His Holiness Praises University of Minnesota’s Research on Tibetan Form of Healing[Monday, 9 May 2011, 3:50 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving the Medicine Buddha Empowerment at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, on 8 May 2011/Photos/Tashi Khongtsotsang

MINNEAPOLIS:
Addressing dignitaries at a luncheon meeting after an event on Tibetan
cultural and spiritual ceremony promoting personal and societal healing
at the University of Minnesota, His Holiness said  while the Tibetan
Buddhist religion was for individual believers Tibetan culture was
something that was meant for society.His Holiness described the Tibetan medicine as a holistic treatment method. His
Holiness explained briefly the nature of Tibetan Buddhism and the
serious conversations with modern science. He said study of science has
been introduced in Tibetan monasteries in India.  His Holiness
expressed his appreciation of the support that the local people have
been rendering to the Tibetan community. He said although it was a
small community over the years they have not only been able to eke a
living for personally but also do something on the issue of Tibet. Among those present at the luncheon include event sponsors and Congressman Keith Ellison.Prior
to the luncheon meeting, His Holiness led a Tibetan cultural and
spiritual ceremony promoting personal and societal healing, an event
co-hosted by the Center for Spirituality & Healing (CSH) at the
University of Minnesota and the Tibetan American Foundation of
Minnesota (TAFM). His Holiness also gave the Medicine Buddha
Empowerment organised by TFAM.  The two programmes are part of “One
Heart, One Mind, One Universe” event co-hosted by the Center for
Spirituality & Healing (CSH) at the University of Minnesota and the
Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM).

His Holiness the Dalai Lama answering questions from audience during his public talk “Peace Through Inner Peace” held at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, on 8 May 2011

Addressing
6,000 people at the university’s Mariucci Arena, he spoke on the role
of different religion in today’s society, saying they have same
potential to cultivate unbiased compassion. He described the promotion
of compassion as their common mission.His Holiness then gave an
overview of Buddhism emphasizing on the need to study and practice the
philosophy. His Holiness said the root of all problems in this could be
traced to extreme self-centeredness. He suggested that serious Buddhist
practitioner should meditate on the four foundation of mindfulness:
mindfulness of body; mindfulness of feelings; mindfulness of mind; and
mindfulness of Dharmas.His Holiness explained the nature of
“blessing” and how it has to be looked at saying that the Tibetan term
for blessing, Jinlap, was composed of two words literally meaning
bringing about brilliance or majesty through transformation.  He said
the connotation was that something impure was being transformed through
the power of brilliance to something pure.His Holiness said the
mere recitation of prayers was not enough. Peace would not come through
prayer; peace will come through action, he added.Bestowing the
Medicine Buddha Empowerment, His Holiness, as per Tibetan Buddhist
tradition, informed the audience that he had received this empowerment
from both his tutors Taktra Rinpoche as well as Trijang Rinpoche.