Dalai Lama asks Chinese monks to leave Tibet

By: 3 years ago

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama (IANS photo via The Statesman/Asia News Network)

NEW DELHI — Nobel laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Wednesday said he respects Chinese monks but suggested that they didn’t need to remain in Tibet.

He made these remarks while giving teachings on Avalokiteshvara Jinasagara Empowerment at the main temple in Mcleodganj in Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

He said Shantarakshita’s disciple Kamalashila was invited to Tibet by King Trisong Detsen to challenge the view of Chinese meditators, who asserted that the practice of meditation was more important and more effective than studying on the basis of reason and logic. The king judged that Shantarakshita and Kamalashila’s studious and reasoned approach was more appropriate for Tibetans.

Dalai Lama reiterated that Tibetans have special links to Avalokiteshvara that find expression in their perpetual recitation of the six-syllable mantra and their compassionate concern for all living creatures such that they are careful not to kill even small insects. Tibetans have had a special connection with Avalokiteshvara since at least the time of King Songtsen Gampo.

Avalokiteshvara Jinasagara-Gyalwa Gyatso empowerment he was going to give today belongs to the class of Highest Yoga Tantra. It would involve the vase, secret, knowledge, and word empowerments, he said while reminding the gathering that they had been asked to examine their dreams last night.

He noted that if they’d seen the deity in their dreams, that was a good sign. Climbing up somewhere is also regarded as positive, whereas going down is not. Generally, if you wake up in a happy state of mind, that’s good. He also clarified that it is always possible to counter what we might think of as bad omens.

Dalai Lama declared that having given the preliminary empowerment yesterday, he felt fortunate to be giving the actual empowerment today.