By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 1: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today concluded the four-day teaching on Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland of the Middle Way with empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, at the main temple of Tsuglakhang.
“It is important to have a righteous intention and not a selfish one when you come to receive an empowerment initiation. You should not aim for personal benefits like long and healthy life and elimination of problems. It is also wrong if you receive it with intend of being reborn as human again or just attaining Nirvana,” said the Dalai Lama.
He added that one should come with a righteous intention of achieving enlightenment to help and benefit all sentient beings.
During the empowerment, His Holiness gave the five-layperson vows including abstaining from killing, lying, drinking, stealing and sexual misconducts. He said that it would be highly beneficial if the devotees incorporate these vows. He also stated that there is no compulsion on the devotees to follow them.
He jokingly added that if a person kills or steals, he/she would end up in jail. “So it would be more beneficial to take these vows as a step forward in attaining enlightenment and also abstain from committing crime.”
The 81-year old highlighted how so many problems these days arise with the attitude to be victorious by defeating others. He stated that it is not related to religion, god or afterlife but that the world would be more peaceful and harmonious place in its absence.
“My responsibility is to introduce and guide you on Buddha Dharma and you have the responsibility to study and practice it,” His holiness said at the end of the teaching. He also playfully pointed out that his work is done now and the devotees’ works are going to begin.
