Gautam Buddha’ was a serene and peaceful aura that touched many people’s lives. The closest figure to a living Buddha we have in the present times is Dalai Lama the 14th. Although he does not acclaim his own enlightenment or proclaim that he is Buddha, Dalai Lama the 14th is widely respected by Buddhist teachers and Gurus for his teachings.
For those who do not know where the tradition of Dalai Lamas comes from, there is a rather interesting background to it. Since the last millennium in Central Asian Buddhist countries, there has been a widely believed notion. The notion talks of the reincarnations or emanations of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of Compassion.
Avalokiteshvara is supposed to be an embodiment of the compassion of all the buddhas. And these emanations are known as Dalai Lamas. Compassionate Buddhas are born as the reincarnations of their predecessor Dalai Lamas.
A Dalai Lama has three commitments. The first involves the promotion of good, righteous human values. While the second call for bringing religious harmony to the world. And the third involves preserving the Tibetan Buddhist culture of peace and non-violence.
Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 1935, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Thubten Gyatso since he was a little boy. His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, was born Lhamo Dhondrub into a peasant family in the province of Amdo, in a village called Takster in northeastern Tibet.
Just like the rest of the Dalai Lamas, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso or the 14th Dalai Lama has a lot of duties to fulfill in the chaotic present times. And he does so wonderfully, even though he cannot refrain from getting into controversies or making enemies.
His words are deep and yet simple. He is trendy. He has a Twitter account, talks to the youth, and also indulges in-jokes. One would say he is not very serious a teacher. However, he is!
He talks wisdom and teaches us things in his own witty way. Here are 7 instances that the Dalai Lama taught us about Life, Love, and Happiness.
1. “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds. “
At a time when motivation and success mantras sell by the kilo, this statement makes a lot of sense. People make money, get rich, but never think of giving back to society. If the current trend continues, all we will be is a set of monotonous corporate with no color, culture, or compassion to uphold.
2. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
This one never fails to crack one up, also it makes one think. If we could all be tiny mosquitoes, stinging injustice one night at a time, the world would be different.
3. “If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.”
It takes an incredible amount of humility and intelligence to say the same while being the active head of a worldwide religion. It takes open-mindedness and faith to not be insecure about one’s view of God. This is something that the close-minded and bigoted preachers of the 21st century should learn from.
4. “I do not judge the universe.”
He is the man and teacher who is a world leader today. He is better at compassion than any of us. And yet, he does not judge. Just helps and is kind. Having a non-judgmental attitude, (not to be confused with apathy) towards people or the making of the cosmos is an uncanny trait.
5. “If a problem can be solved it will be. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.”
This could be declared as the epitome of rationality. Simply put, stop worrying and eliminate the unnecessary anxiety from your lives. An advice worth following at any point in time.
6. “A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.”
Sounds harsh, does it not? We tend to prefer acquaintances and friends who do not criticize us but always praise us. We feel that it makes us grow but it is actually the opposite. Understandably, being infallible beings, and a friend with the strength to point out our fallacies and help you grow out of them must be regarded as a special one.
7. “Neither a space station nor an enlightened mind can be realized in a day.”
Again, we think we are the generation of speed. Fast information delivered in fast quantum makes us think that we are the masters of the world. However, it is not so. Every great man or woman who has contributed to us in becoming a better civilization has outlined the importance of perseverance. Whether it be Neil Armstrong or Gautama the Buddha.
We need to learn a lot about life, the universe, and everything else, and we are thankful that we have him as a teacher.
