H.H. Dalai Lama Kalachakra Teachings S.ta Monica 1989, Day 1

Preliminary Teachings to the Kalachakra Initiation

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

on The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas

Translator: Jeffery Hopkins

Santa Monica, California

July 1989

I will be lecturing on The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by the Bodhisattva Togmey. When one engages in lecturing on or attending a lecture, hearing about the Buddhist religion in general and in this case the doctrine of the Great Vehicle, it is necessary first to go for refuge. One then practices altruistic mind generation to make the mind more altruistic. This is why we will repeat together the basic refuge formula three times.

Before beginning to lecture on The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, I will give a general presentation of the structure of the Buddhist system. As is well known, there are in general the system of the Theravada and the Vehicle of Bodhisattvas. Within the Vehicle of Bodhisattvas as a sub-division there is the Vehicle of Mantra or Tantra. There are these three. I think most of you know that the Tibetan system practices all three yanas. The Theravada system concerns oneself and is practiced as a foundation. The main practice is the understanding or realization of suffering. Following these are the three practices of ethics, samadhi (or focusing our mental force sometimes called one-pointedness of mind) and then wisdom or deeper awareness of the ultimate nature, a deeper awareness of selflessness, the non-soul theory Without the practice of these things you can not practice the Bodhisattvayana. This must be taken as a foundation or basis. Continue reading »

H.H. Dalai Lama Kalachakra Teachings S.ta Monica 1989, Day 2

Preliminary Teachings to the Kalachakra Initiation

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

on The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas

Translator: Jeffery Hopkins

Santa Monica, California

July 1989

Day Two

Question: If Avalokiteshvara is a deity representing the emanation of Buddha’s compassion, which can be attained by everyone, can there be more than one person who is an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara?

Answer: If we consider Avalokiteshvara from the point of view of Avalokiteshvara being the physical manifestation of the compassion of all Buddhas, then that sort of Avalokiteshvara is just the sport or emanation of the Buddhas and is not a person or being in his own right. If we speak about reincarnations in general, there are many different types. For instance in this particular case there is one person who is emanating an Avalokiteshvara or many. So from this point of view there can be many Avalokiteshvaras. Continue reading »

H.H. Dalai Lama Kalachakra Teachings S.ta Monica 1989, Day 3

Preliminary Teachings to the Kalachakra Initiation

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

on The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas

Translator: Jeffery Hopkins

Santa Monica, California

July 1989

Day Three

As I said yesterday, because this subtle consciousness is not permanent, unitary nor independent it is different from the soul or atman. This subtle consciousness is a product produced by causes and conditions.

There are two types of permanence; one that is called permanent in that the continuum of phenomena exists forever and the other meaning of permanence is that it is unchangeable. In this case the subtle consciousness is changeable but its continuum goes on forever. From this point of view it is called permanent.

If the mind is basically pure and unobstructed where does ignorance come from? If ignorance comes from karma, where does karma come from first? How can pure mind produce bad karma? Continue reading »

H.H. Dalai Lama Kalachakra Teachings S.ta Monica 1989, Day 4

Preliminary Teachings to the Kalachakra Initiation

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

on The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas

Translator: Jeffery Hopkins

Santa Monica, California

July 1989

Day Four

Question: You say you usual recommend that only those who have been Buddhists for at least five years receive the Kalachakra initiation. For those of us who have been Buddhists for shorter periods of time can it create negative karma to receive the initiation? How can we know if this will be the case for us individually? Is it possible for us to receive some benefit?

Answer: It will help; there will be benefit.

Question:. If one takes the Kalachakra initiation and has time for only the brief Six-Session Yoga and not the longer practice, is initiation justifiable?

Answer: This is fine.

Question: During this Kalachakra initiation how many of the initiations will we receive and will we be empowered to perform the Completion Stage as well as the Generation Stage?

Answer: The initiations for the stage of completion will also be given. Continue reading »

Discorso di S.S. il Dalai Lama per il 45° anniversario dell’insurrezione nazionale tibetana

Sua Santità il Dalai Lama: Desidero cogliere questa occasione per esprimere il mio apprezzamento e gratitudine per il grande sostegno che riceviamo da tutto il mondo.

Discorso di Sua Santità il Dalai Lama in occasione del 45° anniversario dell’insurrezione nazionale tibetana

10 marzo 2004. Oggi commemoriamo il 45° anniversario della Sollevazione del Popolo Tibetano, avvenuta nel 1959. Rendo omaggio agli uomini e donne del Tibet che, in gran numero e con molto coraggio, hanno sacrificato le loro vite per la causa della libertà tibetana. Saranno sempre nel nostro ricordo.

Quest´anno ricorre anche il 50° anniversario della mia visita, avvenuta nel 1954, alla madrepatria cinese per conoscere i leader di allora, in particolare Mao Tse Tung. Ricordo molto bene che intrapresi il viaggio fortemente preoccupato per il futuro del Tibet. Continue reading »