Quick Links + Updates - Week ending 11/12/2015

This week:

I have been busy with my first attempt to celebrate Rohatsu. I have previously forgotten to check when it is, only to end up missing it - this year I noticed early enough to try to make it a part of my life. It was a very moving time for me, and they may be some shareable writing coming out of that - so keep your eyes peeled!

I have also started to read the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness again. Each time I read this wonderful book, I take something new away from it. Most recently I was noticing how Howard C Cutler describes the presence and actions of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. I have read the text enough to have an idea of what will be said and the topics within so because of that I am noticing the comments on how His Holiness conducts himself, smiles or even seems uneasy or confused by the questions and discussion topics presented.

While His Holiness is a "simple monk", I am taken aback at how inquisitive, yet calming and casual he seems to be - also his patience while being a busy person and dealing with a western and (at least) cultural Christian's perspective on Tibetan Buddhism and monastic vocations in general, is a patience I would like to have one day.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's respect, generosity, equanimity and calm has even been remarked upon by those who tested it - it is claimed that Chairman Mao was unnerved at the His Holiness seemingly good nature after he told His Holiness, to his face that "religion is a poison".

Here, in a feature I hope to help me share more of the things I have found useful from the internet (as well as entertain): a playlist of 5 tracks I have found, think are fun and share a vague (sometimes very vague) Buddhist theme.

So until next week(?):

Same lazy time!

Same Buddhist channel!

Paradox Of Our Age

We have bigger houses but smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge, but less judgment;


More experts, but more problems;
More medicines, but less healthiness;
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.


We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever but have less communication.
We have become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;


Tall men but short character;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It's a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room.

- His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Compassion

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama on Giving Up

Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country is spent
Developing the mind instead of the heart.
Be compassionate not just to your friends but to everyone
Be compassionate.
Work for peace in your heart and in the world.
Work for peace and I say again
Never give up.
No matter what is happening,
No matter what is going on around you,
Never give up.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Virtues of Patience

In daily life we experience suffering more often than pleasure. If we are patient, in the sense of taking suffering voluntarily upon ourselves, even if we are not capable of doing this physically, then we will not lose our capacity for judgment. We should remember that if a situation cannot be changed, there is no point in worrying about it. If it can be changed, then there is no need to worry about it either, we should simply go about changing it.

–His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, from The Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Inner Peace (Element)