Zen in Ten: "One Human Family"
The Humanity of His Holiness The Fourteenth Dalai Lama
Hello Spark Zen Readers! I hope that your week is going smoothly thus far. I came across The Pocket Dalai Lama (Shambhala Pocket Library, 2017) while working in the bookstore at San Francisco Zen Center. I hope his True Wisdom encourages and inspires you as it does me. Bowing with cold hands and a warm heart, Rev. Shōren Heather
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 of 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.
No matter how wealthy we are, we have only ten fingers on which to display our rings.
Real love is not based on attachment, but on altruism. In this case, your compassion will remain as a humane response to suffering as long as beings continue to suffer.
The purpose of religion is not to build beautiful churches or temples, but to cultivate positive human qualities such as tolerance, generosity, and love. Every world religion, no matter what its philosophical view, is founded first and foremost on the precept that we must reduce our selfishness and serve others.
In terms of human happiness, I feel it is not necessary to accept one particular religion. Without accepting a religion, but simply developing a realization of the importance of compassion and love, and with that more concern and respect for others, a kind of spiritual development is very possible for those persons who are outside of religion.
Dangerous consequences will follow when politicians and rulers forget moral principles. Whether we believe in God or karma, ethics is the foundation of every religion.
There can be no peace as long as there is grinding poverty, social injustice, inequality, oppression, environmental degradation and as long as the weak and small continue to be down-trodden by the mighty and powerful.
The realization that another person wishes to harm and hurt you cannot undermine genuine compassion—a compassion based on the clear recognition of that person as someone who is suffering, someone who has the natural and instinctual desire to seek happiness and overcome suffering, just like oneself.
Ours [the Tibetan people] has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just. Because violence can only breed more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain non-violent and free of hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people, not to inflict suffering upon others. [Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Oslo, Dec. 1989]
The whole of humanity is . . . one human family. This planet is our only home.
Thank you. Could certainly become a daily read.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for offering these healing words at a dark time in our country's history.