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"Tibet Has Come to Washington" DESTRUCTIVE EMOTIONS

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Snow Lion Publications sv\LLionPO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851 607-273-8519 Orders: 800-950-0313 ISSN 1059-3691 SUMMER 2000 NEWSLETTER Volume 15, Number 3 & CATALOG SUPPLEMENT "Tibet Has Come to Washington" DESTRUCTIVE EMOTIONS BY VICTORIA HUCKENPAHLER The Mind and Life Conference 2000 Sogyal Rinpoche comments on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival pro- BY VEN. THUBTEN CHODRON reason. Science sees emotions as gram, Tibetan Culture Beyond the Beginning in the mid-1980s, the having a physiological basis, and Land of Snows; the Ganden Tripa Mind and Life Institute has brought this raises further questions as to opens the first Great Prayer Festival together scientists from various fields human nature and the possibility of held in the West; H.H. Dalai Lama of expertise with His Holiness the pacifying destructive emotions. In addresses an audience of fifty thou- Dalai Lama in a series of confer- the West, emotions are important sand. ences. A theme is picked for each, for determining what is moral, and Under a turquoise sky, the living and five to seven scientists in that morality is essential for the function- mandala of Tibetan culture, which field are selected to make presen- ing of society. Thus working with was a highlight of this year's Smith- tations to His Holiness. These pre- emotions is seen as important for sonian Folklife Festival, spread itself sentations are given in the morning social interaction, not for having a over much of the National Mall, with session each day, and lively discus- good soul or being a good person. a variety of displays and activities sions among these key participants, This leads the West to focus on both sacred and secular. This ethnic who are seated in a circle, occupy self-esteem and self-accomplishment feast, which beside Lama teachings the afternoon session. In addition to as positive emotions, not on having a included Tibetan opera and folk sing- the scientists, two Tibetan-English harmonious inner emotional life. ers, thangka painters, physicians, translators are present. A group of We find three main answers in sculptors, calligraphers, weavers, observers—twenty to forty in num- response to the question, "What are and even yaks, fleshed out the visi- ber—sit around the periphery. The we really like deep down inside?" tor's understanding of Tibet, hitherto atmosphere is informal and intimate. The rational egoists say that we look largely confined to its philosophical The topics of previous conferences out for our own good, and know that and religious traditions. Every person have ranged from physics and astron- only by being nice to others will we who attended owes a deep debt of omy to sleeping and dreaming to the get what we want. The second is that gratitude to Festival organizers and relationship between the mind and we first are selfish and take care of sponsors, among them the Conser- the brain. ourselves and then are compassion- vancy for Tibetan Art and Culture, The eighth Mind and Life Con- ate sharing any extra resources with the Tibetan government-in-exile, the ference, held in Dharamsala March others. The third is that we are Smithsonian Center for Folklife, and From the moment one entered outdoor Festival ran 23-27 June, 20-24, 2000, explored the topic of basically compassionate, but if Tibet House New York. They, along the tent encampment through a bur- and 30 June-4 July) which were destructive emotions. While it is there's scarcity in resources we with 1500 private donors, not only gundy and cobalt arch flanked by scheduled non-stop and often con- impossible to summarize the com- become selfish. His Holiness believes made the event possible, but accom- enormous burners wafting medici- currently, but one could at least par- plex proceedings in a way pleasing human beings are by nature gentle plished the miracle of making it free nal incense across the Mall, one was ticipate in each day's highlights. to all, I will mention a few highlights and compassionate, and due to of charge. immersed in a world whose richness as well as discuss some of the points self-centeredness and ignorance, and diversity one never anticipated DAY ONE: At an opening ceremony I found most interesting. people feel and act in the opposite experiencing outside of pre-Chinese- before the city's Mayor and the Sec- Dr. Owen Flanagan, Professor of way. Still, we cannot say that ordi- Above photo: A prayer wheel on the invasion history books. It was impos- retary of the Smithsonian, Namgyal Philosophy at Duke University, spoke nary human nature is one of cherish- National Mall at the Folklife Festival sible to take in all the events (the monks, joined by H.H. Sakya Trizin, about the role of emotion and virtue ing others. chanted auspicious verses from the in making a good life. The West has Western culture considers love Sutras. Following an introduction by several approaches to this topic. Reli- and compassion to be other-oriented. Lodi Gyari of the International Cam- gious moral philosophy speaks of the His Holiness clarified that in Bud- paign for Tibet, in which he noted destructive nature of some emotions dhism, they are felt towards oneself how the strength and resilience of and the improvement of human qual- as well. Wanting ourselves to be the Tibetan national character had ities through religious practice, while happy and free of suffering is not permitted indigenous religion, arts, secular moral philosophy discusses (Continued on page 2) the topic in terms of democracy and (Continued on page 16) THE ART OF PEACE Nobel Peace Laureates Discuss Human Rights, Conflict and Reconciliation ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins when these rights are denied, and 184 page, cloth, Aug. #ARPE their practical ideas for achieving $22.95 reconciliation. "This is education at its best and At the core of their agenda is the conviction that morality is essential highest...inspiring and uplifting."— for personal, political, social, and JULIAN BOND economic balance. The Laureates: "The road to world peace will Jose Ramos-Horta, East Timor; be long and difficult, but Hopkins Betty Williams, Northern Ireland; Dr. helps lead the way with this land- Rigoberta Menchu Turn, Guatemala; mark book."—Kirkus Reviews Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South While many people strive to bring Africa; President Oscar Arias San- -. I : /::■> Mil V the world into peaceful balance, only chez, Costa Rica; Ham Yawnghwe, a few have had such remarkable for Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma; Bobby impact for their selfless efforts-bring- Muller, Co-Founder of the Interna- ing them international recognition tional Campaign to Ban Landmines, ideas."—Today's Librarian as these nine outstanding individuals and Jody Williams, United States; His The following is an excerpt from who convened recently at the Univer- Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet. the foreword by Jeffrey Hopkins. sity of Virginia to discuss the topics Biographies precede the presen- of Human Rights, Conflict, and Rec- tations which are followed by ques- Bringing Together Great onciliation. In a dynamic exchange, tions from the participants. Hearts and Minds these Laureates shared their views "One of the most wonderful Sometimes it may seem that beings with each other about the impor- aspects of this remarkable book on this planet have reached their tance of basic human rights, their is the interaction between the present state through survival of the concerns about conflicts that arise laureates...a banquet of views and (Continued on page 10) NEWS TIBET IN WASHINGTON India delivered a history of Bon. Continued from page 1 DAY SIX: Representing the Nyingma and sciences not only to avert anni- sect, Sogyal Rinpoche, who also hilation, but to flourish, His Holiness addressed an audience at a local paid tribute to Buddhist practice church the evening before, spoke "which is the source of our survival on the universal validity of Bud- and the centerpiece of our culture." dhism. "The teachings of the Buddha The crowd, spanning advanced are beyond Buddhism, or any other Dharma students, curious tourists, kind of ism," he remarked, "because ordained sangha, and small chil- Dharma is universal truth. Buddha dren, then proceeded past the large didn't come to start a religion, but prayer wheel (a particular favorite of to awaken us to our true nature. I young visitors) to the Tsok Khang, or have students who are priests, good Gathering House, where they were practitioners of their religion, but treated to a demonstration by the they find Buddhism deepens their master religious story-teller, Jhurme. understanding of their own tradi- The tradition of the story-teller, or tion." Reciprocally, Sogyal acknowl- Lama Mani, was one of the delight- edged his growing appreciation of ful discoveries of the Festival, as it Christianity through his increased is seldom mentioned even in ethno- understanding of his own path. "I graphic texts. His function, which went to Catholic school in India originated in the 14th-century with because when we first left Tibet we Thangtong Gyalpo, is to bring the H.H. the Dalai Lama addressing the crowd on the National Mall were wandering around confused Dharma to unlettered nomads in and it was considered that the way remote outposts by recounting tales to learn the outside world was to go from the lives of Tibetan saints, (and animal) behavior. Garbed from rience close-up the presence of the essence from Tibetan culture," to Catholic school," he recalled with neck to toe in heavily brocaded masters normally hard to approach. he advised. "Don't become attached characteristic humor. "I learned the regional costumes and the evocative With its unstructured seating and to the external trappings, but find Lord's Prayer, and I even taught cat- masks of shaggy-haired old men and side flaps lifted to the open air, what in it can give you that mental echism! But I was a little culturally beak-nosed demons, the actors man- the tent permitted serious students peace which goes beyond location uncomfortable because even in my aged, despite soaring summer heat, to sit practically knee-to-knee with and ethnic differences.
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