His Holiness the Dalai lama posing for one of several group photos at the conclusion of his two day meeting with Vietnamese business leaders, artists, intellectuals and members of youth delegations and groups in Vietnam by live teleconference link, at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on May 22, 2018. Photo by Tenzin Choejor

May 22, 2018 Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India – His Holiness the Dalai Lama met Vietnamese business leaders, artists, intellectuals and members of youth delegations for a second time today. First of all he undertook the preparatory ritual for a White Manjushri Permission, while members of the audience recited the mantra of Buddha Shakyamuni. “The 7 billion human beings alive today can be categorized into three groups,” His Holiness explained, “one that does not pay much attention to inner values, another that considers religion to be negative and one that has respect for spiritual practice. Everybody has an equal right to be happy, however, it seems that when faced with difficulties or desperate circumstances, people who have the support of religious belief find it easier not to lose hope.

“Jainism, one branch of the Samkhyas and Buddhism do not believe in a creator. Apart from Buddhism, all other religious traditions accept the notion of an independent, permanent self, or atman. The Buddhist theory of dependent origination means this idea of an independent self is untenable.

“The Buddha taught that things do not exist as they appear. Later, four major schools of thoughts evolved within Buddhism, each of which explains the four noble truths, the two truths and the concept of selflessness, but among them all it is the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) presentation that is most scientific.”

His Holiness explained that destructive emotions arise on the basis of misunderstanding the ultimate nature of things and that by understanding emptiness it is possible to eliminate them at the root.

“In order to properly understand how the wisdom understanding emptiness serves to counteract destructive emotions, it is important to study psychology as explained in the classic India Buddhist texts,” His Holiness remarked.

Clarifying why the realization of emptiness is related to Nirvana or liberation, His Holiness cited Nagarjuna’s ‘Fundamental of Wisdom’:

Through the elimination of karma and mental afflictions there is liberation;
Karma and mental afflictions come from conceptual thoughts
And these come from mental elaboration.
Elaboration ceases through emptiness.

His Holiness also quoted Aryadeva’s ‘Four Hundred Verses’:

As the tactile sense [pervades] the body
Confusion is present in them all.
By overcoming confusion you will also
Overcome all disturbing emotions.

When dependent arising is seen
Confusion will not occur.
Thus every effort has been made here
To explain  precisely  this subject.

His Holiness also explained that understanding emptiness is essential to the attainment of liberation and enlightenment. He further pointed out that the real source of suffering is maintaining an extreme self-centred attitude and the misconception of an independent self. He explained how a sense of concern for others helps counteract anger.

After completing this overview of the Buddha’s teachings, His Holiness gave the permission of White Manjushri, which he reported having received from Tagdrak Rinpoche when he was still young in Tibet. At the end, he asked the Vietnamese to recite the Heart Sutra in their own language. As the session came to an end, he assured the group he would see them next year.