The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings Session 3 – Wisdom 1. General Introductions 2. Summary of Key Points in Dalai Lama’s words as selected by editor Forsthoefel in the form of paraphrase. 3. Video excerpt from Vancouver Peace Summit – Nobel Laureate’s Conversation - 27 September Break 4. Discussion in Small Groups on Chapter 3.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Wisdom is Buddhist Metaphysics Wisdom is the capacity to see rightly. Universal responsibility based on kindness has become a question of survival. No absolute – everything relative. Must judge according to circumstances. All things have 2 sides. Only a strong will can manage feelings.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Certain sufferings can be mitigated, other sufferings are insurmountable and one must develop the right attitude to this. How one perceives life plays a role in attitude towards suffering. We add to our pain unnecessarily. We are one planet. Our neighbour’s interests are our own as well. Your well being depends other people.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom In harming our enemy we harm ourselves. All major religions recognize compassion. There are no human beings who are irrelevant to your life. Cause and Effect are in everything. There are 2 sorts of cause: substantial cooperative.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Substantial Cause – the seeds of our present circumstance: our previous state of mind, the situation outside ourselves. Cooperative Cause – the growing of those seeds: our character, concerted effort, meditation, training, progress.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom We believe we are independent but we are not. It is the root of our misery. Everyone and everything is interdependent. Every action, every deed has consequence for others. The difference between ourselves and others is an exaggeration. Too much “me” means too much “mine”.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Concept of “Emptiness” comes from this understanding of interdependence. Emptiness is not finding any independent existence – a flower is not among its parts. Things do not exist as they seem to. Things do exist – it is only that they do not exist without interdependence. The appearance of independence is the illusion.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Our perception and naming of reality is recognizing the complex causes that everything contains. Some cause leads to suffering, other cause leads to happiness – that wisdom is ethics. Ethics is the interface between my happiness and yours. Compassion is an aspiration – wanting others to be free of suffering.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Mahayana monks devote themselves to generosity, ethics and patience, and so develop wisdom. Suffering has 3 levels: sensory - physical and mental pain, change - disillusionment and dissatisfaction, conditioning – life’s apparent reality, our negative emotions, and non-enlightened existence.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Karma – the consequence of past actions – appears stuck in a cycle of suffering. Renunciation is not of goods but of state of mind. Buddhist understanding of “soul” is the continuance of individuality from moment to moment and from lifetime to lifetime. Soul is not unchanging.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Our existence is utterly contingent. Intention results in actions. Retaliation leads only to suffering. It is very short- sighted. Insight into selflessness is antidote to delusion. One’s pain is one’s own creation.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom Comfort and discomfort are in your own hands. Reflecting on these things increases one’s worth and confidence. When the mind can dwell in wisdom that knows the ultimate mode of being, one is able to destroy the deepest root of distortion, negative karma and sorrow.” The more honest you are, the more self-confident you will be.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom The root cause of one’s spiritual development is oneself. Dissatisfaction is the seed of anger. We can lose hope or we can wake ourselves up. Spiritual happiness is not like that gained through materialistic, political or social success … it has further supports. A change of heart is a change of mind.

Paraphrased Selections From Chapter 2 - Wisdom A video excerpt from the Vancouver Peace Summit yesterday 27 Sep 09, as webcast by CTV, “I don’t know” The conversation was held on the subject of compassion between the Dalai Lama and 5 woman Nobel Laureates, immediately after Karen Armstrong’s presentation on her Charter for Compassion.

The Dalai Lama – Essential Writings Ch 2 – Wisdom – Buddhist Metaphysics Break - Group Discussions