Friday, December 21, 2007

Dalai Lama Quote of the Week


A Dalai Lama quote, courtesy of Snow Lion Publications.

Dalai Lama Quote of the Week

...for the Christian practitioner, the Creator and the acceptance of the Creator as almighty, is a very important factor within that tradition in order to develop self-discipline, compassion, or forgiveness and to increase them in one's intimate relationship with God. That's something very essential. In addition, when God is seen as absolute and almighty, the concept that everything is relative becomes a little bit difficult. However, if one's understanding of God is in terms of an ultimate nature of reality or ultimate truth, then it is possible to have a kind of unified approach.

...As to one's personal religion, I think this must be based on one's own mental disposition.... Generally speaking, I think it is better to practice according to your own traditional background, and certainly you can use some of the Buddhist techniques. Without accepting rebirth theory or the complicated philosophy, simply use certain techniques to increase your power of patience and compassion, forgiveness, and things like that.

~ From Healing Anger: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective by H.H. the Dalai Lama, translated by Thupten Jinpa, published by Snow Lion Publications.

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