...In modern Tibet, China still holds control over the country. Tibetan Buddhism has been forced to migrate to other countries to still be remembered. The Chinese government have tried again and again to destroy this rich religion. Throughout the world, tibet is seen as a place where Buddhism is so important that it is not only their religion, but also the essence of their identity. The Dalai Lama is their most important figure as a religious and spiritual leader. Due to the circumstances in which he came to his position, as well as to his personal character, the current Dalai Lama has radically changed the meaning of his religious and political leadership. In the Buddhist faith, every being in the world is trapped in a cycle of rebirth, where each time they forget their past lives. To end this circle, you have to achieve enlightenment. Bodhisattvas are those who are able to achieve enlightenment, but they postpone it in order to teach other people their knowledge to help them reach nirvana....
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...The current Dalai Lama and his impacts Buddhism originated in India and spread primarily through Asia. Now, it has become a worldwide religion, such as, the Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism has already established many communities of immigrant Tibetans in California, Colorado, New York, Hawaii, Switzerland, France, and Great Britain. Also, museums regularly acquire and show Tibetan Buddhist art (Molloy, 2008). Why does Tibetan Buddhism draw so much attention at present? One of reasons is the current Dalai Lama who has a significant impact on the people around the world. Who is “Dalai Lama” and why does he have such a significant impact on the people around the world? A religious reform movement emerged in Tibet in the fourteenth century, which came to be known as Gelug-pa. The Gelug-pa provided Tibet with its political leadership. The Dalai Lama is the executive head of the Gelug-pa (Molloy, 2008). In other words, the Dalai Lama is both the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people (Wieder, 1999). Meanwhile, Tibetan people believe that all the Dalai Lamas of Tibetan Buddhism are reincarnations of former Dalai Lamas. When a Dalai Lama dies, people will find and train the reincarnation (Sweet, 2009). People found the current Dalai Lama (the fourteenth Dalai Lama) in eastern Tibet (Molloy, 2008). He left Tibet in 1959 (Wieder, 1999), and thus his life was no longer limited in Tibet. This made many more people know Tibetan Buddhism and considerably improved his impacts...
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...The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World t His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, MD Doubleday New York London Toronto Sydney Auckland Copyright © 2009 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, M.D. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Doubleday Religion, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. www.crownpublishing.com doubleday and the dd colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bstan-’dzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, 1935– The art of happiness in a troubled world / the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. p. cm. 1. Happiness—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 2. Conduct of life. 3. Religious life—Buddhism. I. Cutler, Howard C. II. Title. BQ7935.B774A82 2009 294.3'444—dc22 2009024717 ISBN 978-0-767-92064-3 Printed in the United States of America Design by Elizabeth Rendfleisch 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 First Edition www.DoubledayReligion.com To purchase a copy of The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World visit one of these online retailers: Amazon Barnes & Noble Borders IndieBound Powell’s Books Random House www.DoubledayReligion.com t CON TE N TS AUTHOR’S NOTE INTRODUCTION vii ix PART O NE I, Us, and Them Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 1 Me Versus We 3 Me and We 25 45 Prejudice (Us Versus Them) Overcoming Prejudice 67 Extreme Nationalism 97 ...
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...Paper Topic: Leadership Biography FREEDOM IN EXILE The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama By Tenzin Gyatso , The Fourteeth Dalai Lama of Tibet Published by Harper Collins , 1990 How would this person define leadership Although he never sets out to explicitly discuss a definition of leadership , we are quite able to see his point of view by considering the two places in the text where the Dalai Lama specifically praises a person as a good leader . The first of these is his own sister . In the course of his discussion of the many difficulties managing the groups of destitute refugees who had fled into India , her contribution was invaluable . As an explanation of why , he tells us that , She had an enormous capacity for hard work . This , coupled with her rather fierce nature , made her an excellent leader ' By itself , this does not quite bring out the focus of his compliment but that focus is made somewhat more clear when he tells us , a few pages later , about Mr Luthi , a worker with the Swiss Red Cross . He was , a man of tremendous zeal and energy , a real leader , who drove the people under him extremely hard For the Dalai Lama , then , there seem to be two elements to leadership one is the ability to bring a tremendous amount of effort to the task in question , and the second is an ability to get a similar effort out of the people you are leading . At first glance , this appears to be somewhat at odds with this holy man 's compassionate , peaceful...
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...Among world leaders, the 14th Dalai Lama is one of the most interesting and significant public figures of this time. There is no one quite like the Dalai Lama, political and spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Born in 1935 to a family of poor farmers in Taktser, a small village of what was then known as Tibet, he was found by Tibetan monks at age two and declared the “new incarnation” of the Dalai Lama when he was not quite three years old. He had an unusual childhood, becoming a monk at age six and head of the state of Tibet at age 16, but was later forced into exile by the Chinese government and had to flee to India in 1959. Since that time, he has traveled around the world, spreading his message of peace, equality, compassion, love, nonviolence and advocating for the welfare of Tibetans....
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...clothes because you can see what appears to be a belly button in the abdominal region and very small abnormal breasts, the body also has small curves. The figure was also sculpted with no arms, legs, ears or a mouth. The eyes are very big and close together. The limited use of color and the use of ivory to sculpt this figure shows the lack of resources during this time. Survival of the fittest was what the people in during this period focused on and also reproduction, hence the female figure of fertility. The figure being only sculpted of the just the body was probably important during this time. They didn’t care about women being beautiful but about their bodies and the wellbeing of them because reproducing was important. In 2001, the Tibetan Medicine Buddha Mandala was created by Deprung Loseling Monks of Kamataka, South India. A mandala is made of concentric circles and squares representing the symbolic home of a deity. It is very rare to find a preserved sand mandala. They are used as tools for meditation and aid in spiritual development. A sand mandala is only intended to last...
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...The Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is always a reincarnation of his predecessor. All Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of the enlightened being Chenrezi, who chooses to be reborn to help others become enlightened. Chenrezi is the patron saint of Tibet and the Bodhisattva (enlightened being) of Compassion. The current Dalai Lama is believed to be the 74th manifestation of the Bodhisattva. The 14th (and current) Dalai Lama's name is Tenzin Gyatso. He was identified by mystical clues and visions that led the Tibetan government in the direction of his home. A vision of a sacred lake and monastery led them to the house of the future Dalai Lama, who then was a three-year-old boy named Lhamo Thondup. The search party came disguised as travelers and observed the child for signs. When the boy correctly identified possessions that had belonged to his predecessor and said that they were his, the identification was official [source: Dalai Lama]. In 1950, he became Tibet's spiritual leader and took his monk's vows. Gyatso was sent to a monastery where he was given a scholarly education, including a doctorate in Buddhist studies. He learned philosophy, Sanskrit, music, arts and medicine. Along with these studies he was given an education in foreign relations to prepare him for his role as political and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. In 1950, at the age of 16, Tenzin Gyatso officially assumed political power. He then began his lifelong struggle for the Tibetan...
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...documentaries, interviews, and talks with the current Dalai Lama and it is painful to think that he may be the last named or "public" of his kind. I was also impressed with Heinrich's personal transformation, or awakening, through this interaction. It is reminiscent of my own. From self centered to an understanding of something bigger. An understanding that you can be happy and satisfied without focusing solely on myself. These themes correlate directly with Buddhist ideals. Although it was not filmed in Tibet, it was actually Argentina, the locations and epic almost alien landscapes stir the imagination of how hard it would have been for these amazing people to live and thrive. Compared to the comforts of today's life it is no wonder that Tibetans evolved with a spiritual belief of compassion and belief that one gains merit from the acts of mercy, kindness, and generosity. The world would certainly be a better place for all if we were to give in to each other and wholeheartedly believe that we...
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...psychophysical arrogates, the sensory and psychic capacities so forth. The alternative describes the spiritual method leading to enlightenment in the form of Kalachakra. This is just one of the teachings of the Dalai Lama, he is also author to numerous books on general Buddhist subjects, and he frequently attends schools around the world to hold seminars. As a figure head to the world, the Dalai Lama has several social stances on the world. Such as views on abortion, politics, diets and animal welfare, economics, environment, sexuality, women’s rights, and health. Most of Tension’s views on the world are very realistic and very fair. He understands that there are certain situations where his views are not applicable. For example, in Buddhism it is murder to have an abortion, however, he also knows...
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...Chants of Tibetan Buddhism As in all religions, chanting is an important way of praying or reciting sacred/holy words and it is also used to be awakened and enlightened. “In Buddhism, chanting is the traditional means of preparing the mind for meditation, and especially as part of a formal practice” (O’Brien n.p). The focus of Buddhism is to help others rather than yourself. First and foremost Tibetan music is religious music, reflecting the profound influence of Tibetan Buddhism on the culture. In Buddhism the majority of schools have some form of chanting associated with it, regardless of being Theravada or Mahayana. The basis for Theravada chants is the Pali Canon, while Mahayana and Vajrayana chants draw from a wider range of sources. Within Buddhism, chants come in many forms such as Sutras, Mantras, and Dharanis. In Mahayana “sutras in some way or another are the words of the Buddha or one of the Buddha’s disciples” (Obrien n.p), however, within Mahayana a large body of sutras were actually composed after the Buddha's lifetime. The Mahayana Buddhist regards the Lotus Sutra as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Buddhism. A mantra, like a prayer is a short sequence of words or syllables that is often chanted repetitively. An example of a mantra would be the Om Mani Padme Hum. “Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings...
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...Interactions of Buddhism in the Modern World Buddhism has faced many challenges in today's modern world. During the modernization of the world we live in today, Buddhism has faced competition from the introduction of monotheism and added pressure from Christianity due to its dominate global religious structure. In many ways Buddhism has followed the path Christianity took as it emerged from the dark ages. For example, there are ancient Christian iconography sitting alongside modern based structures of both architecture and practices. The progress of Christianity has been so slow that it almost seemed very natural in the modern Western perspective. Today Buddhism seems quite foreign just as Christianity did at one time. Buddhism is facing qualifications necessary for cultural authenticity in a way that over comes its Eastern appearance. Western Buddhist teachers are moving into leadership roles and it seems as if progress is being made. A major difference in Buddhism between the West and East is that the East contemporary society has very ancient imagery, architecture, and practices that go back centuries. Buddhism as it sets in the West has a clean slate as it reflects on Western cultural values as well as the Western concepts of artful display and the way spiritual belief is shown (Shi, 2012). Modern day Buddhism has evolved as any religion has, different countries, traditions, and values alter the ancient beliefs and create modern day practices. As an example in...
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... Australia As the above quotation from the advertisement indicates, there is no question that Buddhism has a certain appeal to the West. Donald S. Lopez, Jr. author of Prisoners of Shangri-la: Tibetan Buddhism and The West provides a cultural history of the “strange encounter” between Buddhism (especially Tibetan Buddhism) and Western countries, most notably Britain, Australia and the United States. It is no longer questionable that Buddhism, and again, especially the Tibetan stream, has permeated popular culture: since China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet in 1950, which will be discussed further, but most significantly since the 1990s. This is most likely accredited to the Dalai Lama’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, which brought him and Buddhism much exposure. In fact, every stream of Buddhism announces growing public acceptance in the West since the Dalai Lama first visited two decades ago. The Complete Guide to Buddhist America, written in 1998 for which the Dalai Lama wrote the preface, reports that the number of worship centers in the United States more than doubled from 1987 to 1997 to over one thousand. Several examples illustrate the recent exposure of Buddhism in Western popular and political culture. Firstly, one of the most popular films of the early 1980s, The Return of the Jedi of the Star Wars series featured the Ewoks who spoke high-speed Tibetan. More recently, in 1996, at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies in Atlanta, Georgia, the percussionist...
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...Lama Dalai Lama was a god known as the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. He lived in a homeland called Lhaso. Tibetan culture is the way which the position of spiritual and secular leader practice Buddhism. One aspect of the Dalai Lama’s training differs symbolically. He read important scriptures from the Bible and attended many meetings in his spare time. In 1954, he looked at the rewards of Communism. Chinese soldiers attacked and destroyed Tibetan religious institutions. He complained to Chairman Mao. He quoted, “Religion is poison.” Dalai Lama concluded what a horrible thing it was. In 1956, he accepted Prime Minister Nehru’s invitation. While he was at the celebration, Nehru warned him about the war in Tibet. Dalai Lama went on with his monastic studies. While he resided in his summer home, he almost got kidnapped by the Chinese forces. His only escape was to leave India immediately. He continued with the campaign saving Tibet from there. Two weeks later, he reached India for a new beginning. His young life in India was very different than his life in his homeland. Now he took full charge of his life and creates policies with his personal principles. After he arrived in India, he continued reform in the community. He opened settlement communities and monasteries. He preserved the Tibetan cultural symbol for devastation and genocide. He symbolized his contact with political leaders, scientists,...
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...Lama Dalai Lama was a god known as the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. He lived in a homeland called Lhaso. Tibetan culture is the way which the position of spiritual and secular leader practice Buddhism. One aspect of the Dalai Lama’s training differs symbolically. He read important scriptures from the Bible and attended many meetings in his spare time. In 1954, he looked at the rewards of Communism. Chinese soldiers attacked and destroyed Tibetan religious institutions. He complained to Chairman Mao. He quoted, “Religion is poison.” Dalai Lama concluded what a horrible thing it was. In 1956, he accepted Prime Minister Nehru’s invitation. While he was at the celebration, Nehru warned him about the war in Tibet. Dalai Lama went on with his monastic studies. While he resided in his summer home, he almost got kidnapped by the Chinese forces. His only escape was to leave India immediately. He continued with the campaign saving Tibet from there. Two weeks later, he reached India for a new beginning. His young life in India was very different than his life in his homeland. Now he took full charge of his life and creates policies with his personal principles. After he arrived in India, he continued reform in the community. He opened settlement communities and monasteries. He preserved the Tibetan cultural symbol for devastation and genocide. He symbolized his contact with political leaders, scientists,...
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...agreement is that the caves were a holy place and that, as in any sanctuary, their images mirrored a perception that was entirely unlike the external universe. “Like art, religion is an attempt to construct meaning in the face of the relentless pain and injustice of life.” (Armstrong, p. 25) As determine and investigating individuals, humans decline freely into depression. Religion is a callous struggle. Its perception is not noticeable and has to be prepared in a similar form as an admiration of art, music, or poetry must be established. But, in Robert Thurman’s essay on “Wisdom”, he talks about Buddhism religion. Buddhism teaches one about “selflessness “and “voidness,” or “emptiness”. Some people replied differently to these words, often being they were concerned that the terms indicated they were going to perish, vanish, or go berserk in their effort to seek enlightenment. In Buddhism religion, the main focus is the mind. Buddhist helps...
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