His Holiness the Dalai Lama greets monks and lay practitioners at the Tsuglagkhang Complex (video still). From dalailama.com
His Holiness the Dalai Lama began four days of Buddhist teachings in Dharamsala on Monday at the request of devotees from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The teachings are being held in the Tsuglagkhang Complex, the Dalai Lama’s official residence, and will run until 10 September. More than 6,000 people from 70 countries are attending, including more than 800 people from Southeast Asia.
In his opening words, the Dalai Lama encouraged those assembled to study earnestly. “I urge all the people gathered here to consider this as a classroom teaching, where you come to learn and not just a place to get blessings,” he said, emphasizing the importance of studying with self-awareness and a critical mind: “Study my teachings and try to understand the meanings, if you find it viable and justified, accept it otherwise leave it.” (Phayul.com)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaching in Dharamsala (video still). From dalailama.com
The teachings given by His Holiness over these sessions are drawn from the Bodhicharyavatara (The way of the bodhisattva), by the 8th century Buddhist monk and scholar Shantideva; The Middling Stages of Meditation, by the Buddhist monk and scholar Kamalashila (c. 740–95); Chapter One of The Precious Garland of the Middle Way, by the philosopher Nagarjuna (c. 150–250), who is regarded as the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism; and The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, by the Buddhist scholar Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo (1297–1371).
Touching upon the first of the three goals to which he has dedicated his life, the Dalai Lama observed that the essence of the teachings of all religions is compassion. “Different religions may have different sets of belief, but ultimately speak of compassion,” he said. “We all, on human level, have seeds of compassion sowed inside us from the love and nurture of our mother. Even animals respond fondly towards you if you treat them well.” (Phayul.com)
His Holiness has defined the three main commitments of his life as: first, as a human being, to promote positive human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, and self-discipline. Second, as a religious practitioner, to promote religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. Third, as the Dalai Lama, to work for the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture as one of peace and non-violence.
“It is our collective duty to promote secular ethics. I urge all the people gathered here to practice the same upon their return to their respective countries,” the Dalai Lama said, noting the urgent need to promote religious harmony in a world in which so many people suffer in the name of religion. (Phayul.com)
Monastics and lay practitioners assembled before the Dalai Lama (video still). From dalailama.com
The Tsuglagkhang Complex, located in McLeod Ganj in the hills above Dharamsala, in the northwest Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, houses the Photang (the Dalai Lama’s residence), the Tsuglagkhang temple, Namgyal Monastery, and the Tibet Museum. McLeod Ganj is also home to the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Live video streams of the teaching sessions with the Dalai Lama are available on the website of The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tibetan (linked below), with translations into Chinese, English, Hindi, Russian, and Vietnamese.