His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets devotees from Korea, visits Todaiji Temple [Monday, 8November 2010, 5:21 p.m. ]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a group of Korean devotees in Nara, 8 November 2010. Photos / Taikan Usui /OHHDL

Nara, Japan: This
morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave audience to some 300 Korean
monks, nuns and general public who had come all the way from Korea to
attend his teachings at Nara city. His Holiness greeted the gathering
and expressed his happiness over meeting fellow Korean brothers and
sisters. His Holiness said that we are all disciples of a same teacher,
the Lord Buddha. As requested by the delegation, His Holiness gave a
brief teaching on Law of causality and importance of mind training, and
emphasized on proper learning rather than observing faith and Buddhist
ceremonies.  

His Holiness the Dalai Lama joins monks in prayer in front of the Great Buddha statue in Nara.

Later,
led by the chief abbot and the monks of the Todaiji Temple, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the main Temple and offered prayers
along with the monks before the great Daibutsu, 8th century bronze
statue of Buddha. People lined up in a long line in great length
throughout the passage to the main Temple to welcome His Holiness with
greetings, scarves, flowers and hand-waving.   After the
prayer at the main Temple, His Holiness gave a talk to a gathering of
350 Japanese monks, nuns and Buddhist scholar and Shinto priests on the
topic of “What and how should practitioners be?” His Holiness first
spoke on the practice that His Holiness has been observing in his daily
life.   His Holiness said that the Buddhist teaching is
based on the proper understanding of the Four Nobel Truth and the
realization of conventional and ultimate truth. “All the action should
be based on good motivation, as far as the practice and observing the
Buddhist vows is concerned, it has different level. If you have taken
monk’s vow, than you must observe the vows and practice accordingly.
There is no compulsion in Buddhist religion to become a monk, even a
lay person can practice sincerely. But disregarding the monk’s vows and
practice under the excuse that -time has changed etc, is not going to
help oneself nor the Buddhist religion.” Said His Holiness the Dalai
Lama.  

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to over 2000 people in Todaiji Temple in Nara, 8 November 2010.

In the afternoon, His Holiness gave talk to the gathering of monks,
nuns, general public and students at Todaiji Temple’s lawn. More than
2000 people gathered to listen to His Holiness speak on ‘How we can
contribute for peace and environment’. His Holiness thanked the Temple
authorities and the organizers for making this gathering possible at
one of the most venerated and historical Temples in Japan.   His
Holiness said, “we all desire happiness and shun sufferings, in this we
are all same. But human being is a social animal, we are all dependent
on each other including the environment. Therefore, it is of utmost
importance that we respect other’s existence and well-being. Using
force and violence born out of our mental afflictions to resolve
difference has become the thing of past, true practitioners should put
the teaching in use to promote a culture of dialogue and understanding.  
“Concept of “we and they” should be done away with. We all, especially
the young people should work on a ways to include all the 7 billion
world population into “we” definition. In religion also, we need many
religion to satisfy the understanding of different and variety of
people. Most of the world religion talks about peace, love and
compassion, so there is no vast difference. At societal level, we need
several religion with several truth, but at individual level, we can
have one religion based on one truth. So there is basis of
misunderstanding and conflict among the religions.” His Holiness said.  
Advising the young students, His Holiness advised them to be studious
in their study and told them to practice “Thoe, Sam, Gom Sum” [hearing,
thinking and meditation] concept of Buddhist learning. His Holiness
also engaged in questions and answers time with the audience and the
young students.   Abbot of Todaiji Temple, in his thanks
speech said that he was very happy to see so many people in the
vicinity of the Temple, and he was impressed to see His Holiness being
greeted by and shaking hands with Korean, Japanese, Chinese and
Westerners. “This must have been the dream of Emperor Shommu [Japanese
Emperor who built the great statue of the Buddha at Todaiji Temple] who
had preached equality and oneness of all people and faith.”   
One of the Abbots of Japanese monasteries expressed his gratitude and
thanked His Holiness for the frank and invaluable teaching given and
said that many of the monks were greatly inspired to walk in the proper
direction as provided originally by the Lord Buddha.  

His Holiness greets a baby child on visiting Todaiji Temple in Nara, 8 November 2010. Photos / Taikan Usui / OHHDL

His
Holiness the Dalai Lama will leave for Niihama city of Shikoku island
tomorrow where he will have a public discussion with one of Japanese
brain scientists, Mogi Kenichiro. His Holiness will give teaching on
Heart Sutra and Emptiness in the region.

(Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Office of Tibet, Japan)