DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today began a four-day teaching on Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Wisdom Treatise of the Middle Way (uma tsawa sherab) at the Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. The teaching is organised at the request of a group of devotees from Taiwan.

Over 4000 devotees including 800 Taiwanese Buddhists, local Tibetans and foreigners alike, are attending the teachings.

In his introductory remarks, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: “Tibetan Buddhism is a pure form of Buddhism from the Nalanda tradition. Tibetan Buddhism is generally sub-divided into Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu and Nyingma. There may be minor differences in rituals and the transmission of teachings. However, the root essence of all these sects are one and the same.”

“Due to over indulgence in one’s own sect and rituals, we tend to forget the common essence of our practice sometimes. As a result, we see huge differences in our practice. Therefore, if we all focus on the Nalanda tradition, which is the root of Tibetan Buddhism, our common goals would be more unified,” His Holiness said.

Addressing the Taiwanese devotees, His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged them to deepen their understanding of the roots of Buddhism rather than cling on to the branches of Buddhist practices.

He said: “We are all followers of Nagarjuna and in that sense, we are all one. Even in the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism, though there may be several minor differences in the branches, the foundation is the same. So, we should emphasise more on the foundation to attain a deeper and purer level of understanding.”

“We are going to start teaching on the Middle Way treatises. The Middle Way treatises was available in Chinese language even before Buddhism flourished in Tibet. It is a scripture that has been passed on from generations in China. The Chinese are actually senior students and Tibetans are junior students of Nagarjuna. But due to circumstances, today, the junior students are more reliable and better equipped,” His Holiness said.

Speaking on the common essence of all religions, His Holiness said that all religions speak about tolerance, compassion, contentment and self-discipline. “However, most of these religions command a strict adherence to their beliefs. In the case of Buddha’s teaching, it allow us to form our own opinions based on reason and logic.”

The four-day teaching will conclude on 9 October.