Who can get away with tugging at a yoga guru’s beard, asking, “Is your beard real?” then throwing back his head and laughing — before a large audience at a 2017 meeting for harmony in Mumbai — setting off ripples of laughter all around?
“Prayer alone cannot achieve things. What we need is action more than anything else!” The Dalai Lama is not afraid of opening up to scientific research, experimentation and inquiry to understand human mind and behavior, so that it can lead to wisdom, deep learning leading to universal harmony and peace. He says not to let hatred destroy our practice. “We can work with anger and hatred.”
“Whatever wholesome deed,
Such as venerating the buddhas and practicing generosity,
That have been amassed over a thousand aeons,
Will all be destroyed in one moment of anger.”
You need enthusiasm and desire to improve and learn, to cultivate patience and understanding and to derive strength to overcome hardships in the process.
The second verse on patience, says:
“There is no evil like hatred,
And no fortitude like patience.
Thus I should strive in various ways
To meditate on patience.
“Genuine peace of mind is rooted in affection and compassion. There is a high level of sensitivity and feeling involved.” No external condition can bring us the joy and happiness we seek; these come from within, with a positive attitude free of negativities. This can be achieved with practice of tolerance, patience, compassion and kindness.
