His Holiness greets the audience at the teaching in Tsuglakhang
Photo: OHHDL/ Tenzin Choejor
Thousands of supporters gathered in Dharamshala’s main Tibetan temple, Tsuglakhang, for three days of teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama from September 24 to 26. The teachings were held at the request of a group of Southeast Asians from countries which included Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. The population of Dharamsala was out in droves to attend the teachings and much of the world was represented, with over 6,000 people from 62 countries.
The teachings were on Shantideva’s “A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” (chonjug). In his opening remarks His Holiness spoke about a universal responsibility to teach and follow the message of love and compassion, no matter what religion you belong to. “As a human being I promote secular ethics which covers all 7 billion human beings on earth,” he said and added that all people should respect each other’s religions, put differences and problems aside and think of others before oneself. He impressed upon his diverse audience the need to work past the barriers in our minds and our societies to find harmony amongst all people and to help each other before ourselves, no matter how hard this may be. “We suffer together, we also enjoy together,” said His Holiness, “If you take care of others, you also benefit.” He said that much of his teachings on respecting others and ourselves were simply a general logic and responsibility of human beings and not based on religion alone.
The Dalai Lama will be teaching again for four days beginning on October 6 at the request of a Taiwanese group. His teaching will be based on Nagarjuna’s “Fundamental Wisdom Treatise of the Middle Way” (uma tsawa sherab).
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