Dalai Lama
My true religion, my simple faith is in love and compassion. There is no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are - these are ultimately all we need.
In light of heated debate recently, I felt this was a timely bit of wisdom.
This is my belief as well. Thanks for the quote LG.
“faith in love and compassion” - well said. This is faith we can all share!
[QUOTE=lotusgirl;37019]Dalai Lama
In light of heated debate recently, I felt this was a timely bit of wisdom.[/QUOTE]
Religion is simple: be good and do good.
BuddhaSpirituality is more complex - reasoned love and compassion.
The head and the heart must come into balance. If one is all heart, they are beautiful, but a sentimental fool.
[QUOTE=Surya Deva;37261]If one is all heart, they are beautiful, but a sentimental fool.[/QUOTE]
Likewise if one is all head.
Our reason colors perception, and mind infests it with “I”. The masters like Dalai Lama experience the world ‘as is’ free from both. One-point religion is making our heart worthy of being a temple. Thanks, LG.
Rather, that should be our body should be like a temple. The body is both the heart and the head. Not just the heart. Jnana shows you the way and karma and bhakti is the vehicle. The heart is thus guided first by the head. First develop the head, then develop the heart.
Those who develop the heart first fall into the trap of sentimentality.
Perhaps yes. But then sentimentality leads to sensitivity, that becomes emotional intelligence and finally, spiritual intelligence. Head is just an organ.
More often than not sentimentality leads to gullibility, fantasy and blind faith and leaves one ripe to being manipulated and abused. The head is not just an organ it is the control centre for all the organs in the body. It is what coordinates everything and keeps everything functioning in relational order.
The discussion we are having now has already been had between Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna was speaking for the path of the heart of showing compassion and love for his brethren. Krishna then taught him his folly, that his compassion and love was not guided by the clear sight of knowledge. The ones he was showing compassion and love for were determined in killing Arjuna and forcibly annexing his kingdom from him. If Arjuna had allowed this to happen on the pretext of compassion and love, he would have allowed unrighteousness to prevail over righteousness and brought misery to the people he was sworn to protect. Thus Krishna reminded him of his duty as a warrior to protect the people. He was speaking to his head, not his heart.
The Gita’s message is about skill in action. Whatever you do, first be very clear what it is you are doing by conceptualizing the idea. As everything first begins as an idea and let that idea be free of all doubts. Then when you have a clear idea, you execute that idea with full conviction and faith(sharada). Heart follows head.
Similarly, in spirituality if one does not first develop their head and goes straight to heart, they are pretty much embarking on a 1000 mile journey without a map and a compass. They will get lost most definitely.
As for myself I can safely say I have the map and the compass.
Bon Voyage, my dear friend.
Fools stand near the flowers and have not the eyes to see nor nose to smell.
Fools stand near the mountain spring and do not bend to have a drink.
Fools think that world was created so that they can save it.
Fools think they are mountains of light and all others are valleys of darkness.
Fools discuss the poetry threadbare.
Wise listen to the poem and are mesmerized.
The Dalai Lama’s words were simple. It is an idea that can be held by all. If you strip off all the dogma and science, it comes down to love and compassion. That is a creed we can all live by.
@Surya
At least with sentimentality you know you are a feeling, caring human being. Things don’t always need to dissected. I like Suhas Tambe’s idea of where sentimentality leads. Nice way of looking at it.
I am more than an emotional human being. I am also a rational being and a spiritual being. Blind love and compassion is foolish. Reasoned love and compassion driven by the direct realization of spirit is divine.
Who said anything about blind love and compassion? And what difference would it make. I don’t think it foolish at all. There is nothing, IMO, reasoned about love and compassion. I believe each human deserves love and compassion. It is when we can look beyond all the stuff that makes up a person and see love and compassion, feel love and compassion.
Does Ted Bundy, Hilter etc deserve love and compassion?
@Surya Deva
Ted Bundy and Hitler deserving of love and compassion.....well, yes. And what does hatred do? Love and compassion toward all sentient beings.Namaste Lotusgirl,
Unfotunately this is where doctrines like this fall face flat. Sensible people would not give people like Ted Bundy and Hitler love and compassion, and for very good reason.
Likewise, if somebody is intent on killing you charges at you, you would fight for your life even if it meant killing the other person.
Ironically, it is those people who talk about unconditional love and compassion for everybody that end up being the most violent and destructive to others.
Truth of it is we don’t know what happened in the lives of the above mentioned to make them who they became. It is obvious they were suffering. The only way to eliminate suffering is through love and compassion. Should they have paid for their crimes? Yes. But in a more humane way. I do not believe in the death penalty.
You do bring up an interesting point about fighting for your life. I would like to say I would not harm the other person. But I don’t know how I would actually react. When is it justified? I don’t know. But I feel that if you practice loving kindness you are less likely to be put in that situation and if you find yourself there you will hopefully resolve it with neither person being hurt.
Ironically, it is those people who talk about unconditional love and compassion for everybody that end up being the most violent and destructive to others.
I can't say how much I disagree with this. I don't and can never agree with this. I try to practice unconditional love and compassion and feel that I've never been destructive to others. I must say I take offense to this statement. Can you give me some examples of people who practice unconditional love and compassion and how they have been violent and destructive?What would be more humane to deal with somebody like Hitler and Ted Bundy? To confine them, feed them, clothe them with taxpayers money? What does one do with a mad dog? They put it to sleep. In fact the greatest act of compassion towards of souls of people like Hitler and Ted bundy is to release them from their evil bodies, so they can go on and continue with their spiritual evolution. In a way by punishing them here we are reducing some of their karmic burden.
To me love and compassion does not mean being nice, it means doing what is best for the soul of a person. Love and compassion to the souls of Hitler and Ted Bundy is ending their miserable lives which has lead to them doing such evil things. If a body is not serving you it is better to just end that body. This is why I believe in the option to end life if that is the best option in the end. For example somebody dying painfully from a terminal disease should have that option.
It is not true that if you are practice loving kindness you are less likely to be in that situation. You can still be murdered, raped, beaten up, mugged even if you are a good person. You do not have to think very far back to see what I say is true. Look what happened to the peace loving Tibetean people at the hands of the Chinese. If you are faced with an evil person, either you are going to get harmed or they are going to get harmed. Most sensible people would prefer the latter happens. You would, like any human or animal would, fight back if somebody was trying to harm you. In fact, in subtle ways you fight with me all the time when you feel your beliefs are being attacked. You are as human as we all are.
Can you give me some examples of people who practice unconditional love and compassion and how they have been violent and destructive?
Again I must remind you of the history of Christianity which is built on this doctrine of unconditional love and compassion. Countless Christian saints were also behind crusades, inquisitions and witch burnings. The operative word in what you said is you try to practice unconditional love and compassion. So have countless others throughout history and look at the results. It is easy for a sensible person to see this doctrine is unrealistic. I could try all my life to put a circle peg in a triangular hole, it’s never going to happen.
Therefore love should and compassion always be guided by wisdom. Simply being nice to everybody is foolishness.