Dalai Lama recalls Tibet-Nepal connection

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 13

Thirty members of the Nepal chapter of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) met the Dalai Lama this morning at his residence in McLeodganj.

The Dalai Lama said Tibet and Nepal had historical connections.“The 7th century Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, married a Nepalese princess, as well as a Chinese princess,” he said. Then, when he founded the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, many Nepalese craftsmen were involved in its construction.

“Here in the 21st century, we have kept alive the Nalanda Tradition that was introduced to Tibet in the 8th century. The Pali Tradition of the Buddhism, which includes fundamental teachings such as the Four Noble Truths, their 16 characteristics and the 37 Factors of Enlightenment, relies on the authority of the Buddha’s words.

These days, scholars and professors in Chinese universities have access to books we’ve compiled and published here in the series “Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics”. They acknowledge that the Tibetan Buddhism preserves the Nalanda tradition and its scientific approach, the Dalai Lama said.

He invited questions from the 30-strong audience. On happiness, he talked about the importance and effectiveness of the age-old Indian values of ‘ahimsa’ — non-violence and ‘karuna’— compassion. He observed that in India, Christians and Muslims too are influenced by ‘ahimsa’.

The Dalai Lama pointed out that when individuals are too self-centred, they tend to be prone to fear, suspicion, anxiety and anger. ‘Ahimsa’ and ‘karuna’, act as an antidote to this. He added that,”Scientists say it’s a basic human nature to be compassionate because we are social animal. Our very survival depends on our community.”

When questioned about how he sees the future, the Dalai Lama said the early 20th century had been spoiled by too much violence. Asked about his daily routine, the Dalai Lama told a story about a politician asking him one morning if he had slept well. “I answered that I always get nine hours of good sleep and follows that with four hours of meditation.