 Dearest Friends @ CASonline of and belonging to holy Chenrezig,
The beings @ CAS are getting increasingly anxious and excited at the coming programme with precious Drikung Ontrul Rinpoche from 15 to 19 Sep --
It has after all been 2 years since precious Rinpoche stepped foot on Singapore soil and don't we all rejoice from our hearts when a great Master comes ??!!
We have received several enquiries about the "things" below --
Am attaching them for everybody's note --
In the meantime, infinite prayers for everything good to come and to flourish !!
"Amitofuo !!"
bb & all @ CAS of T_A Chenrezig
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On "late-orders"
All students who have missed the deadline for ordering of the texts for Drikung Ontrul Rinpoche's programme .... despair not --
 Coz the beings, Jiji and the such will be making 25 to 30 copies extra for all of you.... our beloved "late-comers" !!
In the event, that these extra copies run out, we are 10 minutes from Peninsular Plaza and the texts should be available by the next session --
In the meantime, do offer all your prayers and dedications that the programme will be of highest and greatest good to all !!
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On the Labour of Love
Friends-Students who will wish to offer your part to serve precious Ontrul Rinpoche and Chenrezig who owns CAS and the different creatures in it, do appear at NACC - Teochew Building - 97 Tank Road from 5 pm to about 7 pm on 14 September --
The Duties cum Labour:
Setting-up shrine / throne / arranging seats and the like
The Karmic Consequences:
1) Accumulation of merits for Buddhahood for all beings
2) Happiness in this life and the next
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On Commitments to the programme
Rinpoche is one of the most lenient and understanding gurus one can find in samsara. He does not force samayas down
students' throats.He might request that one does at least 3 prostrations a day, but then when one has taken refuge, one does
that anyway. But ask him, by all means. Better to hear from him personally.
PC
[ Co-ordinator for Ontrul Rinpoche's Dharma-Tour in South-East Asia ] Helpful note from bb @ CAS:
Ontrul Rinpoche has not imposed commitments prior to or subsequent to all past programmes and via Rinpoche's Khandro-la in
India this June, Rinpoche should not be dropping any "commitments" for students who are not ready to engage in serious practice
although students who will want to engage in serious practice of this Yangzab Cycle will receive the complete vows and commitments related to the practice -- ____________
The great Je Tzongkhapa speaks on:
"The benefits of cultivating mindfulness of death"
When those who have a little understanding of the teaching conclude that they will die today or tomorrow, they see that friends and material possessions will not accompany them, and so they stop craving them. Naturally they then wish to take full advantage of their human birth through virtuous deeds such as giving gifts. Just so, if you create an authentic mindfulness of death, you will see that all toiling for worldly things such as goods, respect, and fame is as fruitless as winnowing chaff, and is a source of deception. Then you will turn away from wrongdoing. With constant and respectful effort you will accumulate good karma by doing such virtuous deeds as going for refuge and maintaining ethical discipline. You will thereby bring lasting significance to things, like the body, that would not have had such significance. You will ascend to a sublime state and will lead others there as well. What could be more meaningful? --from The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume 1 by Tsong-kha-pa, translated by The Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee, published by Snow Lion Publications ____________ From Kenny @ Ratnashri center
Special recollection of Chief Ven.K.Sri Dhammananda Click on the below URL;
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I am a simple Buddhist monk: Dalai Lama (TOI)
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Times of India
Percy Fernandez
July 06, 2006
As a young boy of 25, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso arrived in India 46
years ago. He turned 71 on the July 6, 2006. Last year, three days after his
birthday he delightfully spoke at length on Mao, his boyhood memories, his
commitment to spreading human values and his admiration for the Chinese
people in an exclusive interview.
Contrary to rumour mills that the Dalai Lama is ailing, this reporter found
the spiritual leader hale and hearty, strong and robust and with a firm
grip. He is swift, full of life, and laughs his heart out. He is undoubtedly
awe-inspiring, yet most humble. Most importantly he has a great sense of
humour.
Much has changed since 2005. Early this year, the Dalai Lama expressed his
desire to visit China on a 'pilgrimage' and wanted to observe the changes
from the time he fled Tibet as a young boy.
He was really happy with the Berne round of talks between Tibet and China in
Switzerland last June since the resumption of direct contacts since 2002.
But he continues to be problematic for the Chinese leadership. They are
irritated whenever he travels to the US or incensed whenever he visits
Japan, China's historical enemy. Hundreds of students from Taiwan and other
countries descend to McLeodganj, above Dharamsala to receive his teachings
and blessings. Recently, India's foreign secretary Shyam Saran called on the
Dalai Lama at his official residence and not much is known about what
transpired between them.
Because of his peripatetic schedule his doctors have advised him rest and
hence the Dalai Lama has cancelled his European tour beginning from Helsinki
next week. Later this year, in September the Dalai Lama will attend the
largest gathering of Nobel Peace Prize winners in Denver alongside Desmond
Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Aung San Suu Kyi among others.
Curiously, the tickets for the Denver gathering will go on sale on the July
6 and so is the reopening of Nathu La. And it happens to be the birthday of
the Dalai Lama.
Many many happy returns of the day. You have just completed 70 years. How
does it feel to look back?
Like any other human being, some painful experiences and some satisfactory.
But it has been more of satisfaction even in a life of exile that has
brought me and my people a lot of opportunities.
I have had a chance to meet so many people from various walks of life. It
has been very helpful in enriching my own way of thinking. I think I have
made a little contribution to the Tibetan issue, its people and Tibetan
culture. These are sources of my satisfaction.
Promotions of human values, religious harmony and peace have been my three
commitments to humanity. I have been able to promote them through my
writings, lectures and speeches.
I carry different names like counterrevolutionar
and splittist among others. In the sixties, the Chinese media described me a
wolf in a Buddhist robe, a great honour for someone who practiced tolerance
and patience.
Tibetans think that you are also a political leader apart from their
spiritual head.
It is almost 400 years after the Dalai Lama became the spiritual and
temporal head of Tibetans. In my case, at the age of 16, I took the
responsibility of both.
After we came to India, during the early sixties, we adopted a draft
constitution which says that the Dalai Lama's powers can be abolished by
two-thirds of majority in the assembly.
Three years back, we already established an elected political leadership.
Since then my position is one of semi-retirement. May be, I am an
ex-politician. But you don't mix the kind of politics which I involve with
party politics. My politics is one of nationalist struggle.
What lies at the core of your identity?
A simple Buddhist monk. In my dreams, I feel that I am a Buddhist monk, not
the Dalai Lama. Most people describe me as a Nobel Laureate. Many invite me
because I am a Nobel Laureate and not because I am a monk or the Dalai Lama.
They do that may be to ward off the Chinese pressure.
Once Bishop Desmond Tutu told me that it was difficult for him to reach the
White House and after he received the Nobel Peace Prize, the path was
cleared for his visit. (Laughs)
The life of late Pope John Paul II and yours have been compared. The Pope
fiercely campaigned against the Communist empire. Did your find similarities
in the cause both of you were pursuing?
His Holiness Pope John Paul II was a man I held in high regard. His
experience in Poland and my own difficulties with communists gave us an
immediate ground.
The Pope was very sympathetic to the Tibetan problem. Of course, as the head
of an institution trying to establish good relations with China and
seriously concerned about the status of millions of Christians in china he
could not express this publicly or officially.
But right from the start of our friendship he revealed to me privately that
he had a clear understanding of the Tibetan problem because of his own
experience of communism in Poland. This gave me great personal
encouragement.
Do you think tolerance and non-violence succeeds in this world?
Ultimately yes. It depends on situations. It will take time. In spite of
taking time, it is the only way. Every issue is a complex one. There is no
easy solution.
In the twentieth century leaders like Stalin, Hitler or Chairman Mao, took
the simple method of elimination but never achieved their goals. It is
impossible to eliminate all your enemies because you eliminate one, another
will be born. It is possible may be in animals, but not with human beings.
If a father is eliminated, his children and grand children may carry those
memories. They will carry a sense of revenge. Bin Laden, if we handle him
with hatred and handle violently, there will be 100 Bin Ladens in ten or
twenty years. It is possible.
Gandhi's idea of non-violence was not only morally correct but also
practically realistic. This violence somehow has to stop. From where should
it stop? It is very difficult to expect from the other side to stop. This
side, we should create some positive atmosphere.
In our own Tibetan case, we are fully committed towards non-violence and the
middle-way approach. Even though we have been victims, we have created a
conducive atmosphere. Now the powerful side, the Chinese side, has to act.
The Chinese say development inside Tibet is necessary because of
globalization. What are your views?
Whether you call it globalization or economic development, some form of
development is necessary. We need development and it is most welcome. But
the Chinese way of development is concentrated only in pockets, like in
India. Everybody is concentrating in Bangalore.
The rural India is still undeveloped. India is predominantly agriculture
based. I have a strong feeling that rural India must transform.
In Taiwan, the farming and agriculture is mechanized, all of them have good
education and health and the standard of living is good. India should also
develop in this manner.
This reminds me of one conversation with one Chinese leader in 1954-55 in
Shanghai, then Mayor and later the Foreign Minister.
He told me one late evening that he has no interest in further developing
Shanghai. The countryside is not developed in Tibet.
Skewed development may create a gap between the rich and poor which is not
good. I was told by a Tibetan recently the present population in Lhasa is
300,000 and according to a plan, Lhasa city should expand to 800,000. Out of
the 300,000, only 100,000 are Tibetans and the rest are Chinese.
The real economic development of the local Tibetans and their economy is
really in question if you analyze in depth and look at the picture carefully
and closely. The real picture will emerge when people will be able to speak
without fear.
In a recent televised interview, you said you liked Chairman Mao, what made
you say that?
Yes. He is quite calm and composed. When he speaks, each word carries some
weight. Some people talk a lot and convey little. Each word of Chairman
Mao's carried some meaning.
I was impressed with him. Though my knowledge of Chinese was limited, I
could understand the importance of what he said through a good Chinese
interpreter. Mao considered me almost like my son.
He was very close to me. I was impressed by his simplicity. He used wear
worn-out clothes. Not like Zhou Enlai who looks to be very honest.
Later several books and documents have portrayed a different picture of Mao
as a tyrant and one who was responsible for 800,000 deaths of Chinese in the
recent book Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and her husband, Jon
Halliday....
Do you think the current Chinese leadership has acquired a forward looking
policy to find a solution for the Tibetan issue?
I think the Chinese policy on the Tibetan issue is linked to their overall
policy. The current leadership has changed and the situation is different
than what it used to be thirty years before.
Much has progressed. In the early fifties, they just emphasized the
importance of ideology regardless of the reality. After Deng Xiaoping,
reality has become more important, which I think has been a remarkable
change.
It has been like two steps forward and one step backward, though I am not a
specialist on China. On the Tibet issue, there has been no clear policy by
the Chinese government. They also know 99% of Tibetans are against Chinese
rule.
I think the Chinese government eventually will realize this. But then they
themselves don't know how to tackle it. So the only way out for them is to
politically tighten the grip and sanction lots of economic incentives.
They think this is the best policy. I don't think this will work. People in
Basque (Spain) are economically well off but politically not satisfied.
Similarly in Quebec (Canada) in spite of a separatist movement, people want
Quebec to remain in Canada. And also the case with Scotland.
They would want to remain with Great Britain provided they are satisfied. if
people are satisfied, they would want to remain within Great Britain.
Political dominance will not succeed. Tibet will remain within People's
Republic of China, that's my middle way of approach.
Give us meaningful autonomy, give us respect and trust us. In the meantime,
economic development can continue and we will see what will benefit us. It
is important a nation handles its citizens with respect.
The Chinese leadership seems to be unhappy because you keep meeting world
leaders and going to countries who they don't like, for example Japan and
Taiwan?
(Laughs) In that case, India should get protests on a daily basis. I am a
guest of the Indian government for the past 46 years. (Laughs) The Indian
Government has been taking care of the Tibetan community in the maximum
possible way, including preservation of Tibetan culture.
The preservation of Tibetan culture, particularly Tibetan spirituality is
quite successful. I think the most important part is Buddhist study and
knowledge, it has been fruitful particularly in south India. They have major
Buddhist learning centres. I gave some teachings last year to 12000 monks.
Most of them were students which was very encouraging.
Do you think time is on your side when it comes to the Tibetan issue?
Oh.I don't think. I don't think. It is difficult to say although people from
China as a whole are changing. In the transformation takes place quite
rapidly, it will lead to a more positive outlook.
It will take time. May be 5 years, 10 years, or may be 20 years. If it
should take 20 years then the survival of Tibet itself is in question. In
Lhasa, the local population has become a minority.
The Tibetan language is not in use. Chinese is used in the shops,
restaurants and everywhere. The official language is Chinese. Those students
who have scored well in Tibetan are not promoted.
Only those Tibetans who speak Chinese get jobs easily. The present
generation of Tibetans prefer to speak Chinese because of their job
prospects.
Do you have something to say to the Chinese people?
Some of our Chinese brothers, even if they have a big letter in front of
them can't read if they don't want to. Also they will only listen what they
want to hear. Strange.
I have always admired the Chinese people and respect them. China is a great
nation, the most populous nation and a very important member in the global
community. They have an important role in the world.
Their 5000 year old history and civilization is equally important. There
have been lots of ups and downs in the 20th century for them. Since 1949
there has been some stability.
But looking at stability alone is not sufficient. They must bring more
openness, rule of law, democracy, religious freedom, human rights; these are
important for their own interest and to be respected as important members of
humanity. A closed society always creates fear amongst themselves and
outside.
Take for example India and her big neighbour. It is a closed society, a
nuclear power. Nuclear power is fine, but there should be freedom. It will
be much better if it had religious freedom, transparency and rule of law,
isn't? Perhaps I am conveying on behalf of India. What do you think?
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Dalai Lama: the voice of Buddha
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By Kamilla Hemandas
Manila Standard Today, Philippines
Thursday, August 24, 2006
I am a Buddhist monk who practices infinite compassion and I pray on a daily
basis for the happiness of the entire sentient beings. I believe in the
promotion of human values. I instinctively want a happy life for all the six
billion humanity because we are all part of them. . If they are in
difficulty, we also suffer. That is why I have committed fully and
voluntarily in my concern for their well-being."
Lama
At a time when religious violence is justified by many, the Dalai Lama is
admired as one of the few religious leaders who to this day stands his
ground. For him, the end still does not justify the means.
At his official residence in Dharamshala in the Himalayas of India, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, in an in-depth interview with CSS Latha of Society
magazine, related how he has not changed his stance despite the long years
of living in exile away from his native Tibet. He is firm in his conviction
that Buddhism is all about spirituality and not politics. "Politics is the
business of the human community. But if the people who carry politics are
more religious-minded then their political activities would be more
truthful, honest and compassionate. Practicing "Buddha dharma" or the
preservation of Tibetan spirituality and culture may provide better platform
for the Tibetan freedom struggle. Tibetan freedom and Tibetan Buddhism are
very much related. I am a Buddhist monk and Tibetan freedom struggle is
purely political. That's why I have to consider whether I must involve
myself in this or not."
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, benevolent, humble leader of Tibetan
Buddhism and Nobel Peace Prize awardee has been living in India since he
fled Tibet in 1959. For years his struggle to lead Tibet through his dynamic
compassion as both its political and religious head has incurred the ire of
the Chinese government. In 1960, then Indian Prime Minister Nehru granted
him and his community refuge in India after he was driven out of his
domicile, the Potala Palace, during the height of communist rule in China.
Today, people from all over India come to listen to his personal teaching
sessions as his views are considered "the voice of the Buddha himself." He
confides: "Deep down inside I will always consider myself a monk. I feel
myself more as a religious person. Even in my daily life, I can say that I
spend 80 percent of my time on spiritual activities and 20 percent on Tibet
as a whole. I have no modern education in politics except for a little
experience. It is a big responsibility for someone not so well-equipped "
Indeed, the Dalai Lama walks his talk. He leads an austere, disciplined life
characterized by long hours of meditation and study. According to the Joint
Secretary of his office, Chhime Chhoekyapa, "when His Holiness is in
Dharamshala, he wakes up at 3:30 in the morning. After his morning shower,
he begins the day with prayers, meditation and prostrations until 5 a.m.
After which he takes a short morning walk around the residential premises.
If it is raining, His Holiness uses a treadmill. Breakfast is served at 5:30
a.m. For breakfast, he has hot porridge, tsampa (barley powder), bread and
tea. His Holiness tunes his radio to BBC World News in English while having
his breakfast. From 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., His Holiness continues his
morning meditation and prayers. From around 9 a.m. till 11:30 a.m., he
studies various texts written by Buddhist religious masters. 11:30 to 12:30
is lunchtime.
His Holiness kitchen in Dharamshala is vegetarian. But during visits outside
of Dharamshala, he makes allowances for nonvegetarian food. As an ordained
Buddhist monk, His Holiness does not have dinner. Should there be a need to
discuss some work with his staff or hold audiences, or interviews, His
Holiness visits his office from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Typically, during
an afternoon at the office, one interview is scheduled along with several
audiences, both Tibetan and non-Tibetan. Upon his return to his residence,
His Holiness has evening tea at 6 p.m. He then has time for his evening
prayers and meditation from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. After a long 18 hour day, His
Holiness retires for bed at 8:30 p.m. Sounds like an exhausting regimen for
a man in his 70s.
In the last two years the Dalai Lama has traveled to 25 nations emphasizing
the basic human values of tolerance, compassion, forgiveness and sense of
responsibility. "All religions speak of the same things... love, compassion,
tolerance and forgiveness. It is the same message given in different methods
and we need different methods. Seeking genuine harmony on the basis of
mutual respect is the voluntary commitment I take as a Buddhist monk and
will follow them till my death".
When asked about the current plight of his fellow monks in Tibet where a few
monasteries still stand, the Nobel Laureate laments, "I am very much
concerned about them because their lives remain under fear. When I came to
India, I was 25 years old. Today, I am over 70. So the best and most
important years were spent in India where I enjoy a complete freedom."
On the current suppressed Tibetan society who are growing restless with the
oppressive way of life, "Many Tibetans particularly the younger generation
who are inside Tibet, want complete separation. But according to me, Tibet
is still quite backward, materialistically speaking. Therefore, as far as
material development is concerned, if we remain within the purview of China,
we might get greater benefit provided the Chinese government gives us a
meaningful autonomy."
The Lama is a cheerful jovial man who readily breaks into a smile. Bliss and
contentment seem to permeate his personality. Despite the tall order he
faces as both the head of state and an institution that evolved 500 years
ago, he remains optimistic for the future. In another much publicized
earlier interview, he has said that the next Dalai Lama would probably be
born outside of Tibet if the situation of religious persecution still
remains. Meanwhile, this soldier of peace and icon of spirituality is in the
lofty snow-capped Himalayas touching the hearts and minds of everyone he
meets as he walks the eight fold path of the Buddha.
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