His Holiness the Dalai Lama Begins Three-Day Introductory Teaching for Tibetan Youth

His Holiness the Dalai Lama waving to the students on his arrival at TCV Upper Dharamshala.

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DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today began a three-day introductory teaching on Buddhism for Tibetan youths ideally aimed at Tibetan school and college students. The teachings are being held at UPPER TCV School Dharamshala and approximately over 4500 students from Upper and Lower TCV Schools, Gopalpur, Suja and Chauntra TCVs, Sherab Gatsel Lobling, students from various universities are in attendance.

The first two days of the teaching would be on the Buddhist presentation of psychology and mind based on the book ‘A compendium of Ways of Knowing: A Clear Mirror of What Should be Accepted and Rejected’ with commentary of late Geshe Ngawang Dhargey. His Holiness would confer an Avalokiteshvara Empowerment on the third and final day of the teaching.

Before commencing the teachings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama highlighted the evolution of Buddhism in Tibet from the Nalanda tradition of ancient India. He said the rich traditions of Tibetan Buddhist culture is due to the efforts of ancient Indian sages and Tibetan lamas who have meticulously studied the dharma.

At the same time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged the gathering of the evils of blind faith and encouraged Tibetans to study the Buddhist texts, analyse it to understand the real essence of Tibetan Buddhism. He said it is high time for Tibetans to cease reciting mantras without understanding the essence.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama then spoke about his three main commitments in life since devolving all his political authority to an elected Tibetan leadership.

Firstly, on the level of a human being, His Holiness said his first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. “All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognise the importance of these human values in making their life happier,” His Holiness said, referring to these human values as secular ethics.

Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, His Holiness said his second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. “Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognise the value of each other’s respective traditions,” His holiness said.

Thirdly, His Holiness said that being a Tibetan, his final commitment is to work towards the preservation of Tibet’s fragile environment and Tibet’s Buddhist culture, a culture of peace and non-violence, which are both under threat inside Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama then reminded the reasons why the Tibetan people had to flee into exile leaving their homeland behind. He then explained the current critical situation prevailing inside Tibet and the lack of basic human rights including religious freedom in Tibet, and urged the students to study hard to fulfill their responsibilities.

Tomorrow’s teaching would cover topics such as Cognition, Indecisive Wavering as in factors that induce indecisiveness; Inferential Understanding and other Buddhist theories such as Maadhyamika-Svatantrikas, Madhyamika-Prasangikas and the Vaibhashikas etc.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing students before the teaching.

Crowds of laypeople at the teaching on 27 May 2015.