Dalai Lama: Our Future Is Very Much in Our Hands

Dalai Lama: Our Future Is Very Much in Our Hands

December 1, 2017

New York Times - This is an article from Turning Points, a magazine that explores what critical moments from this year might mean for the year ahead.

A crack in a floating ice shelf in Antarctica reached its breaking point and calved a huge iceberg, setting it afloat in the seas. It’s a fitting image for a world that feels under pressure and on the verge of, well, everything — ready to break off and set itself free. The global political temperature is on the rise, the future of truth is under debate and the specter of nuclear conflict hovers. We asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his thoughts on how to cope.

We are facing a time of great uncertainty and upheaval in many corners of our planet. When it comes to making the world a better place, concern for others is tantamount.

Our future is very much in our hands. Within each of us exists the potential to contribute positively to society. Although one individual among so many on this planet may seem too insignificant to have much of an effect on the course of humanity, it is our personal efforts that will determine the direction our society is heading.

Wherever I go, I consider myself just one of 7 billion human beings alive today. We share a fundamental wish: We all want to live a happy life, and that is our birthright. There is no formality when we’re born, and none when we die. In between, we should treat each other as brother and sister because we share this commonality — a desire for peace and contentment.

Sadly, we face all sorts of problems, many of them of our own making. Why? Because we are swayed by emotions like selfishness, anger and fear.

One of the most effective remedies for dealing with such destructive patterns of thought is to cultivate “loving-kindness” by thinking about the oneness of all the world’s 7 billion humans. If we consider the ways in which we are all the same, the barriers between us will diminish.

Compassion enhances our calm and self-confidence, allowing our marvelous human intelligence to function unhindered. Empathy is hard-wired in our genes — studies have shown that babies as young as 4 months experience it. Research has shown again and again that compassion leads to a successful and fulfilling life. Why, then, do we not focus more on cultivating it into adulthood? When we’re angry, our judgment is one-sided, as we aren’t able to take all aspects of the situation into account. With a calm mind, we can reach a fuller view of whatever circumstances we face.

Humanity is rich in the diversity that naturally arose from the wide expanse of our world, from the variety of languages and ways of writing to our different societal norms and customs. However, when we overemphasize race, nationality, faith, or income or education level, we forget our many similarities. We want a roof over our heads and food in our bellies, to feel safe and secure, and for our children to grow and be strong. As we seek to preserve our own culture and identity, we must also remember that we are one in being human, and work to maintain our warmheartedness toward all.

In the last century, the inclination to solve problems through the use of force was invariably destructive and perpetuated conflict. If we are to make this century a period of peace, we must resolve problems through dialogue and diplomacy. Since our lives are so intertwined, the interests of others are also our own. I believe that adopting divisive attitudes runs counter to those interests.

Our interdependence comes with advantages and pitfalls. Although we benefit from a global economy and an ability to communicate and know what is happening worldwide instantaneously, we also face problems that threaten us all. Climate change in particular is a challenge that calls us more than ever to make a common effort to defend the common good.

For those who feel helpless in the face of insurmountable suffering, we are still in the early years of the 21st century. There is time for us to create a better, happier world, but we can’t sit back and expect a miracle. We each have actions we must take, by living our lives meaningfully and in service to our fellow human beings — helping others whenever we can and making every effort to do them no harm.

Tackling destructive emotions and practicing loving-kindness isn’t something we should be doing with the next life, heaven or nirvana in mind, but how we should live in the here and now. I am convinced we can become happier individuals, happier communities and a happier humanity by cultivating a warm heart, allowing our better selves to prevail.

original link & photo: https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/dalai-lama-our-future-is-very-much-in-our-hands

Is It Possible to be Certain & Humble?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE CERTAIN AND HUMBLE?

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[f who is at the Father's side,[g] He has made him known. (John 1:18)

17 Sanctify them[b]in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17) 

One of the most frequent objections to Christianity is that they are arrogant for making claims for certainty: arrogant for claiming to be right, arrogant for claiming others are wrong, and even arrogant for claiming to know anything with certainty. It seems much more ‘humble’ to tell people that they can believe whatever they want to, and that all roads lead to the top of the mountain, as long as you’re sincere. It seems more humble to say: “I don’t know for sure, but as for me, I believe x,y, and z.”

Folks are naturally drawn to claims that are couched in uncertain terms because it does not demand a verdict or a change of heart-allegiance. From my experience, no matter how kind, gently, or loving one states certainty regarding truth, it will be ridiculed for being, well, arrogant…abusive..mean-spirited.

The US Constitution protects the equal rights of all religions, as it should. However, it is a short, but profoundly misguided step of logic in the mind, to go from equal rights of all religions to equal VALIDITY of all religions. That is a non-sequitor—it does not follow.

In addition, the claim that we can’t know for certain is an absolutely certain claim about uncertainty! Thus, it is a self-destructive belief/assertion.

But more to the point, we need to re-examine how we are defining ‘humility’.

First in the philosophical community, and then trickling down to popular culture, the definition of humility has undergone a profound change. We live in a culture which has been described as being in the death grip of ‘escape from reason.”,(see Francis Schaeffer, Escape from Reason) and this intellectual odyssey away from antithetical reasoning has led to a profound epistemological (the validity, nature, and limits of knowledge) skepticism.

I’m trying to shorten my blogs, so I’m not going to explain how the developments in philosophy (e.g. Hume, Kant, and Hegel) have profoundly impacted how we view the notion of certainty and knowledge acquisition. Maybe next time when I’ll discuss the basic reliability of the sense perceptions, which has been profoundly undermined in our culture.

The bottom line is that today, humility has become synonymous with ‘uncertainty’; to be uncertain is considered humble or open-minded—a virtue. But to be certain, especially about religious matters, is considered arrogant and close-minded—a vice. Whether we like it or not, that is the spirit of the age we live in.

This shift poses real problems for Christians who believe that we can have certain knowledge, not about everything, but certainty regarding God, salvation, who Jesus is and what He did, and how we can go to heaven.

God is the Lord of linguistics, and though human language is fluid, a concept as profound as humility (or arrogance) must be defined by the Living God, and not by a culture in a rebellion against Him (Psalm 2).

Our certainty has nothing to do with Christians themselves or our innate abilities. Rather, it is all grace dependent. And if it’s grace-dependent, then we have nothing to boast about in our certainty, but only humble gratitude before the Lord. Thus, we can be both certain and humble. Let me explain.

God has revealed true truth in His Word. If it were not for God’s purposeful, grace-full intention to reveal true (not exhaustive knowledge but true knowledge) knowledge about Himself via the Scriptures, we would know nothing regarding the main questions of life. General revelation through nature is true, but it lacks specificity regarding the issues mentioned above, and unaided human reason cannot attain accurate saving knowledge of God.

When it comes to crucial questions like: what is God like; how do we get to heaven, what happens after we die, who is Jesus and what He did, Christians have a solid foundation for being certain in our knowledge and claims: God’s gracious and clear revelation to us in the bible. I wonder how often bible believing Christians thank God for the immense treasure we have in the bible, and how lost we’d be without it?

In the Reformation debate between Erasmus and Martin Luther, Erasmus chided Luther for being overly bold in his assertions regarding how we are saved—Luther was insisting with utter certainty that we are saved by faith alone (which means by Christ alone). Luther, in characteristic fashion, replied: “God does not speak out of both sides of His mouth, and the Holy Spirit is not a Skeptic.” What he was saying is that, since God’s Word is clear, then we must be lovingly bold in our assertions, or it will imply that God has not spoken clearly to us, which would reflect poorly on His character and communication skills. One could say that it reflects a lack of humility to NOT speak with certainty because we are putting our fallible, finite minds in judgment above God’s gracious revelation. Or perhaps we fear what people will think of us if we speak the truth boldly. But Paul said that he was ‘not ashamed of the gospel…”, and neither should we. (Romans 1:16)

Jesus was the most humble Man who ever lived and yet He looked at the Sadducees and said: “You are wrong.” (re: their denial of the afterlife).

In John 1:18 Jesus exegeted the Father. Meaning that He explained what God is like because He IS God! Jesus, the Incarnate Word is the Ultimate revelation of what God is like. In John 17:17 notice that it does NOT say that ‘Your Word is true’ (adjective…though it is true), but that IS truth (alatheia, in Greek, noun) This implies that God’s Word does not simply conform to some other external standard of ‘truth’ but that it is Truth itself. It embodies truth and is the standard of truth against which everything else must be compared and tested. In fact, in Jesus, Truth is a Person (John 14:6). Certitude and humility are friends, not foes, due to God’s gracious revelation of Himself in the Incarnate Word and Inscripturated Word.

Christians can be both certain and humble because our knowledge is not based on ourselves, but in the self-revelation of the Living God. It is not arrogant to speak with certainty regarding matters God has spoken clearly on. It is living in humble reliance upon Him, and knowing that we don’t live on bread alone…

God didn’t go to such great lengths to reveal Himself in order to leave us in uncertainty! Unlike paganism/occult in which WE search for hidden knowledge/mysteries, in biblical Christianity it is God Himself who reveals and explains the mysteries to us—things we could not have known otherwise.

When I write a blog and make strong assertions, I do so with a humble reliance upon the God who, in His kindness and love, has revealed Himself through the Inscripturated Word as well as the Incarnate Word. Both are utterly certain! Not all things are equally clear in the bible but many things are crystal clear—sometimes it takes hard work to arrive at certainty. And when the Word is clear, then we are ill-advised to preface our comments with: “In my humble opinion…” There is certainly a place for those prefatory comments, but my thought is: why blog on something which you’re not certain about? Folks don’t care about my opinions, they want to know what GOD says!

So, let us not shrink back from speaking with confident, bold, loving certainty regarding matters the bible itself is clear about. Speak the truth in love, and not fall prey to false, worldly definitions of humility. We can be both humble and certain! Praise God! Humble certainty is what God wants us to have; it’s part of our inheritance as His children. And the world desperately needs us to be valiant for truth--declaring His glory, for His glory!

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

The Dalai Lama's Doctor Gives Medical Advice

By Jen Christensen, CNN
originally published December 5, 2012

Atlanta (CNN) -- A young girl bravely stood to ask the Dalai Lama's doctor a question, and he gave her an unusual answer.

Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, a world-renowned expert in Tibetan medicine, visited Emory University in Atlanta on Monday as part of his effort to reach more American medical practitioners. He wants to develop collaborative projects between the Tibetan medicine system, which is more than 2,500 years old, and Western medicine.

The little girl told Tamdin she suffered from asthma. She wanted to know if there was anything in Tibetan medicine that could help her get better.

Tamdin, who spoke through a translator for the hour long lecture, immediately switched to English. In a gentle, almost too-soft tone, he explained what might help.

Inhalers doctors prescribe for asthmatics works well, he said, and told her to continue using one if she does already. The inhaler, though, treats the symptoms only. Tibetan medical practice, he explained, ultimately aims to get to the root cause of the problem.

"While others might consider the holistic practice of Tibetan medicine 'alternative medicine' or a kind of side practice, I would like for others outside of our system to consider the Tibetan healing system full-fledged healing," Tamdin said. "Tibetan medical knowledge has tremendous potential to add to modern medicine."

Dr. Tsewang Tamdin
Tibetan practice teaches that people get sick when a person's physical, psychological and spiritual well-being are out of balance.

To restore balance, Tamdin recommended diet and exercise changes for the girl. He encouraged her to get proper rest and to get exercise that encouraged deep breathing, such as skipping or cycling.

He also suggested eating three or four white raisins a day. There is a property in the fruit that helps breathing, he said. But perhaps the biggest sacrifice for a child was his advice to avoid cold foods -- particularly, he said, ice cream.

Another patient who came to him with asthma symptoms would get a completely different diagnosis, Tamdin said. Each patient's disease is treated differently from the next. That's in large part because traditional Tibetan medicine is grounded in Buddhist philosophy. In his training to become a physician, Tamdin also studied Buddhist tradition and astrology.

American and Tibetan doctors have some practices in common. If Tamdin were to have a longer consultation with the girl, he said he would perform familiar diagnostic tests. He would examine her urine sample and take her pulse, but he also would ask questions that would be the more familiar terrain of a psychologist. He tries to find out if a person is angry or anxious or if someone is becoming too self-centered.

The Dalai Lama
"Tibetans believe in our interconnectedness," said Geshe Lobsang Negi, a former monk who is now director of the Emory-Tibet partnership. "When we lose that perspective -- that we are a kind of little speck that is infinitely connected with the rest of the world -- when we see ourselves as the solid, fixed, all-important center of the universe, we call that ignorance, and that means we are vulnerable to illness."

This whole person approach to Tibetan medicine is being analyzed by a number of research studies in the United States. An NIH-funded study is examining the impact that compassion meditation can have on alleviating depression.

Compassion meditation is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training that asks a person to examine why they feel a certain way about someone and then to develop feelings of love and empathy for a number of people that will grow with more practice to include even people they normally dislike.

Studies have shown the medical effectiveness of meditation overall. A 2003 study of mindfulness-based meditation showed enhanced antibody production after someone receives a flu vaccine. Another study from that same year found cancer patients who were trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction showed a boost in their immune system.

And a study this year from Carnegie Mellon University showed mindfulness-based meditation has a far-reaching influence on both psychological and physical health. Mindfulness means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way.

Negi's 2008 study of compassion meditation showed a reduction in stress-induced immune and behavioral responses. Several other studies under way are looking at the impact of Tibetan treatments on certain viral illnesses and on hepatitis.

Tamdin believes ignorance is at the root cause of all illness.

"If you think about this, it makes sense," Negi said. "For instance, if you believe you are the center of the universe and someone has something you want, you may become jealous and believe you deserve what that person has."

"You may become so jealous," he added, "you don't sleep at night and you will be stressed. Medical tests have shown there is a biochemical change in your body created by a release of a stress hormone. In Tibetan medicine, it is important to recognize the role the mind can play on our own physical well-being."

Tamdin said that modern medicine treats symptoms, but said a patient will never get better if they fail to attend to psychological issues.

"If one does not gain this understanding of selflessness, they won't be able to overcome their ignorance," he said. "One way to look at it is to watch the bird and its shadow. It may fly and fly high into the sky, but it continues to leave a shadow on the surface of Earth. As long as you have ignorance within you -- even though you are enjoying good health -- there is always a shadow of sickness falling upon you. From this ignorance arises three mental poisons: attachment, hatred and delusion." All those will affect energy, he said.

In addition to actual medicine and dietary changes, a Tibetan doctor may also prescribe the patient practice more kindness and compassion toward others -- or that they practice more compassion meditation.

Western medicine is reluctant to accept the Tibetan medical idea that some unexplained illnesses may ultimately be caused by someone's karma or even by evil spirits. The language Tibetan doctors use to suggest that good health is based on the balance of bile, phlegm and wind may seem a little too foreign to modern medicine practitioners.

But the holistic approach to a patient's health -- treatments that involve diet, behavior, prescription of medicine and contemplative practices -- may continue to appeal to physicians after they see demonstrated proof that these kind of therapies work.

"The Tibetan tradition has evolved over 2,500 years," Negi said. "It has a rich tradition that has helped the health of people for many many years.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the first to say that these things we believe in should be subjected to scientific tools so we could better understand the human condition overall and help us to better deal with the situation of our own well-being."

Our Dark World Is Getting Darker With A Satanic, Corrupt Government

Hello everyone! I pray you had a fun and safe Thanksgiving. All the great food that still makes great second day food. I'm southern so everyone's traditions are different. Mine is the most fattening people say with a horrified look. Lol. It goes both ways. Underweight is unattractive and effects your liver functions which is very dangerous when you lose too much. Very serious consequences. It happened to me due unidentified medical issue. They can tell when it's a eating disorder. Mine was related to a sickness. But the looks I received made me hide in my house. It was bad health that's for sure. But splurging once a week doesn't hurt.

Ok, this blog is blunt, very disturbing and what many feel as I feel is the truth. If you take the time to read what I've witnessed in health care when my mom was in ICU and daddy dying with hospice coming out to help you'll see. Some of you already know. My own health lately is one thing after another. I have the proof. The doctors are stumped so I was just going to be a human experimentation.

Look at Hollywood crumbling and more pedophiles are found out. It's the high up movie producers and our favorite actors that are guess what....buddy buddy with the satanic pedophiles in our own government. It's been on some mainstream news. For decades this has been going on my friends. Molesting kids and threatening to kill their family if they repeat a word. Or even threaten the victim. Kids believe what they hear. But it gets much worse.

This world is getting darker and darker as if something has awakened. I've said this before. Some feel it's the end times. The bible stipulates "no one knows the day nor time. Not even Jesus knows only the Father." I personally don't care. I know where my soul is going. I fear his wrath may possibly be forced with all the awful crimes. These are just godawful. I hate to even be out in this world. I feel safer at home. So much is still going on. One major headliner after another like shootings, two hurricanes, riots etc..

People kidnap the kids and when they are no longer good to them they kill them, dismember them and sell body parts on the shadow web. For food purposes. It's a place for cannibals. Adults are killed too for this purpose. I mean come on people.....This is out of a horror movie but real. The deep web has anything you can think of for criminals. It is true. As I stipulated before. Someone posted on YouTube a screen shot of this site! It was disgusting. Just down right disgusting.

Let's see we got your Satanic Ritual Abuse and spirit cooking. Oh nots let forget After School With Satan Clubs. Which one should I start with? This time I can't mince these disturbing activities right under our nose. They have women breeders to have babies solely to be handed over for sacrifice. Never being questioned because no one knew they were ever born. 

Bathing in baby's blood is believed for youth, sex, trafficking and murder. Or they will use the blood in spirit cooking. It goes on ALL THE TIME. They make their victims molest other kids. Crystal meth is what they use during a rape as they call it. Right in plain sight. Under our noses. It's all satanic. Now our children have a choice After School With Satan or regular after school care. It's slowly attempting to condition us to accept this as normal after a while.

The news only puts out what they want us to know. Been that way for years. The more I did my own research, the more I realized how corrupt our own government is! Then all the human trafficking....I was physically ill after reading all this. Devils are what they are. So evil, just so satanic. It's been proven it stems from satanic roots. Just lovely. Goes all the way back to the Rothchilds so they say. These pedophile rings have been going on for decades. Remember the Penn State University pedophile ring? These people are all buddy, buddy with the current suspect in prison.

There is a video on YouTube where someone videotaped a party going on at the famous Comet Ping Pong and Pizza saying it outright. Talking about enjoying Satan no matter where they are. Pizzagate has been all over the place and even some mainstream news are just now starting to talk about it. But no one ever said they had valid proof yet so it's up to each person to believe what they choose after viewing all the damaging circumstantial evidence. Twitter and YouTube is censoring anything about this. No free speech? I must say there has been no arrests yet regarding this possible pedo ring. I know another one somewhere was busted so at least those dear children are safe now.

This world needs God so badly but many keep trying to phase him out it seems. It's very sad. He died on that cross at Calvary so that all our sins are forgiven! Amen? We still need to repent when we are wrong. People seem to forget about the holidays full meaning. We need to unite. As one. Were all equal.

I pray we all have his favor in these bad times.

Written By Jennifer L Auld

Dalai Lama Talks About Universal Responsibility & Compassion at Smile Foundation

Talk about Universal Responsibility and Compassion at Smile Foundation

New Delhi, India - After days of hazy mornings, today was clearer and brighter as His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove to the NCUI Auditorium in the Siri Fort area of South Delhi. He was met on arrival by his host, founder and Chairman of the Smile Foundation, Santanu Mishra. The Smile Foundation is an NGO whose aim is to empower underprivileged children, youth and women through relevant education, innovative healthcare and market-focussed livelihood programmes. It is directly benefiting 400,000 underprivileged children and families every year through 200 projects affecting 950 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India.

Once in the lobby, His Holiness was welcomed by a small group of shyly smiling eight and nine year old children. From there he was escorted onto the stage where well-known news anchor Rini Khanna introduced him to an audience of 620. She described him as a charismatic person who embodies a spirit of kindness and compassion that has a transformative effect on those he meets. She noted that he refers to himself as a simple Buddhist monk, who is most often seen smiling and laughing, and who tells us that the purpose of life is to be happy.

In a short introduction to Smile Foundation, Santanu Mishra thanked His Holiness and everyone in the audience for their presence. He expressed the hope that His Holiness’s words would be a life-long inspiration to the children listening to him. He explained that the Smile Foundation’s goal is the uplift and empowerment of underprivileged children, youth and women.

His Holiness greeted the members of the audience, young and old, as brothers and sisters, telling them how happy and honoured he was to have been invited to speak by an organization that is giving real help in the field of education, especially to the underprivileged.

“I want to share a couple of stories with you,” he told them. “Not long ago a family from Bombay came to see me seeking my blessings. I told them, I have nothing by way of blessings to give you, but it seems that you are quite well-off, so the real source of blessings is already with you. If you were to use some of your wealth to help children from the Bombay slums, by providing them with opportunities and facilities for education, that would attract real blessings to you.

“On another occasion, some students attending a prestigious institution asked what they could do to help. Again I suggested they seek out the poorer children where they live and contribute directly to their education. I encouraged them to try to help those especially who had no other help.

“Since Independence, education has expanded and improved in this country, and yet there remains a huge gap between rich and poor. And the poor get left behind. It is essential that they are able to build self-confidence.

“Once in South Africa I visited a family in Soweto. I congratulated them on South Africa’s new-found democracy and urged them to look forward to the day when black and white Africans would be equal. One of them shook his head and told me it wouldn’t happen because black brains are inferior to white ones. I was shocked and remonstrated with him that no brain expert would agree that there was any such difference between the brains of black and white people or their potential. Eventually, after much persuasion, he conceded with a sigh.

“In Tibet too, there have been Chinese hard-liners who assert that Tibetans are similarly inferior to Chinese. The reality is, however, that given the opportunity, Tibetans are quite as capable of excelling in their studies as their Chinese counterparts.”

His Holiness reiterated his view that to address the gap between rich and poor, it’s important for those with wealth to provide education facilities. But it is also important that the poor work hard and exert themselves to bolster their self-confidence. He stressed that here in India this particularly applies to those who belong to the so-called ‘lower castes’. He reminded his listeners that the 7 billion human beings alive today are physically, mentally and emotionally the same—they are equal in being human.

“The Smile Foundation is already making effective progress in providing education facilities for the underprivileged. I really appreciate your work. So I have decided to contribute to supporting it over the next five years. When I see reports of children neglected and starving in different parts of the world I feel like crying because there seems so little I can do to help. Supporting your foundation as you help children is something I can do.

“Also, I feel it’s important to do something here in India because India is important to me. Not only has it been my physical home for the last nearly 59 years, but my mind is filled with Nalanda thought. I am proud to be a student of the Nalanda Tradition that is distinguished by its reliance on reason and logic. This tradition was introduced to Tibet in the 8th century by the erudite Nalanda scholar, Shantarakshita and we have kept it alive through extensive and rigorous study.

“From this tradition I have learned a correct view of reality and how to train my mind by tackling my disturbing emotions. And in our monasteries we have trained scholars who I have urged to learn English and Hindi to be able to teach and participate in education programs.”

His Holiness remarked that generally modern education is focussed on material goals without looking within. However, he is of the opinion that India is the one place where it may be possible to augment this approach to education by combining it with ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions to achieve peace of mind.

“I have a vision,” he said, “but I only have one pair of hands with which to implement it. I consider organizations like yours, already working to enhance education, as like further pairs of hands to fulfil the goal. Time moves on. The past is past and we can’t change it. We can only learn from it. Nevertheless, we can change the future and I believe that if steps are taken now it will be possible eventually to make this a more compassionate, peaceful, happier century than the one that went before.”

In answering students’ questions His Holiness touched on the role of anger and attachment in our lives and how extreme emotions can become harmful. Asked if we can envisage a time when we are all equal, he answered that we will never be 100% the same because we have different DNA and different dispositions. But common sense tells us that we share common experience. We have all been born from a mother and basked in her care and affection, which plants a common seed of love and affection within us.

Invited to name his role model or someone from whom he takes inspiration His Holiness mentioned the Buddha Shakyamuni and the Indian master Nagarjuna who stressed the need to overcome the gap between appearance and reality, which becomes the ground for addressing our disturbing emotions.

“When you have peace of mind, it’s easier to cope with problems,” was His Holiness’s concluding advice. “Real change will come about not as a result of prayer, but of using intelligence and taking action.”

After the formal words of thanks, His Holiness posed for photographs with teachers and staff of the Smile Foundation and then with groups of children from seven Delhi schools in the audience.

original link with photos https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/talk-about-universal-responsibility-and-compassion-at-smile-foundation

Dalai Lama Meets with Youth Leaders from Conflict Zones

Youth Leaders from Conflict Zones in Dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
November 6, 2017

Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - In a repeat of last year’s fruitful meeting, the United States Institute of Peace have brought 25 Youth Leaders, mostly from conflict zones, to Dharamsala to interact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They met today for the first of two sessions at His Holiness’s Office.

In his preliminary remarks His Holiness suggested that all human beings have a responsibility to contribute to the creation of a more peaceful and compassionate world. “When conflict arises due to our over-emphasis on secondary differences of race, nationality, faith or political boundaries between states, who suffers?” he asked, “We do. We need to look deeper and understand how in being human we are the same.”

President of USIP, Nancy Lindborg, invited the Youth Leaders, a balanced group of young women and men, from Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the USA to introduce themselves. She then invited His Holiness to open the conversation.

“Usually I get eight or nine hours sound sleep at night, but lately when I wake up I’ve been wondering how many people were killed while I slept; how many children died of starvation? The current situation is very sad, but just feeling despondent is of no help. If we ask ourselves who creates many of the problems we face, the answer is that we human beings do. Therefore, it’s logical that if we make the effort, we can take steps to solve them and avert the suffering involved.

“Scientists have found evidence that basic human nature is compassionate. It’s the common experience of all 7 billion human beings be cared for by their mother with love and affection. And it’s common sense that if we acknowledge our sameness as human beings, we more easily make friends. These are grounds for being optimistic.

“What will really change the world is coming to better understand our emotions and how to manage them on the basis of secular ethics. I believe we can change our emotions by using our intelligence to raise our awareness. Since it’s evident that the use of force provokes further violence, we have to adopt a more human approach—and we can start by recognising each other simply as brothers and sisters. This is how we could make this a more peaceful century.

“We need to adopt a more holistic attitude, looking at problems from a variety of angles. We need to make a demilitarized world one of our goals and look forward to a Global Union in which political boundaries, many of them imposed arbitrarily during colonial times, are less significant. Most important is the need to remain optimistic.”

With Nancy Lindborg’s guidance the Youth Leaders summarized the work they are each doing and put questions to His Holiness in relation to it. In his answers he encouraged the young people to be determined, just as those who engage in violence often are. He emphasized the special strength women can bring to promoting inner values, human values, in the world today. He added that responsibility for change rests with members of the younger generation like them. They must cultivate a vision of a better future and work hard to achieve it. Time and again His Holiness stressed the role of a more holistic education.

Following some discussion of the difficulty of changing entrenched attitudes, for example in relation to the role of women in education and leadership, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche contributed some Gandhian advice. He said it was important to distinguish between an action and its agent. We can oppose an action or prejudice without adopting a negative attitude towards its perpetrator. His Holiness added that a real test of the extent and strength of your compassion is whether you can apply it to those you consider opponents or enemies. He recommended a simple solution to disagreements—meet and talk.

His Holiness suggested that sometimes being practical and realistic is the most sensible course of action. He mentioned that most Tibetans were nomads and in the cold climate of Tibet wore clothes made of sheepskin. When they came to India, they could not cling to their customary ways, they simply had to adapt and dress accordingly.

With regard to the question of religious faith and identity and the trouble they can cause, His Holiness pointed out that in terms of personal conduct and practice it is fine to think of one truth and one faith. However, in relation to the community at large in the wider world, it is necessary to recognise a multitude of faiths and various aspects of the truth.

At several points in the conversation His Holiness expressed his admiration for the Youth Leaders’ work and the spirit they bring to it. The dialogue will continue tomorrow morning.

Original link & photos https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/youth-leaders-from-conflict-zones-in-dialogue-with-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama

Texas Church Shooter Kills Half the Congregation

Texas Church Shooter Kills Half The Congregation ... What A Dark World.

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend so far and enjoying your Sunday. It's a nice time of year with the weather cooling and all that great stuff. Gets dark early as we just became use to it becoming dark later. Lol. I hope people behaved on Halloween and stayed away from cemeteries and spirit boards. It only leads to heartache and torment. Trust me.

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV)

'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.'

What can I say???? Another violent shooting. Half the congregation is dead. Gone. No longer alive. Many injured. And for what? A church with a decent size congregation minding their own business worshiping Jesus Christ and hearing a positive word from the preacher. Not bothering anyone as a matter of fact they have helped their community in times of crisis. This is disgusting. This was aimed at Christians. If not why pick a church? Not all Christians give God a bad name. Some of us actually treat others as were taught to. But please stop the violence! We have a right of religion just like anyone else.

Look at the racial tensions due to that attack/riot in Charlottesville. This is to divert attention off of peace and love. The devil is just loving and still is loving every bit of the chaos and sadness going on in this crazy sick world. His demons are dancing in hell! There will be a judgement no matter what God you believe in. What comes around goes around. It will come back to bite you at some point. Believe me.

I'd think (as I've mentioned many times) doing bad things comes back on you at sometime or another. Karma pretty much in so many words. Remember again...No race is better than another. We are equal in my God's eyes. This is awful what is taking place in this demonic world we're living in. Let's send those families all our prayers. And for the families dealing with the Las Vegas shooting. Having to bury a loved one due to something so stupid would have to be so hard to swallow. Please pray for that church in Texas. Half of their congregation is dead. Including babies and children. I come against anymore evil in the name of Jesus! Demons will flee when hearing the name Jesus. They're day is almost here. The eternal fire is where they are going.

The devil and his demons are dancing it up in hell. But their time is near. They know this. Read the book of revelations. It's why the world keeps getting darker and darker. California (I think) is trying to pass a law that a 10 year old (something to that effect) is capable of understanding feelings including sexual. Read for yourself online. A prophet said 5 years ago the law would be protecting pedophiles so they can continue their filthy raping of our precious children.

Some babies from what I've read were victims of death. This has got to stop. We are going to end up forcing God's hand on this country. They want to take our guns (that helped me when someone attempted to car jack me). If they take away our safety to fight back we're screwed. Criminals will ALWAYS BE TOTING guns. So now it's easier for them, no fear of being caught or shot at. It's just my opinion. Many disagree and that's ok. But felons aren't allowed to have guns yet they do. Military type too! Like Bonnie And Clyde if you know that story.

You'd have to be blind not to see how dark this world is. The Bible warns us of this. Children are having babies at 11 years old. Our country has some states like Florida that is way over populated and many who really need help can't get it. Tax payers pay for them to extend their family while getting free money and not working. Florida is probably almost bankrupt. It's impossible to help when so many babies are being born. They didn't ask to be here. It's just wrong. I know people with cancer who get hardly nothing.

Evil is attempting to engulf us via TV and movies hoping we get swayed and conditioned and feel "that is how it is" as they said in the old days. People turned a blind eye. Everything on news local and national is sooooo depressing and angers me at the same time. And we only see what they want us to see. So much goes on right under our noses and nothing has ever been done to remedy this terrible issue. We deserve to know what's going on in the world. We have the right! How dare they pull that crap...but it's been going on for many decades. How sad is that?

We are in a spiritual battle my friends. This was yet again put heavily on my heart to get this out. But with more fire behind it. The Word of God never failed me. That's who I personally serve and always will while always maintaining respect for all other faiths as well. Satan would love us to descend into anarchy. He loves that many think he doesn't exist. Like that saying goes 'The biggest con would be Satan to convince the world he doesn't exist.'

Satan is God of the earth. We shouldn't be surprised at all the bad and terrible things happening in this world. Free will is what we have. So many need to be behind bars and the ones behind bars who were poor are stuck due to lack of money on little offenses. Non dangerous. If they want to keep saying the prisons are full but won't build new ones but yet a pedophile and satanic murderer run free for lack of room. But someone who stole a few items is in for 5 years. It's not fair. We need the Glory Of God to come down on this country and save us and the children. This world is unfit to even live in. It really is.

Let's all be kind to one another. We must stick together as a country in order to survive. Other countries laugh at us and are disgusted with the immoral ways Americans live and allow to happen. A country divided against itself can not stand. Remember that. We need to support our law enforcement and other authorities who are honest working people who do care.

But fear is not of God. He doesn't give us the spirit of fear. Only demons do that. Make Jesus Christ your Lord and savior. He loves you so very much. I'm speaking to the lost, the suicidal, the depression people suffer. Nothing can make the Lord hate you. Don't go by horrible Christian examples. Some are going to hell and it's sad. Church doesn't get you to heaven. You're personal relationship with God does. He will always be there. Amen, glory to the most high. The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. First and last is he.


Written By Jennifer L Auld