Transcript Document

The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings
Session 4 – Chapter 2 - Morality
1. General Introductions
2. Summary of Key Points in Dalai Lama’s words as
selected by editor Forsthoefel in the form of
paraphrase.
3. Video excerpt from “Ethics for Our Time”, the Dalai
Lama at University of Southern California in Santa
Barbara, April 2009.
3. Break
4. Discussion in Small Groups on Chapter 2.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Kindness is essential to mental peace.
•
Compassion also brings us an inner strength.
•
The main thrust of Buddhist practices is to become
non-violent.
•
Buddha’s teaching can be found in two sayings:
•
You should help others.
•
You should do no harm.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
The practice of love can be included within one
sentence: “Do not harm others.”
•
When the driving force of our actions is
wholesome, our actions will tend automatically to
contribute to others’ well being. They will thus
automatically be ethical.
•
Great Healing Kindness toward all sentient beings
is the most important thing.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
We can let our compassion become greater and
greater because there are no boundaries to lovingkindness.
•
Compassion is of little value if it remains an idea. It
must become our attitude toward others, reflected
in all our thoughts and actions.
•
Genuine compassion must be unconditional.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
We cannot be loving and compassionate unless at
the same time we curb our own harmful impulses
and desires.
•
Many harmful acts are caused not out of malicious
intention, but out of carelessness or lack of
sensitivity.
•
Compassion, as long as it is not based on profound
equanimity, will remain biased, for it is mixed with
Attachment.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Genuine compassion springs from a clear
recognition of the suffering of another.
•
Genuine compassion can be extended even to
one’s enemies.
•
Compassion mixed with Attachment cannot be
extended to your enemy.
•
A feeling of empathy is genuine compassion - free
of Attachment.
•
Compassion diminishes fright about your own pain
and increases inner strength.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
In order to transform ourselves, it is necessary to
develop an ethic of virtue - our basic human, our
spiritual qualities.
•
Within all human beings is the seed of perfection.
Compassion is required to activate that seed.
•
Put others first; you yourself come next.
•
A loving altruistic attitude has only one face,
kindness to others.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
If you show other people kindness, love, and
respect, they will respond in kind. If you show other
people anger and hatred, they will show you the
same.
•
Genuine peace of mind is rooted in affection and
compassion.
•
We must knead our minds skillfully, and with
patience and perseverance we shall find that our
concern for the well-being of others will grow.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
The enemy is the greatest teacher.
•
The enemy provides us with an opportunity to
practice tolerance and patience.
•
I consider hatred to be the ultimate enemy.
•
The ultimate source of my happiness is my peace
of mind. Nothing can destroy this except my own
anger.
•
Through anger we lose one of the best human
qualities – the power of judgment.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Anger appears to come as a shield or protector.
That is an illusion.
•
Afflictive emotions deceive us. They seem to offer
satisfaction but do not provide it.
•
Decisions made in anger are often a source of
regret.
•
We do not need anger to develop courage and
confidence.
•
Anger cannot be overcome with anger.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
When we become angry, we stop being
compassionate, loving, generous, forgiving,
tolerant, and patient altogether.
•
Anger immediately destroys our critical faculties.
•
Anger tends toward rage, spite, hatred and malice.
•
Anger causes suffering.
•
Anger has nothing to recommend it.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Greed is an exaggerated form of desire, based on
over-expectation.
•
The antidote of greed is contentment.
•
It is always and only the mental afflictions that
agitate our minds - yet we blame unpleasant
people and adverse circumstances for making us
unhappy.
•
The difficult periods of life provide the best
opportunities to gain useful experiences and
develop inner strength.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Nonviolence does not mean that we remain
indifferent to a problem. On the contrary, it is
important to be fully engaged.
•
We must promote nonviolence at the level of the
family as well as at the national and international
levels.
•
Sincere motivation acts as an antidote to reduce
fear and anxiety.
•
Put your mind on something else and the fear will
become lost.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you
should examine whether there is anything you can
do about it. If you can there is no need to worry
about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is
also no need to worry.
•
If you are motivated by a wish to help on the basis
of kindness, compassion, and respect, then you
can carry on any kind of work and function
effectively.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
When we speak of others, speak of their good
qualities.
•
Virtuous community practices 4 qualities:
•
•
They do not respond with harm
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They do not react with anger
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They do not answer with insult
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They do not retaliate.
Without kindness, society breaks down.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Consider anxiety – it is a form of fear. It is when we
brood, letting the imagination add negative
reflections. It is indulging in worry.
•
The first step in overcoming anxiety is to develop a
proper perspective. One way is to shift the focus
from self to others.
•
When concern for others becomes action,
confidence arises automatically and worry and
anxiety diminish.
Paraphrased Selections
From Chapter 2 – Morality
Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
•
Once you encourage the thought of compassion in
your mind, your attitude toward others changes
automatically.
•
There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.
•
The best relationships are those in which your love
for the other is greater than your need for the other.
•
Do not be discouraged. It is particularly important to
do the best you can.
Chapter 2 - Wisdom
Video excerpt from
“Ethics For Our Time”
the Dalai Lama
University of California
Santa Barbara
April 2009
22 of 112 minutes.
The Dalai Lama – Ethics for our Time
UCSB – April 2009 - excerpt
The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings
Morality – Buddhist Spiritual Evolution
Break
-
Group Discussions