Dalai Lama to Build Bridge Between Western Science, Eastern Faith

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, is on a mission to build a bridge between western science and eastern faith. The Tibetan Buddhist leader is scheduled to spend the rest of 2013 in Mexico, the United States, Japan, and India, teaching Buddhism and speaking about compassion and happiness. Many heads of State refuse to schedule a meeting with the holy Tibetan leader, fearing that such a meeting would anger the Chinese government. China refuses to acknowledge Tibet as an independent Buddhist nation and feels that any world leader who deigns to speak with the Dalai Lama is in favor of a non-unified China.

The current Dalai Lama, who is the fourteenth Lama, was forced to secede control of his territory to China in 1950 before he went into exile. Sovereignty of the tiny mountain nation of Tibet has been a hard point of controversy since that time. Although the Dalai Lama, a leader chosen by the Tibetan Buddhists, practices no real political control in Tibet, the Chinese government believes that his existence is a threat to their sovereignty. In an effort to spread spiritual wisdom, the high-profile Buddhist has turned his attention to enlightening the rest of the world and remaining peaceful. His public appearances and speeches are always given freely, as he will not accept payment except to cover the costs of venue rental.

This week in Mexico, the Dalai Lama was welcomed by members of the Buddhist faith and he will be supported by members of the Catholic Church as well. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, however, did not greet the Tibetan leader upon arrival in Mexico, nor does he have any plans to meet with him. This is the first time in several Mexican administrations that a President or government representative has not come forward to greet the Dalai Lama and the snub is believed to be Peña Nieto’s way of appeasing China. Being politically ignored, however, is nothing new for the 78-year old Buddhist, who was snubbed by US President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper during visits in 2009.

Since his exile in 1959, the Dalai Lama, considered by his followers to be the reincarnation of the very first Tibetan leader, has lived in India. From his headquarters in his adoptive country, the monk has petitioned heartily for the rights of his fellow Tibetans and even set up immigration avenues for his countrymen in India. During his 2013 world tour, the leader who has inspired millions of people worldwide hopes to create a stronger bridge between his own eastern philosophies and western science. Never one to shame modern science, the Dalai Lama instead follows a spiritual path that deems all pursuits of knowledge worthwhile.

His Holiness does, however, feel that to be successful, science must be guided by ethics. He says in his book The Universe in a Single Atom, “unless the direction of science is guided by a consciously ethical motivation, especially compassion, its effects may fail to bring benefit. They may indeed cause great harm.”

by Mandy Gardner on October 11, 2013
http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/dalai-lama-to-build-bridge-between-western-science-eastern-faith/

The Dalai Lama on Happiness

He is one of the most peaceful and serene people in the world today with his own kind of Dalai Lama happiness, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people.

Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama. In 1950, at 16, His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power as Head of State and Government when Tibet was threatened by the might of China. In 1959 he was forced into exile in India after the Chinese military occupation of Tibet and has presided over the Tibetan Government-in-Exile since then. In 1989 His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because he has consistently has opposed the use of violence in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people and has come forward with constructive and forward-looking proposals for the solution of international conflicts, human rights issues, and global environmental problems.

Dalai Lama Quotes on Happiness and Peace

The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren't born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities- warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes more meaningful and more peaceful-- happier.
When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.

Although I personally believe that our human nature is fundamentally gentle and compassionate, I feel it is not enough that this is our underlying nature; we must also develop an appreciation and awareness of that fact.

Dalai Lama Quotes on Finding Happiness

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Consider the following. We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others' actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others' activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.

Happiness is determined more by the state of one's mind than by one's external conditions, circumstances or events--at least once one's basic survival needs are met.

Happiness can be achieved through the systematic training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our attitudes and outlook.

As long as there is a lack of the inner discipline that brings calmness of mind, no matter what external facilities or conditions you have, they will never give you the feeling of joy and happiness that you are seeking. On the other hand, if you possess this inner quality, a calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, then even if you lack various external facilities that you would normally consider necessary for happiness, it is still possible to live a happy and joyful life.

Dalai Lama Quotes on Compassion and Happiness

If you wish to overcome that feeling of isolation and loneliness, I think your underlying attitude makes a tremendous difference. And approaching others with the thought of compassion in your mind is the best way to do this.

My basic belief is that you first need to understand the usefulness of compassion. That's the key factor. Once you realize the usefulness of compassion, you immediately develop an attraction towards it, a willingness to cultivate it.

Within all beings there is a seed of perfection. However, compassion is required to activate that seed which is in our hearts and minds.

Despite the fact that the process of relating to others might involve hardship, quarrels, and cursing, we have to maintain an attitude of friendship and warmth in order to lead a way of life in which there is enough interaction with people to enjoy a happy life.

Dalai Lama Quotes on Suffering and Happiness

The reason why reflection of suffering is so important is because there is a possibility of a way out. There is a possibility of freedom from suffering. According to Buddhist thought, the root causes of suffering are ignorance, craving and hatred. By generating insight into the true nature of reality and eliminating afflictive states of mind such as craving and hatred, one can achieve a completely purified state of mind, free from suffering.

We often add to our pain and suffering by being overly sensitive, over-reacting to minor things and sometimes taking things too personally.

I think to a large extent whether you suffer depends on how you respond to a given situation.

There may be a variety of ways that one might deal with the feeling that one's suffering is unfair. I've already spoken of the importance of accepting suffering as a natural fact of human existence.  In general, if we carefully examine any given situation in a very unbiased and honest way, we will realize that to a large extent we are also responsible to the unfolding of events.

Dalai Lama happiness is characterized by peace, compassion, and loving kindness, and still it is strong enough to stand firmly against hatred and intolerance.

Thanks to http://www.happylifeu.com/DalaiLamaHappiness.html for this inspiring article.