Dharamsala, HP, India, 1 September 2016 (By Tenzin Monlam, www.phayul.com) - Tibetan
spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today concluded the
four-day teaching on Nagarjuna's Precious Garland of the Middle Way with an empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, at the main temple of Tsuglhakhang.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowing the Avalokiteshvara empowerment on the final day of his four day teaching in Dharamsala, HP, India on September 1, 2016.
Photo/Tenzin Phuntsok/OHHDL
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“It
is important to have a righteous intention and not a selfish one when
you come to receive an empowerment. You should not aim for
personal benefits like long and healthy life and elimination of
problems. It is also wrong if you receive it with intent of being reborn
as human again or just attaining Nirvana,” said the Dalai Lama.
He added that one should come with a righteous intention of achieving enlightenment to help and benefit all sentient beings.
During
the empowerment, His Holiness gave the five-layperson vows including
abstaining from killing, lying, drinking, stealing and sexual
misconduct. He said that it would be highly beneficial if the devotees
incorporate these vows. He also stated that there is no compulsion on
the devotees to follow them.
He jokingly added that if a person
kills or steals, he/she would end up in jail. “So it would be more
beneficial to take these vows as a step forward in attaining
enlightenment and also abstain from committing crime.”
The
81-year old highlighted how so many problems these days arise with the
attitude to be victorious by defeating others. He stated that it is not
related to religion, god or afterlife but that the world would be more
peaceful and harmonious place in its absence.
“My responsibility
is to introduce and guide you on Buddha Dharma and you have the
responsibility to study and practice it,” His Holiness said at the end
of the teaching. He also playfully pointed out that his work is done now
and the devotees’ works are going to begin.
