthens trust which is the ground for friendship.

“All the major religious traditions teach about love and to protect that message they also counsel tolerance and forgiveness. However, these days, when 1 billion people claim to have no religious faith, instead of relying on faith alone, we have to use our intelligence to examine whether anger brings any benefit. If we’re honest we’ll see that anger ruins our peace of mind. Fortunately, one of our qualities as human beings is our ability to reinforce such human values as warm-heartedness.

“In education we should explore how to build on those human values that are based on scientific findings, common experience and common sense. In India and here at Emory University work is going on to prepare a curriculum to bring this exercise into schools. We aim to teach that on a mental level kindness and compassion give rise to lasting joy. They reduce fear.”

His Holiness explained that we will only make the 21st century an era of peace on the basis of inner peace. However, he said, we won’t overcome anger and establish peace of mind just by praying for it. An outbreak of fire will not be quenched by prayer alone, it’s far more important to prevent its breaking out in the first place.

In answering questions from the audience His Holiness made clear his view that ancient Indian psychology is relevant today, since it clearly explains how to increase positive emotions and reduce negative emotions. He pointed out that we all, even animals, have a basic seed of compassion, a wish for others to overcome suffering, but to raise and extend it to the point where we actually act on it takes training.

He recommended adopting different approaches, experimenting and sharing what we learn with each other. He also remarked that anger and aggression sometimes seem to be protective because they bring energy to bear on a particular situation, but what needs to be acknowledged is that that energy is blind. He stressed that it takes a calm mind to be able to consider things from different angles and points of view.

Noting that more and more people are paying attention to kindness, the evidence of the naming of a City of Kindness in Anaheim and a Compassionate City in Louisville, is that a revolution is taking place in education. He asked the teachers of Anaheim to help lead that revolution in the right direction.

Meeting Orange County business leaders in the afternoon at the behest of Noah McMahon, His Holiness picked up his earlier theme that despite great material development people are increasingly showing interest in achieving peace of mind. He again stressed that, if we make efforts now, it is possible to envisage a happier more peaceful world emerging later in the century. He reiterated that scientists revealing findings that basic human nature is compassionate is a source of hope. He mentioned the power of being able to smile.

Speaking of peace in the world prompted His Holiness to discuss the need for global demilitarization. He spoke with regret of the money spent on weapons, but also of the dangers of a policy of mutual destruction. Mentioning a dream of a world without borders, a truly global world, he wondered whether he would be thought unrealistic.

He declared that the world belongs to the 7 billion people living in it, just as American belongs to the American people. He expressed regret at the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord. He speculated that if there were more women leaders the world might be a more peaceful and co-operative place.

Challenged to say whether religion might have outlived its usefulness, he mentioned three aspects of religious tradition. The religious aspect involves the practice of love and compassion, the philosophical aspect, concerning, for example, belief in a creator or the law of causality supports this practice. But there is also the cultural aspect, influenced by social conventions. When this aspect is judged to be out of date, he said, it should adapt. His final remark was to note that while people go to great lengths to look physically attractive, inner beauty is far more important and a stronger basis for lasting relationships.

original link and photos: https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/meetings-with-teachers-and-business-leaders

Awakening Compassion, Celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday

Anaheim, CA, USA, 5 July 2015 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama began the day early giving an interview to Ann Curry for KIP News. He told her at the start that today he got up at 1am to begin his prayers. Wishing him a happy birthday, she asked him for his wish. He replied:

“The same as all beings, I wish to live a happy life. We all face a lot of problems that are essentially our own creation. The real point here is with our emotions. Unless we have some knowledge of how to tackle them we’ll run into trouble.

“My life is dedicated to the well-being of others. If humanity is happy, then I’ll be happy, because each of us is dependent on others.”

Ann Curry asked what makes him want to share compassion so much that at a time when other people would be taking it easy His Holiness is still working. He answered:

“It’s because this is my only profession. As a Buddhist practitioner and a student of Nalanda masters such as Nagarjuna I have learned about how the mind and emotions work. It seems that due to experience of that I can be of service to other human beings. Every day I pray for the welfare of all mother sentient beings. If I were to pray, but do nothing it would just be hypocrisy.”

Later, talking about whether or not there will be a 15th Dalai Lama, His Holiness told her that, recognised or not, he would still be there.

“I’m determined about that. The biography of the 1st Dalai Lama tells that when he was about my age he remarked about growing old and his students and disciples commented that he needn’t worry because he’d be sure to go to a Pure Land. He retorted that he had no wish to go to some such heaven, he wanted to be reborn where there was suffering in order that he could be of some help to others. I share that prayer.”

When Ann Curry asked for a message for the world to be posted on Facebook on his birthday, His Holiness said:

“I’d like to express my thanks to the many, many people who have expressed warm feelings towards me. So many have wished me a happy birthday, I’d like to ask them in turn to pay more attention to their own minds, to tackling their own emotions. Now I’m 80 and have faced a difficult life. At 16 I lost my freedom, at 24 I lost my country and news from Tibet has been heartbreaking, but throughout it all my best friend has been my intelligence and a sense of warm-heartedness. This is something I’d like to share with others.”

Interviewing His Holiness for CBS News, Carter Evans remarked that a lot of people seemed to be making a lot of fuss about His Holiness’s birthday and asked what he felt about it.

“Nothing special,” was the reply. “The sun will rise and the sun will set. It’ll be the same kind of 24 hours, but when other people know someone has a birthday they like to celebrate.”

Evans went on to ask why concern for the global environment is so important to him.

“I didn’t realise that there was any issue about the environment until I left Tibet. Then I was surprised to be told that I couldn’t drink water from any source the way I could in Tibet, because often the water was polluted. I began to realise that we need to take care of the planet as if it were our only home.

“When we see violence or scenes of violence take place, it has an immediate impact on the mind, but the damage being done to the environment doesn’t have that immediacy. We don’t notice it until it is often too late. That’s why it will be more effective if taking care of the planet becomes part of our day to day life.”

At the Honda Center His Holiness was welcomed to a special breakfast to celebrate his 80th birthday. Addressing the gathering, he told them we need to use our intelligence to promote loving kindness. He said the nature of compassion is not something new. It’s something we are all familiar with. We all have the seed of compassion in us that we can cultivate. In the past we learned about this from our religious traditions, but today many people claim no longer to believe and of those who say they believe, many go through the motions in the place of worship, but bring nothing with them when they leave.

“Cultivating the kind of compassion we can extend to our enemies requires that we use our intelligence. We have to use reason just as we do to understand that anger destroys our peace of mind.”

As he was about to leave the breakfast, His Holiness called two fellow Nobel Peace Laureates, Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi, up to join him. He explained that they had last met at a gathering of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, at the end of which they had announced a determination to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons. They had also declared that the announcement by itself was not enough, there needed to be a timetable for reducing and eliminating these weapons of mass destruction had to be set and nuclear states needed to be held to it. His Holiness said they would need to mobilize popular support.

He followed this with a meeting with Representative Ed Royce who is Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

In an interview with Maria Hall Brown for PBS Southern California, His Holiness noted that 20 years ago little attention was paid to ethics or inner values, but over the last 10 years more and more people have begun to take an interest. He said that increasing numbers of people realize the shortcomings of the current education system. That scientists too are showing interest in the workings of the mind is a source of hope. He told a correspondent for the local Orange County Reporter that as human beings we all have responsibility to promote the idea of the oneness of humanity especially in multiracial, multi-religious societies.

After lunch, Ann Curry escorted His Holiness onto the Honda Center stage before an 18,000 strong audience. Singing children had already set the scene and a video depicting scenes from His Holiness’s life had been shown. Mayor Tom Tait introduced His Holiness to the crowd, explaining how he’d been to see him at home in Dharamsala and been made very welcome earlier this year. At the time His Holiness had been working on a ‘Book of Joy’ with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Founder of the Friends of the Dalai Lama, a prime organizer of the event, Ven. Tenzin Dhonden spoke next, expressing greetings to His Holiness and welcoming everyone in attendance. Among the many people he thanked for their support were Pierre Omidyar, Mayor Tait, the Honda Center staff and his own spiritual masters. He acknowledged His Holiness as someone who embodies compassion in person.

Facebook video greetings from #WithCompassion were shown featuring messages from Larry King, Arianna Huffington and many others. The video ended with a song ‘We are One’ by Runaground, who then appeared on stage to perform it again live, joined by a joyfully singing children.

Ann Curry then introduced an array of well-wishers who came forward to offer His Holiness words of appreciation. They included: actor Josh Radnor, Professor Robert Thurman, Bishop Desmond Tutu’s grandson, Australian Cody Simpson, Dr Elahe Mir-Djalali Omidyar, UCI VC Thomas Parham, actor Wilmer Valderrama, actor Julia Ormond, oceanographers Justin Nappi and Veerbhadran Ramanathan, comedian George Lopez, who had everyone laughing, musician Randy Jackson, rights activist and Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, businessman Anthony Melikhove, peace activist and Nobel Peace Laureate Jodie Williams, musician MC Hammer, and on behalf of the Apache Nation Jonelle Romero.

Thirty Tibetan children from San Francisco sang a traditional Tibetan song. They were followed onto the stage by activist, rapper and musician Michael Franti who played, sang and led the audience in a rousing song for His Holiness.

After cutting a huge cake, His Holiness took his slice to the lectern and addressed the audience.

“Brothers and sisters,” he told them, “I’m overwhelmed that so many speakers have expressed the importance of loving kindness. They have given me encouragement and hope. I have generally thought that I would not see a compassionate world emerge in my lifetime. However, there seems to be real enthusiasm for the idea that the source of peace is within ourselves and that to change the world we all have to develop inner peace. Since scientists and educators are also showing interest in this, maybe we can achieve a peaceful world sooner than I thought. As my friend Jodie Williams says, ‘We have to take action’ and there is a Tibetan saying that if you fail nine times, nine times you should try again.

“I’ve faced many difficulties, but I’ve remained truthful, honest and determined. As time goes on the truth becomes stronger, while the power of the gun diminishes. A more compassionate world is in the interest of all sentient beings, and even the environment will benefit too. The kind of universal compassion, unbiased compassion, that can be extended even to your enemy is within the reach of all of us.

“We all come from our mothers. We all have a deep experience of affection, even those who are now referred to as ‘terrorists’. In this large gathering I’d like to repeat that I am just one human being. We are all part of humanity. We are all the same and our future depends on others. Each day I dedicate my body, speech and mind to the welfare of all mother sentient beings. I say my favourite prayer:

For as long as space endures

And for as long as living beings remain,

Until then may I too abide

To dispel the misery of the world.

The ensuing discussion among the people on the stage with His Holiness touched on the fact that anger may bring energy to situations, but it is blind energy. Compassion is directed energy. That to lead a meaningful life, we need a calm mind and a sense of concern for the welfare of others. Compassion is a choice. Authenticity is significant. His Holiness pointed out that the crucial notions of freedom, liberty and democracy take for granted that basic human nature is good.

As His Holiness got ready to leave, Ann Curry summed up the sense of the gathering in her comment:

“It’s your birthday, but the rest of us seem to be the ones who have been made a gift. Thank you and happy birthday.”

At the Anaheim Theater Mayor Tom Tait welcomed His Holiness to a special reception. In this newly announced City of Kindness, His Holiness repeated his belief that progress towards greater kindness can be made through education. The Mayor described a project already run in local schools for children to create a million acts of kindness. He noted that reports of bullying are down and children are happier and more fulfilled. Mayor of nearby Santa Ana, Miguel Pulido, announced his plans to emulate the ‘million acts of kindness’ in the schools in his area.

At a further reception attended by 1000 people and organized by the City of Garden Grove, Mayor Bao Nguyen welcomed His Holiness, who spoke briefly.

“Respected brothers and sisters, inner values such as compassion and forgiveness bring us peace, comfort and inner strength, which are helpful to us. Anger and fear do us no good; they disturb our peace of mind. I see there are a lot of Vietnamese here. I’ve come across quite a number of communities like you in America, France and Australia, who have made an effort to preserve your cultural heritage and your Buddhist faith. I admire your determination.”

His Holiness was offered a certificate by the Vietnamese Americans of the USA. The Mayor of the City of Westminster praised His Holiness as a role model and when the Mayor of Garden Grove presented him with a key to the city, His Holiness responded:

“Ah, and compassion is the key to open inner peace.”

At the end of an unusually long and full day, His Holiness finally retired for the night.

Original link with photos http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1294-awakening-compassion-celebrations-of-his-holiness-the-dalai-lamas-80th-birthday

How to Achieve Happiness & the Unsung Heroes of Compassion

San Francisco, CA, USA, 23 February 2014 - This morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove from San Francisco out to Richmond, where the Tibetan community that has grown from a handful in the 1980s to about 1500 today had invited him to inaugurate their new Community Center. Tibetans of all ages lined the street as he arrived to a traditional welcome.

Kunjo Tashi the community President escorted His Holiness into the building. He cut the ribbon across the doorway into the temple and scattered rice as he recited auspicious prayers. He inspected the labels on the volumes of the Kangyur before taking his seat on the throne. Tea and sweet rice were served and His Holiness spoke briefly about the need to preserve Tibetan identity and culture. He stressed that the Center should be useful.

Outside in the chill sunshine, the Tibetan community assembled to listen to the Mayor of Richmond, Gayle McLaughlin, formally welcome His Holiness to the city, following which he spoke too.

“It’s now nearly 55 years that we’ve been in exile. I was a young man then. Those born after 1959 are now parents, so we are into the third generation in exile. In the life of an individual a generation seems quite a long time, but in the context of the greater Tibetan cause 50 years or so is not very long. Tibetans in Tibet have placed their hopes in us.”

He sought to encourage his listeners about the value of their heritage: “We all want happiness, not suffering, and as a consequence we have to see if the mind can be transformed. Tibetan Buddhist culture is not just about prayers, reciting mantras and performing rituals, it involves explanations of the nature of reality. We Tibetans have the most comprehensive presentation of what the Buddha taught. We should not feel deprived, but proud of the knowledge we possess. What’s more we don’t need to rely on any other language to access this knowledge because it already exists in Tibetan. Don’t waste your time getting drunk or gambling. There’s no reason to feel low or demoralized; much better to be confident and optimistic.”

He said these days the Sikyong has taken on political responsibility and the Tibetan spirit is robust. Tibet has the support of many people around the world. The Middle Way Approach which does not seek separation from China has the support of Chinese people in China and abroad. To seek total independence undermines that support and any chance of opening a dialogue with the authorities.

“If we are granted the rights we deserve and which are guaranteed by the Chinese constitution it will do us good. So, the Middle Way Approach is beneficial. Meanwhile, reports I receive from Tibet about monasteries that have turned away from Dolgyal practice and are developing harmony and friendship with other monasteries in their region are encouraging. Be happy”

An estimated 3300 people gathered in the nearby Berkeley Community Theatre to listen to His Holiness. At the very beginning Tibetan children sang the Tibetan and American anthems. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) movingly and eloquently welcomed His Holiness to the 13th congressional district, which she declared is the most progressive district in the country. She praised him for his tireless work for peace and thanked him for coming to Berkeley. In response, he began:

“Respected Congresswoman, brothers and sisters, we really need this sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. It is our self-centredness that is the cause of many of the world’s problems. We too are social animals like those ants and bees that have a sense of community and work together by nature without the guidance of religion or law. The environmental crisis makes us part of one world, as does the global economy. Our population is growing; natural disasters are increasing making ever clearer our need to acknowledge the oneness of humanity.”

His Holiness paused and asked his audience: “What do you feel, what is the best way to achieve happiness, is it through money and power? My eldest brother, Taktser Rinpoche, told me that while he was still in his monastery, he never gave a thought to money, but once he was out in the world he realized how important it is. But money only brings us physical comfort. Material values alone do not bring inner peace.

“Once in Barcelona I was introduced to a Catholic monk who wanted to meet me. He had spent five years in retreat deep in the mountains. A wonderful man, I asked him what kind of practice he did and he told me he meditated on love. And as he did so his eyes sparkled. He was very happy and yet he lived on bread and water with very little cooked food. Clearly genuine happiness doesn’t depend on material comfort.”

His Holiness explained that scientists are finding that more compassionate people are happier. A happy mind is conducive to physical health. He said we need friends, but asked how we find them? Trust, transparency, truthfulness and honesty attract friends and create happy individuals, happy families, happy communities and a happier world.

His Holiness also drew attention to the work scientists are doing in the US to help promote secular ethics in secular education. Developing concern for others on the basis of the oneness of humanity is not necessarily a religious teaching. However, all religious traditions acknowledge that there are obstacles to this and teach tolerance and forgiveness. And because we are subject to the drawbacks of greed they also teach contentment and simplicity. Similarly, all the major religious traditions teach self-discipline, so they share common goals. For this reason His Holiness promotes inter-religious harmony. At the same time, scientific research shows that inner values bring real happiness into our lives.

Among the questions from the audience, His Holiness was asked to speak about death. He said that if you lead a meaningful life, helping others and avoiding dong them harm, you can be sure of a good after life. He stressed that peace of mind is essential at the actual time of death, so the dying should not be disturbed. From a Buddhist point of view it is useful to think about compassion and the nature of reality and perhaps do some visualizations, as many do in their daily practice.

The session concluded with a group of young children reciting a short prayer for His Holiness’s long life.

After lunch, back at his hotel in San Francisco, His Holiness was invited to attend a function to acknowledge and commend Unsung Heroes of Compassion, individuals from around the globe who work to alleviate the suffering of others without expectation of reward. This is an organization launched by Dick Grace and the Grace Family Foundation and this is the fourth such event.

After Ngawang Khechog had brought peace to the occasion by playing his flute, the introductory speaker, 90 year old Grandmother Agnes of the Takelma tribe, meanderingly encouraged the audience to stop and think of the great gift of water as an essential part of creation. She called on everyone to join her in praying to the creator to protect and keep His Holiness and his people. When actor Peter Coyote invited His Holiness to speak, he acknowledged her in turn.

“We all come from our mothers and this old lady has showered affection on us like a mother does on her children. We are grateful, thank you.

“In our lives, my generation has seen the major part of the 20th century. I’m nearly 79 now and the killing and violence of that era still goes on in places like Syria. The question is whether such merciless killing is actually part of human nature. Our mothers give birth to us; we are brought up on mothers’ milk. Now scientists say that while anger and fear undermine it, warm-heartedness is actually good for our health. This suggests that in fact human nature is essentially kind.

“The reality is, as I’ve said before, that we are social animals and each of us depends on the community within which we live, so today the idea of war is out of date. In ancient times, destruction of your enemy was your victory. Now it’s as if we are all part of one body, so what happens to others affects us too. We have to take care of each other.

“Usually I say that people younger than 30 belong to the 21st century. My generation belongs to the 20th century, an era that is over. We will not see the great changes to be made in this century. Those who are young today must work to create a better more peaceful world, and I often teasingly say that wherever I am I’ll be watching how you do.”

His Holiness praised Dick Grace for creating an organization that brings such wonderful individuals to wider attention. They each set examples that can only strengthen the younger generation. The Unsung Heroes of Compassion for 2014 each came up to the platform to be honoured and at the end the applause was loud and long.

original link and photos: http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1083-how-to-achieve-happiness-and-the-unsung-heroes-of-compassion

Dalai Lama Talks About How to Have a Happy Life

By Cornell Barnard

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Thousands of people in the Bay Area are feeling more enlightened after spending part of the day with the Dalai Lama. But his message of peace was met with shouts of protest.

The Dalai Lama's last stop of the day Sunday was the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. Before that his biggest public event of the day was in Berkeley where he talked about how to be happy, but not everybody there was.

The auditorium at Berkeley High School was packed with those who paid $50 to hear the Dalai Lama speak.

When his holiness took the stage, he complained the lights were too bright; so, with a laugh, he put on a sun visor.

The soft-spoken Tibetan spiritual leader talked about how to live a happy life.

"Mentally, emotionally, physically, we are the same," he said. "And more important, I want a happy life, you also want a happy life."

Achieving happiness, he says, includes forgiveness and compassion for others and society

"We all really need to work together, and a sense of oneness of humanity," said the Dalai Lama. "To me, that is very very important."

The two hour talk left Walnut Creek resident Ugyen Dolma energized. Like the Dalai Lama, she fled Tibet when she was very young.

"I was so blessed to see him," she said. "How wonderful it is we have this wonderful leader of the world, I am ready to die tomorrow with no regrets."

Fellow Walnut Creek resident Robert Mulder added, "The word compassion really tops the list. And to walk out and to carry that notion day in and day out, I feel like he set a journey, a journey for all of us today."

Nearby, protesters who are Shugden Buddhists, we're not as enlightened to see the Dalai Lama. They say he has excommunicated thousands of Shugden Buddhists because he claims their faction harms and divides his followers.

The group provided us with video of protesters confronting the Dalai Lama about religious freedom.

"This is not religion, this is worship of spirit, so that's wrong," said the Dalai Lama in the video.

Earlier in the day on Sunday, a large crowd of supporters came out as the Dalai Lama made a stop in Richmond, where he blessed the Tibetan Community Center. He briefly spoke to the crowd inside, had some tea, and then addressed a larger audience outside.

And later in the day, the Dalai Lama honored local unsung heroes of compassion. An awards ceremony was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to be in the U.S. for another two weeks.

(Copyright ©2014 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.) Watch video and see original link: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=9442587