10 Questions to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Time Magazine interviewed His Holiness in New York City in May of 2010 for its "10 Questions to His Holiness the Dalai Lama".

Question: Do you ever feel angry or outraged? —Kantesh Guttal, PUNE, INDIA

His Holiness: Oh, yes, of course. I'm a human being. Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain. [Laughs.]

Question: How do you stay so optimistic and faithful when there is so much hate in the world? —Joana Cotar, FRANKFURT

His Holiness: I always look at any event from a wider angle. There's always some problem, some killing, some murder or terrorist act or scandal everywhere, every day. But if you think the whole world is like that, you're wrong. Out of 6 billion humans, the troublemakers are just a handful.

Question: How has the role set out for you changed since you first came to be the Dalai Lama? —Andy Thomas, CARMARTHEN, WALES

His Holiness: I became the Dalai Lama not on a volunteer basis. Whether I was willing or not, I [had to study] Buddhist philosophy like an ordinary monk student in these big monastic institutions. Eventually I realized I have a responsibility. Sometimes it is difficult, but where there is some challenge, that is also truly an opportunity to serve more.

Question: Do you see any possibility of reconciliation with the Chinese government in your lifetime? —Joseph K.H. Cheng, MELBOURNE

His Holiness: Yes, there is a possibility. But I think past experience shows it is not easy. Many of these hard-liners, their outlook is very narrow and shortsighted. They are not looking at it in a holistic way. However, within the People's Republic of China, there is wider contact with the outside world. There are more and more voices of discontentment among the people, particularly among the intellectuals. Things will change — that's bound to happen.

Question: How can we teach our children not to be angry? —Robyn Rice, GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.

His Holiness: Children always look to their parents. Parents should be more calm. You can teach children that you face a lot of problems but you must react to those problems with a calm mind and reason. I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.

Question: Have you ever thought about being a normal person instead of being the Dalai Lama? —Grego Franco, MANILA

His Holiness: Yes, at a young age. Sometimes I felt, "Oh, this is a burden. I wish I was an unknown Tibetan. Then I'd have more freedom." But then later I realized that my position was something useful to others. Nowadays I feel happy that I'm Dalai Lama. At the same time, I never feel that I'm some special person. Same — we are all the same.

Question: Do you miss Tibet? —Pamela Delgado Córdoba, AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO

His Holiness: Yes. Tibetan culture is not only ancient but relevant to today's world. After seeing the problems of violence, we realize that Tibetan culture is one of compassion and nonviolence. There is also the climate. In India during monsoon season, it is too wet. Then, I very much miss [ Tibet].

Question: What do you say to people who use religion as a pretext to violence or killing? —Arnie Domingo, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES

His Holiness: There are innocent, faithful people that are manipulated by some other people whose interest is different. Their interest is not religion but power or sometimes money. They manipulate religious faith. In such cases, we must make a distinction: these [bad things] are not caused by religion.

Question: Have you ever tried on a pair of trousers? —Ju Huang, STAMFORD, CONN.

His Holiness: When it's very, very cold. And particularly in 1959, when I escaped, I wore trousers, like laypeople dressed. So I have experience.

Question: Do you believe your time here on earth has been a success? —Les Lucas, KELOWNA, B.C.

His Holiness: Hmmm. That's relative. It's so difficult to say. All human life is some part failure and some part achievement.

original link: https://www.dalailama.com/messages/transcripts-and-interviews/10-questions-time-magazine

Dalai Lama: Calm Mind is the Key to Happiness

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on the art of happiness in troubled times, His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Friday said that there are two kinds of suffering in this world - the physical pain and the mental pain.

The physical pain has gone down in the modern times due to economic progress and development of science and technology. However, the same can't be said about mental pain which leads to unhappiness.

These days mental level pain or stress is more due to competition and is more intense in cities like in Kolkata and Delhi whereas in rural areas physical difficulty is more while mental stress is less.

The core of the message the Nobel peace prize winner delivered to the packed Darbar Hall of the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi was about finding inner happiness and compassion to promote peace and happiness. Quoting the 8th century Buddhist scholar from Nalanda, Shantideva, the Dalai Lama said, "You cannot cover the whole world's thorns with leather. But it's enough to cover only your feet. Similarly, by controlling your own anger you can overcome your enemies."

Giving the example of a Tibetan monk who spent 19 years in a "Chinese gulag", he said, "When he could come over to India and I met him again, he said he was afraid in the prison. Was it for his life? No, he said he was afraid that he would lose compassion towards the Chinese people. That's the Tibetan way."

Prayers help believers to stay on the path of compassion. For non-believers, which he reckoned made up the majority of the world's population today, "the secular way to warm-heartedness" must come through introspection and lived experiences, he said.

The leader of the Tibetan people also said that prayers alone don't help when it comes to improving the lot of whole communities - for that, concerted action is needed.

"I was in Bihar recently to unveil a Buddha statue… The state's chief minister said Bihar was more prosperous with the Buddha's blessing. When it was my turn I said had it been because of the Buddha then the state would have prospered long ago," said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"The relationship between India and Tibet is one of guru and chela," he said while talking on India-Tibet relation.

"We learnt a lot from Indian scholars. And I always introduce myself to western audiences as a scholar of Indian thought… So we are chelas. But you must agree that we have been reliable chelas," he added with a chuckle.

The questions at the end of the session brought in fresh energy to the interaction.

Hindustan Times editor Sanjoy Narayan, who moderated the morning session, asked the Dalai Lama for a way to address the issue of the disenchantment that seems to be rife among today's youth.

Seventy-five year old His Holiness the Dalai Lama replied, "Our generation belongs to the 20th century, a century of violence during which more than 200 million people were killed. This century is new yet… But whether it will be as violent will depend on the young people of today. If they can shun the hypocrisy and artificial things of the previous generation and enrich their inner wealth, it's possible."

Suhel Seth, co-founder of Equus advertising agency, asked the Dalai Lama on his "succession planning".

To this the Tibetan leader said with a laugh, "It isn't a serious question to me. But the Communist government is looking at it very seriously… It's for the Tibetan people to decide… If I die in the next few days, they may want to continue with the institution of the Dalai Lama. But if it's 20, 30 years later, who knows?"

Original link and photos http://dalailama.com/news/post/623-calm-mind-is-key-to-happiness

Dalai Lama Says Calm Mind is Key to Happiness

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on the art of happiness in troubled times, His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Friday said that there are two kinds of suffering in this world - the physical pain and the mental pain.

The physical pain has gone down in the modern times due to economic progress and development of science and technology. However, the same can't be said about mental pain which leads to unhappiness.

These days mental level pain or stress is more due to competition and is more intense in cities like in Kolkata and Delhi whereas in rural areas physical difficulty is more while mental stress is less.

The core of the message the Nobel peace prize winner delivered to the packed Darbar Hall of the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi was about finding inner happiness and compassion to promote peace and happiness. Quoting the 8th century Buddhist scholar from Nalanda, Shantideva, the Dalai Lama said, "You cannot cover the whole world's thorns with leather. But it's enough to cover only your feet. Similarly, by controlling your own anger you can overcome your enemies."

Giving the example of a Tibetan monk who spent 19 years in a "Chinese gulag", he said, "When he could come over to India and I met him again, he said he was afraid in the prison. Was it for his life? No, he said he was afraid that he would lose compassion towards the Chinese people. That's the Tibetan way."

Prayers help believers to stay on the path of compassion. For non-believers, which he reckoned made up the majority of the world's population today, "the secular way to warm-heartedness" must come through introspection and lived experiences, he said.

The leader of the Tibetan people also said that prayers alone don't help when it comes to improving the lot of whole communities - for that, concerted action is needed.

"I was in Bihar recently to unveil a Buddha statue… The state's chief minister said Bihar was more prosperous with the Buddha's blessing. When it was my turn I said had it been because of the Buddha then the state would have prospered long ago," said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"The relationship between India and Tibet is one of guru and chela," he said while talking on India-Tibet relation.

"We learnt a lot from Indian scholars. And I always introduce myself to western audiences as a scholar of Indian thought… So we are chelas. But you must agree that we have been reliable chelas," he added with a chuckle.

The questions at the end of the session brought in fresh energy to the interaction.

Hindustan Times editor Sanjoy Narayan, who moderated the morning session, asked the Dalai Lama for a way to address the issue of the disenchantment that seems to be rife among today's youth.

Seventy-five year old His Holiness the Dalai Lama replied, "Our generation belongs to the 20th century, a century of violence during which more than 200 million people were killed. This century is new yet… But whether it will be as violent will depend on the young people of today. If they can shun the hypocrisy and artificial things of the previous generation and enrich their inner wealth, it's possible."

Suhel Seth, co-founder of Equus advertising agency, asked the Dalai Lama on his "succession planning".

To this the Tibetan leader said with a laugh, "It isn't a serious question to me. But the Communist government is looking at it very seriously… It's for the Tibetan people to decide… If I die in the next few days, they may want to continue with the institution of the Dalai Lama. But if it's 20, 30 years later, who knows?"

original article and photos http://dalailama.com/news/post/623-calm-mind-is-key-to-happiness