The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings Session 4 – Chapter 2 - Morality

1. The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings Session 4 – Chapter 2 - Morality 1. General Introductions 2. Summary of Key Points in Dalai Lama’s words as selected by editor Forsthoefel in the form of paraphrase. 3. Video excerpt from “Ethics for Our Time”, the Dalai Lama at University of Southern California in Santa Barbara, April 2009. 3. Break 4. Discussion in Small Groups on Chapter 2.

2. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Kindness is essential to mental peace. • Compassion also brings us an inner strength. • The main thrust of Buddhist practices is to become non-violent. • Buddha’s teaching can be found in two sayings: • You should help others. • You should do no harm.

3. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • The practice of love can be included within one sentence: “Do not harm others.” • When the driving force of our actions is wholesome, our actions will tend automatically to contribute to others’ well being. They will thus automatically be ethical. • Great Healing Kindness toward all sentient beings is the most important thing.

4. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • We can let our compassion become greater and greater because there are no boundaries to loving-kindness. • Compassion is of little value if it remains an idea. It must become our attitude toward others, reflected in all our thoughts and actions. • Genuine compassion must be unconditional.

5. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • We cannot be loving and compassionate unless at the same time we curb our own harmful impulses and desires. • Many harmful acts are caused not out of malicious intention, but out of carelessness or lack of sensitivity. • Compassion, as long as it is not based on profound equanimity, will remain biased, for it is mixed with Attachment.

6. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Genuine compassion springs from a clear recognition of the suffering of another. • Genuine compassion can be extended even to one’s enemies. • Compassion mixed with Attachment cannot be extended to your enemy. • A feeling of empathy is genuine compassion - free of Attachment. • Compassion diminishes fright about your own pain and increases inner strength.

7. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • In order to transform ourselves, it is necessary to develop an ethic of virtue - our basic human, our spiritual qualities. • Within all human beings is the seed of perfection. Compassion is required to activate that seed. • Put others first; you yourself come next. • A loving altruistic attitude has only one face, kindness to others.

8. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • If you show other people kindness, love, and respect, they will respond in kind. If you show other people anger and hatred, they will show you the same. • Genuine peace of mind is rooted in affection and compassion. • We must knead our minds skillfully, and with patience and perseverance we shall find that our concern for the well-being of others will grow.

9. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • The enemy is the greatest teacher. • The enemy provides us with an opportunity to practice tolerance and patience. • I consider hatred to be the ultimate enemy. • The ultimate source of my happiness is my peace of mind. Nothing can destroy this except my own anger. • Through anger we lose one of the best human qualities – the power of judgment.

10. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Anger appears to come as a shield or protector. That is an illusion. • Afflictive emotions deceive us. They seem to offer satisfaction but do not provide it. • Decisions made in anger are often a source of regret. • We do not need anger to develop courage and confidence. • Anger cannot be overcome with anger.

11. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • When we become angry, we stop being compassionate, loving, generous, forgiving, tolerant, and patient altogether. • Anger immediately destroys our critical faculties. • Anger tends toward rage, spite, hatred and malice. • Anger causes suffering. • Anger has nothing to recommend it.

12. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Greed is an exaggerated form of desire, based on over-expectation. • The antidote of greed is contentment. • It is always and only the mental afflictions that agitate our minds - yet we blame unpleasant people and adverse circumstances for making us unhappy. • The difficult periods of life provide the best opportunities to gain useful experiences and develop inner strength.

13. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Nonviolence does not mean that we remain indifferent to a problem. On the contrary, it is important to be fully engaged. • We must promote nonviolence at the level of the family as well as at the national and international levels. • Sincere motivation acts as an antidote to reduce fear and anxiety. • Put your mind on something else and the fear will become lost.

14. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry. • If you are motivated by a wish to help on the basis of kindness, compassion, and respect, then you can carry on any kind of work and function effectively.

15. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • When we speak of others, speak of their good qualities. • Virtuous community practices 4 qualities: • They do not respond with harm • They do not react with anger • They do not answer with insult • They do not retaliate. • Without kindness, society breaks down.

16. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Consider anxiety – it is a form of fear. It is when we brood, letting the imagination add negative reflections. It is indulging in worry. • The first step in overcoming anxiety is to develop a proper perspective. One way is to shift the focus from self to others. • When concern for others becomes action, confidence arises automatically and worry and anxiety diminish.

17. Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 – Morality Buddhist Spiritual Evolution • Once you encourage the thought of compassion in your mind, your attitude toward others changes automatically. • There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever. • The best relationships are those in which your love for the other is greater than your need for the other. • Do not be discouraged. It is particularly important to do the best you can.

18. Chapter 2 - Wisdom Video excerpt from “Ethics For Our Time” the Dalai Lama University of California Santa Barbara April 2009 22 of 112 minutes.

19. The Dalai Lama – Ethics for our Time UCSB – April 2009 - excerpt

20. The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings Morality – Buddhist Spiritual Evolution Break - Group Discussions