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This is a transcript of Wisdom of Happiness, which is narrated by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at age 89. He has spent his life thinking about the wellbeing and suffering of all sentient beings. In this film he has distilled down some of the most important concepts for peace of mind and a more peaceful society. It really touched me; so much that I wrote down every word. I did not copy this transcript, I paused and rewound, and listened as carefully as I could.
https://www.wisdomofhappinessfilm.com/
May all sentient beings be happy.
-Brooke
Transcript
Brothers and sisters of this small planet
some of you may come here just out of curiosity
then people who come here with some expectation
some kind of miracle blessing or something like that
then don't expect much
I want to make clear
we are same human beings
now, if you give me permission to use my broken English
Deep inside, without any question,
everybody, every sentient being,
wants peace, happiness
but our 21st century will not be easy century
fear, anger, hatred
so, our world needs knowledge about our mind
about our emotions
and how to tackle these emotions
now, my commitment, I try to share the ancient knowledge
about how to develop peace of mind
not talking about God, not talking about next life
Oh, this very life, how to build peaceful mind
Today's world, everybody busy, busy, busy
too much stress, too much worry, too much sense of competition
When your mind is little bit disturbed,
until you forget about the causes
and just concentrate on breathing
take deep breathing
then hold
then blow
again
take breathing
remain
and out
your heart beating naturally reduces
calmness, openness
when we face some problems
if you look that problem from wider perspective
there are a lot of signs to be hopeful
so everything depends on your own mental attitude
particularly my life become complicated, difficult life,
that these knowledge
very very helpful
to maintain peace of mind
at age 16
Chinese invasion happened
military occupation
Chairman Mao,
I believed very close friend
I consider him as my father
But then his own power spoiled himself
I told Tibetans, "Be Peaceful"
Chinese also should not use military force
At age 24 things become very difficult
a serious threat on my own life by Chinese
the 10th of March, 1959
Several thousand Tibetans organized to defend Dali Lama
serious situation
we noticed every night
Chinese troop movement and more guns
if something happens, then thousands of people will die
the next one week I try my best to cool down
the Chinese authority strengthen suppression
worry, (tantamount?)
there is no other alternative for the good of Tibetan people, I escaped,
not knowing whether I would see the next day or not
most in my mind is fear, anxiety, doubt, hesitation, sadness
I lost my own country
when we reached India, (azz zsjih zsjuh foo shi?), there were a lot of problems
but we free from Chinese forces
we get some extraordinary feeling, freedom
After I reach India
and our immediate concern is several thousand refugees who followed me
and the situation is in Tibet always bad news sad news
killing, arrest, torture
heartbreaking
So I dedicated my body, speech, and mind to wellbeing of others
to wellbeing of Tibetans
and wellbeing of humanity
of course, on this planet, one Dali Lama
so, you could get the feeling of lonely, very unhappy person
no wife, no children, nothing, he ha ha ha ha
but I believe entire eight billion human beings are actually my brother sisters
so there is no business of unhappiness or loneliness
as long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain
I will serve them
so that gives me tremendous sort of inner strength
on the basis of oneness of 8 billion human beings
we should take care of each other
my own case: my mother, so kind
I never saw the angry face of my mother
my father, occasionally, beating (heheh)
because you see my father he loves his moustache
I usually sit beside my father
then sometimes I sort of pull his moustache
then he lost his anger
so usually I'm telling people, I believe the real teacher of compassion for me is my mother
My mother, farmer, illiterate, uneducated, poor, but very wholehearted person
at a very young age my only interest is to play
no interest about Buddhism, no knowledge about my reincarnation of 13th Dali Lama
great reluctance, start learning by heart these texts
At that time, myself and my elder brother, we both monks, we both studied together
So my tutor kept two whips. One whip: ordinary whip. One whip: yellow holy whip.
The holy whip for holy person Dali Lama.
But you can imagine, if that holy whip used, I don't feel any "holy" pain, I feel pain instead (hahahah). So out of fear I studied these texts. When my lesson with my tutor was not very well, I little cry, then as soon as finish that lesson, I went to my mother's place and cry in front of my mother (hehehahaha). Then she take me and give me full love and compassion. She don't care about the tradition. She feels more concern about her baby's desire. So, that showed me, my mother, she loves me. She very much showing concern, love. That experience really imprint in my mind. How many years since my mother died. Occasionally I feel, "where is my mother?" (hahahahaha)
Compassion is the sense of concern of others' suffering and others' wellbeing. Warm-heartedness, love and compassion: is the same. Compassion is the key factor.
Like any other sentient being, we do not want suffering. We want a happy life. So, let us look nature. Beasts. Every member of that group feels secure. Feels happy. If some hostile animal comes, they wholeheartedly work together. They have a very strong sense of community. Live together. Share together. Full cooperation. All without training. Simply biological factor, like mother shows sense of concern for their youngsters, their children. Their youngsters survival or wellbeing entirely depends on mother's care, or someone else's care.
So, like other social animals, we are that nature. So, therefore, now some scientists say, basic human nature is more compassionate. It is true. It is true.
Wherever you live, we are mentally, emotionally, we are all same. Biologically we are all equipped with a seed of compassion. For example, young children, no enemy. I think usually children, very young children, they don't care about differences. They simply appreciate love, affection, smile, play together. They don't care about different nationality, different color, different religion. The sameness of human beings is very much alive. The very basis of violence is not there. Then gradually, they join school, then there is too much emphasis on these differences.
But, we are equal. 100% equal. When I was young, I followed my father's pattern: short-tempered. The later part of my life, I followed my mother through looking inward. Through training.
I watch anger itself. We have the ability, when negative emotion develops, and try to separate and watch that emotion. The problem is, when negative emotions develop, our whole mind is taken over and will not see objectively the reality. So any decision under strong emotion often becomes wrong. Too much frustration, hopelessness, demoralized: that mental attitude very harmful for our health. We really become slaves of our destructive emotions.
Destructive emotions bring suspicion. Suspicion destroys trust; openness. With that kind of attitude, looking forward, suspicion, looking to the side, suspicion. Anyone who creates some problem, we consider enemy. Result: our inner door closed. So, with that feeling, difficult to communicate with other people, other fellow human beings. But your successful life depends on them. After all you are a social animal, you are part of the community. If you have too much self-centered attitude, not thinking others, because of that attitude, then more fear, anxiety, these things happen. Constant anger, fear, eating immune system, some scientists say that.
So, therefore, we can say the very purpose of our life is happiness, joyfulness.
Our other source of inner peace is our intelligence. The source of ability to analyze or investigate, that is very very precious. So, smart brain wonderful, human creative nature because of this brain. Since my childhood, I have keen interest about science. The scientific way of thinking. Not based on faith, but investigation. Even Buddha's own words, we always raise question, "Why? Why Buddha say that?" Not just faith, not belief, but investigate.
Quantum physicists, like Buddhism, say there is big difference appearance and reality. Appearances, if there is something positive we develop attachment, if negative we develop fear and anger, all on the level of appearances. If you go deeper level, that's not reality.
I realized through my discussions with Western scientists, they never paid attention about mind and emotions. Only physical brain. All emotions, constructive emotions, destructive emotions, part of our mind. But what is mind. Human mind is shapeless, not solid, but very strong. Tibetan Buddhist tradition is very much logical approach of training of mind. So, therefore scientific research and our Tibetan tradition should be combined. Many scientists now accepted besides brain there is mind that control our brain and emotions.
Our peaceful mind is something like inner temple. Most important is, your mind must be very calm. So, now we need some sort of education about different, usually I call, map of mind, map of emotions. Analyze, thinking thinking, analyze, what kind of emotion is useful, what kind of emotion harmful? Anger is destructive, compassion is constructive. Anger and compassion cannot go together. Now we should pay more attention how to strengthen the positive emotions and that automatically reduce negative emotions. Nothing to do with religion. Use our common sense as a human social animal, social human being. So, we need those kind of emotions that bring together, that's very important.
Anger expels, loving kindness bring together.
For infinite love and compassion, to minimize destructive emotions, you need tremendous determination or willpower. For that you need self confidence. You need a strong sense of self. I can do. I can change my mind. I can reduce anger, hatred, these destructive emotions. Everything depends on our own sense of compassionate motivation.
First, love oneself, that's very essential. If you have some self-hatred, impossible to develop compassion towards others. So first, maximum care for oneself.
Now for example, my own case, I love myself. But not self-cherishing, I'm just a human being. So, I deserve happiness, I deserve to overcome suffering. Then for that reason, extend love to others. So, we are selfish but should be wise selfish, not foolish selfish. Even from the selfish viewpoint, taking care of others more you get maximum benefit.
So, altruism really creates inner peace. Respect others. Love others. With that reflection, whole atmosphere appears peaceful. The compassionate mind is so important for individual level, family level, community level, finally world level.
I admire modern civilization, I really admire. We human beings, we all have this marvelous human brain. Science develops so we very much excited. All our hope put on science and technology. A lot of change, positive change, develops. Technology helps our life become easier. But too much sense of competition, always want more more more. Discontent. Jealousy. Greed. Result: millions of people are not very happy deep inside. Lack of human affection, lack of compassion, and you may feel lonely, desperate. The whole society materialistic life, materialistic culture.
I also love to visit shops. A lot of articles, beautiful articles. First reaction: oh, this is beautiful, I want to buy. Then second thought, "you really need that?" Answer is no. Materialistic life so important to us, it is supposed to bring happiness, though happiness is the key factor. But all materialistic experience is temporary. So long as that experience there, you get some sort of satisfaction. Desire. Desire. Always want more, more, more. Everything immediately. Once that's finished, it's gone.
On this planet, money's important. But the ultimate source of happiness is within ourselves.
Like any other sentient being, we do not want suffering. Yet, due to short-sighted, self-centered, narrow-minded thinking, a lot of problems essentially our own creation.
Thousands of species of mammals, birds, they never develop war. Only our creation, organized violence. Only human beings. We make distinction: my religion, their religion, different nationality, different color, too much division. So, that kind of thinking, what kind of result? Look 20th century and century before that. Too many war. Too many killings. All based on "we and they".
If I have too much emphasis, I am Asian, I am Tibetan, I am Buddhist, then you yourself make some kind of barrier. We created these distinctions; different races, different countries, different social status. In our mind, very strong concept of we and they. it is the source of problems. So, with that concept: exploit others, bully others, war with others. A few thousand years, human society, war, killing. We are brothers, sisters, how can we kill each other?
In human history, millions of people killed but no one's victory eliminate all their, sort of, how say they, so-called enemies who have different interest or different views. No.
It is impossible to wipe out all the people who you feel some negative, impossible. Whether we like it or not, we have to live together.
Since the early sixties, whole Tibetan area military occupation. But before that, traditionally, Tibetan culture, culture of peace, culture of compassion, culture of non-violence.
Intentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place. Lot of suffering, lot of pain.
1 million Tibetans killed Since 1959 through starvation and torture in gulag. Our identity, culture, the Chinese authority tried to destroy it. Unfortunately, Chinese government carried easiest method, they simply deny the reality, and they create just propaganda. Every community their spirit is very important. That spirit with their identity, culture, faith eliminated: that's detonation.
But our strength is truth. In the long run power of truth and compassion is much much stronger than power of gun.
But, you see killing human beings, each other, in the name of, worst thing is in the name of different faith, unthinkable! All religions, you see, carry the message of love, loving-kindness, and forgiveness, tolerance.
I think in the world, many heroes come. They mercilessly eliminate their opposition. Most of the heroes: hero means killer. Most of them: men. More aggressive, more brutal, brutalists. Men use too much violence. They are slaves to their destructive emotions. Male dominance: that's ancient but old way of thinking. That kind of thinking must change.
As far as intelligence is concerned, all human beings: same! But I think generally females have more sense of, sort of, sense of others' wellbeing. So therefore, more females should take responsibility. I feel world become safer. I feel that. In Tibetan history, a lot of important spiritual leaders were, right from the beginning, female. Even reincarnated Dalai Lama. It's not unusual. So in future, could be, more useful, maybe, a female Dalai Lama.
If majority of world leaders eventually become female, maybe more peaceful world.
Today's world, everything's interdependent. The East and West, and South and North, heavily interconnected. That's now new reality. Because of environment problems, global economy, and modern technology, we are very close to each other. Under that circumstances destruction of this planet is actually destruction of yourself. I'm usually describing Tibet, a lot of snow, and most of the major rivers that cover most of Asia come from Tibet. So, preserving Tibetan ecology is not only interest for Tibetans, but whole Asia. When I was young in Winter we had a lot of snow, then year by year, less and less and less. Within my own lifetime we witnessed global warming increasing. Decade by decade. The whole world due to global warming: serious problem. So now, our common responsibility: work together. How to protect our world? How to save our world? Fire, water, wind.
Meanwhile we fight each other. We create a lot of problems by ourselves. It's quite sad. Now there's not much time. The question is whether we properly use time or not. Moon, Mars, you see in night sky, beautiful, but if you go there, hopeless. So, this is our only home. We must work together. This is not matter of just talk. It's a matter of practice. Can you do that?
Taking care about environment should be part of our daily life. We have to learn from past, become more mature. But our mental state still remains old-fashioned. So, we need a different behavior and the new thinking.
The problem is our mind is easily scattered, irritated. Deep inside, even small problem appears unbearable. When some real problems happen, we feel helpless. Deep inside, lot of anxiety. When you feel stress, fear, distrust, then try to look at that emotion, then the intensity already reduces.
In order to achieve calm mind, detach. Just concentrate on breathing. Take deep breathing. And then, hold. Then blow. Again, take deep breathing, try to extend the period remain. Peace, tranquility, calm.
Gradually you get the feeling of clarity. With that mental clarity, we can change our mind and all our emotions. That brings more inner strength, more self-confidence, reduced fear, suspicion. We become more mature. More compassionate attitude automatically opens our inner door.
Peace and violence are ultimately linked with our emotions. So, we must deal with emotions. When you develop some worry, analyze through meditation. Investigate. What is the root worry and come from where?
Now you realize, on a deeper level, all destructive emotions are not based on reality. Reality, 90% of negativeness is mental projection. So, the destroyer of inner peace is not external enemy, but our own internal enemy.
Through meditation we can develop compassion. The moment you think about others, your mind becomes wider, open. Think about others' infinite suffering and pain. So, utilize the power of compassion. If you have a more serious practice of compassion, that's the ultimate source of peace of mind.
So, according my own experience, training of mind is the key factor for happy life. So, through training, you can change your emotions. But it takes time. One week or month or years or decades, constant effort, eventually changing your mental attitude.
Usually people consider meditation means close eyes and not thinking. Thoughtless state of mind. But you can't remain all your life thoughtless, hahahah. So, therefore, my main meditation is analytical meditation about the ultimate reality. I try to find, where is I, self? Beside this body and mind, where is I? You can't find. There is no independent self. At the same time real troublemaker is self-centered attitude. In reality, everything is interdependent, interconnected.
Dharamsala, in India, for over 50 years this is my home. One way I'm the guest of Indian government, one way I'm like refugee.
My own case, about Tibetan situation: I never give up. We are not seeking independence from China. We want to remain within Chinese union provided we have the right to preserve our own culture, our own language. I never felt some kind of negative feelings, anger or hatred, towards Chinese hardliners.
I always make distinction: actor and action. As far as action is concerned, stop their wrongdoing, unjust doing. But without anger, without hatred, without violence. As far as actor is concerned. Forgiveness. I visualize these Chinese officials and take their fear, their anger, their hatred, and give them patience, tolerance, compassion.
Everyone who comes from one's own mother has a seed of that compassion. So you develop sense of concern to everybody regardless others' attitude. Once you achieve that kind of mental ability then that compassion is genuine unbiased, limitless, infinite. That we can do because of this marvelous intelligence. So your troublemaker, your so-called enemy is your best teacher to practice patience, loving-kindness, and compassion.
Whenever we have some different views, different interests, we have to find ways and means to solve that through dialog. In order to carry meaningful dialog, your mind must be very calm. We use our traditional Tibetan debate. Differences are itself, not bad. Without contradiction, no progress. Buddhist tradition, as soon as some conflict there, the immediate response is dialog, lots of dialog. Respect others' right, others' interest. Discuss, peacefully. Dialog is the only way to develop mutual understanding and inner disarmament. With different views there is a possibility to synthesize new ideas, new things.
Biologically, all social animals have the sense of community. Without community, one single individual human being cannot survive. So, we should develop in reality, we're entire 8 billion human beings are one human community. We are brother sisters, humanity.
We should make compassion something alive. In the (individual?), in the family, in the community. We are social animals! Full cooperation is very essential. In order to develop cooperation, trust is very important. Trust come from compassion, sense of concern of wellbeing of others. Every individual human being's life entirely depends on the rest of the community. Therefore a more compassionate society is everyone's interests.
Everybody wants a happy life, peaceful life, peaceful world. But a peaceful society cannot come by order, only by individual initiative. So, therefore, I feel, we must include education about how to tackle our emotions.
Through education we must teach inner values. Long term that's the only way. The whole purpose of education is trying to know reality. That means, try to reduce the gap: reality and our perception. Our brain must be combined with warm-heartedness, sense of moral principle. Then this smart brain become constructive.
How to reduce anger, jealousy, a sense of competition. From kindergarten level, and up to university level, how to develop peace of mind. Firstly you yourself should be a peaceful person. So, think more carefully and long-sighted without attachment. Each individual should be warm-hearted person, (?sensible?) person. Then extend your experience. Extend! love to others. Then, step by step, with patience, with determination, we can make society a more happier, more peaceful society. Through education, through knowledge, through training our mind, we can develop positive emotions. Nonviolence, compassion, and self-confidence. These are key factors for happy individual, happy community, peaceful world.
There's a story about one Tibetan Lama, when he's about to die, his disciples showed sadness and cried. And he asked why you get so sad? And they say, "up till now we have our guru, but when we face our problems, how to do? To whom will rely?" Then the dying Lama stated, "you already have enough knowledge or experience, so from now on you don't need any Lama."
Dear brothers and sisters, we are in the 21st century. Time is always moving. With new time, new reality is there. So, things are changing all the time. The reality itself is now telling us our way of thinking must also change. We have to think about how we should start this new change. So, I take the opportunity to share my dream for an energetic, long future, bright future. This century should be century of compassion, century of peace. No more bloodshed. Now time come we should develop big we rather than we and they. Of course it takes time, not easy. But our life very much depends on hope. No guarantee about future, but we live with hope. So in our daily life always keep thinking, I can make contribution. If I do, then other 10 people, 100 people, 100,000s, that's the way to do. Optimism is the basis of our successful life.
So, my friends, you yourself are the master of yourself. Disturbances, anger, fear, jealousy, are bound to happen. But only on surface level. Come, go, come and go. No matter what circumstances, deep inside you can sustain inner peace, inner calmness. Peaceful mind all the time. Whenever you get some doubt, utilize your human brain, maximum way, and combine your smart brain with warm-heartedness. With these two wings together, we can fly. So as long as you live, serve others, help others, never bring harm on others. So, now let us, this 21st century, be happy, peaceful, and climatically suitable, that's in our own hands. Hehhahaha.
Thank you. Thank you.