Dalai Lama begins preaching in Mcleodganj

DHARMASALA: Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama started four day teachings on Tuesday on

Buddhapalita

’s Commentary of Fundamental Wisdom of the

middle way

aimed for promotion of basic human values for a peaceful world.

More than six thousand devotees and followers had gathered at the main temple,

Tsuglagkhang

to listen to the teachings of the Tibetan spiritual leader. Majority of the devotees were from the

South East Asian

countries.

“If we were to promote love and peace in world, we have to do it by strengthening the seed of compassion that is within us, enhance and promote it; not through religious dogma, wealth or might but through using the critical faculty of intelligence, through education,” said Dalai Lama, opening the preliminary teachings.

Because human nature is basically compassionate, I believe it is possible that decades from now we will see an era of peace—but we must work together as global citizens of a shared planet, he noted.

He said it is not through prayers but through awareness and compassionate oriented education that world can be made peaceful place.

“If we use our intelligence, we will be able to weigh the positive aspects of loving and compassionate living versus negative impacts of negative emotions,” he reasoned.

Faith and intelligence are the means to transform our mind. “We are all human beings possessing a seed of compassion. We have to use our intelligence to cultivate the inner values associated with it” he said.

Following the address, he fielded questions from members of the audiences and students, before beginning the main teaching: Buddhapalita’s Commentary of Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way. The teaching will conclude on 1 September.