His Holiness Inaugurates International Tibetan Buddhist Conference[Wednesday, 20 October 2010, 11:00 a.m.]

‘The Professor’s Office Hours’, a town-hall style conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Emory University on 19 October 2010/Photo/Kate Hinton/Emory

Atlanta:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spent the last full day of his current
visit to Atlanta by participating in three different events that
symbolised his commitments as also his hope that the current generation
will make this century a peaceful one.  In the morning he first
addressed the participants of the International Tibetan Buddhist
Conference in Emory University’s Conference Center before going to the
Woodruff PE Center for an interactive session with students and faculty
of Emory.  In the afternoon, he participated in a conversation with
artists about the role of the arts in promoting a compassionate society.The programme began with the chanting of an invocation by a group of Drepung Loseling monks.Geshe
Lobsang Tenzin, Director of Emory-Tibet Partnership, introduced the
conference saying today Tibetan Buddhism has spread from its
traditional base to throughout the world and it has become a vibrant
source for the flourishing of humanity and global peace. He said the
role of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has been crucial in this. He
said the conference would be touching on six topics, namely Tibetan
Buddhism’s Encounter with Modern Science; Tibetan Buddhism and Social
Engagement; Translating the Dharma; Tibetan Buddhism in the Modern
Academy; Tibetan Buddhism in Modern Western Culture; and Surviving
Modernity in Traditionally Tibetan Buddhist Regions.  Geshe Lobsang
Tenzin added that the conference was co-sponsored by the Office of
Tibet, New York, and Emory University, with support from the
Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture in Washington, DC, and Drepung
Loseling Monastery, Inc., in Atlanta, GA.Dr Gary Hauk, Emory’s
Vice President, welcomed the conference participants on behalf of the
University. He said that such a conference complemented Emory’s
identity as an ethically engaged community.  He talked about Emory’s
religious heritage and how intellectual discussion was very much
encouraged.Kasur Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, in his remarks, said following
the Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Centers of the Americas that
they had organised in 2003, there was a strong recommendation for the
continuation of such a process.Kasur Nyandak acknowledged the
cooperation received from the lamas, scholars, leaders and
practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.  He said that the changing nature of
our times demands that all teachers, students and practitioners work
together to preserve the essence of the Buddha’s teachings and to
ensure the best way for the Dharma to continue to serve humanity
without any boundaries.In his keynote address, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama said it was an honor to inaugurate the conference. He said
following the tragedy in Tibet, particularly since 1959, it was
fortunate that quite many learned Gurus, scholars and students have
escaped.  He said the Tibetan Buddhist culture and Tibetan Buddhism are
not only ancient traditions but also relevant to today’s world.
Therefore, in the last 51 years every effort has been made to preserve
them and now various Buddhist tradition, as well as Bon tradition, has
been quite well established in India. Over 10,000 monks carry study,
some few hundred Mongolians and over 5 to 6000 students study in
various Tibetan monastic institutions, including nunneries.In
the 1960s and 70s some teachers have visited the West and subsequently
set up Buddhist centers.  His Holiness said that the basic policy
continues to be one where we do not believe in conversion saying we
believe it is safer and better to stick to one’s own religious
tradition.  However, he said there would be some individuals who may
find the Buddhist way of approach more suitable to them.

His
Holiness said that in one sense, the Tibetan tragedy is a sad one, but
in another sense it has provided an opportunity that did not exist
before.  He said that it is important for all the upholders of the
Buddhist teaching to be harmonious.His Holiness said that
frankly speaking while efforts have been made to promote harmony with
other religious traditions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism,
Judaism, etc., not enough was being done to promote the same within the
Buddhist tradition.  He said, for example, contact between the Pali
tradition and the Sanskrit tradition was not adequate.  Also, within
the Tibetan tradition, sometimes there is a tendency to emphasise the
different branches and remain stuck there rather than recognising the
commonality, which is the main trunk, he said.His Holiness
talked about meeting two Burmese monks in Australia during which they
told him that although we are followers of the same teacher we have big
differences. His Holiness said they thought the Tibetan Buddhist
tradition did not include Vinaya practice. He said he explained that
Tibetan Buddhists did have Vinaya practice and the monks were surprised.His
Holiness also said Tibetan Buddhists also had the tendency to dwell on
rituals like chanting pujas without understanding their meaning,
monastic dance to destroy evil, etc. He said that these had the danger
of losing the real essence of the Buddha Dharma, which he said was
becoming something like a social custom. He said serious attention was
not being paid on how to develop inner spiritual qualities and how to
move up the graded path of spiritually.  His Holiness said this was sad.He said it was not that all Tibetan Buddhists are doing this as there are people who really do the practice well.Talking
about the responsibility of individual practitioners, His Holiness said
during the Buddha’s time, the main holder of the religious tradition
was the clergy.  Subsequently, in eighth century Tibet there were both
the clergy and the lay practitioners who took genuine responsibility to
continue the teaching of the Buddha Dharma.His Holiness said he
had two points to propose to the conference participants.  First, he
said they should know each other, discuss and exchange different
experiences. He said that as the Buddhist centers expand there would be
more people and thereby naturally a risk of degeneration and
corruption. He wanted the people to be alert to these potential dangers
and to discuss them.Secondly, he said all Buddhist centers need
to pay more attention to the Nalanda tradition saying that all Tibetan
Buddhist traditions, as well as Bonpo tradition, study the Nalanda
masters. He said everyone should study the root texts authored by the
Nalanda masters. Advising the practitioners not to misunderstand the
priorities, His Holiness said the branches are there to strengthen the
main trunk and so people should go to the authentic source i.e. the
Nalanda masters and from there to the teachings of the Buddha himself. 
His Holiness asked the conference to discuss frankly, seriously, and
with a sense of responsibility.

His
Holiness reminded everyone that service to others at various levels and
various forms is important. Referring to the challenges ahead, he
quoted from the teachings of the master Vasubandhu that said that the
eyes of the Dharma teaching are coming to a close; the masters who can
attest to the authenticity of the teachings are disappearing; and there
are few individuals who, without understanding the depth of the
Buddha’s teaching, are creating great disturbances and defiling the
purity of the Buddha Dharma.His Holiness concluded that he
believed that the conference can bring some deeper awareness about each
individual’s responsibility.The International Conference on
Tibetan Buddhism is being held from 18-20 October 2010. It brings
together around 350 leaders, teachers, scholars, translators, and
students of Tibetan Buddhism from both traditionally Tibetan Buddhist
areas as well as western countries to engage in substantive discussion
about the current state of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world and how
best to move forward collectively.Thereafter, His Holiness, as
Emory University’s Presidential Distinguished Professor, went to the
Woodruff PE Center to hold his own version of “Office Hours” the period
when a Professor opens his doors so that students can come and interact
with him.  Emory’s President James W. Wagner moderated this session
held in a town hall format.In the beginning of the session,
President Wagner informed the audience that the ticket sales have
covered the cost of the programs during His Holiness’ visit and that
some amount is being donated to the Emory-Tibet Partnership and the
Science Initiative. President Wagner said His Holiness does not take
any money and had in fact donated twice to the Emory-Tibet Partnership.President
Wagner then said some weeks back students and faculty were invited to
pose questions to His Holiness. During the session, a selection of the
video recording of the questions was played.  They ranged from
spiritual issues to the nature of truth, to how His Holiness could
handle his responsibilities, his greatest influence and his biggest
fears. They also sought advice with life after Emory University. Emory
students, faculty, and staff gather for a town-hall style conversation
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Representatives of students, faculty
and staff were on the stage to pose follow up questions.His
Holiness, in his response talked about the affection of his mother
being the source of his strength as a child. As he began to study
Buddhist philosophy, he began to understand the benefits. He thus said
experience was also one of his strengths.His Holiness advised
the students to have an optimistic attitude and not to take things for
granted. He said they should know that there will be challenges ahead
but at the same time understand that these will be the same ones that
are being faced by others.He also said that people should have
a realistic attitude and approach and that they should have full
knowledge of their goal and method. Without these he said the effort
will be unrealistic.He suggested that students have a warm heart so that their knowledge and education become constructive.In response to a question on the Tibetan spirit, His Holiness said Tibetan spirit was very strong in Tibet as well as outside.His
Holiness concluded by saying that his generation belonged to the 20th
century and that the students belong to the 21st century.  He said the
students should have responsibility to take care of this planet and
that they should have a combination of a brilliant mind and a warm
heart.The students thanked him through a video recording that said, “Thank You, Professor” as well as through a prolonged ovation.Thereafter,
His Holiness gave an interview to ABC’s Dan Harris that will be
broadcast in Nightline some time in November.  The interview dealt with
the Buddhist-scientist dialogue that His Holiness had initiated.His Holiness then had lunch with the University President, trustees, and patrons.[Report filed by Bhuchung K Tsering]