Snow Lion Publications PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851, 5(607)-273-a£ Volume 9, Number 3 — Tj-m —^OLF The Four Noble Truths Reflections on the Challenges of the 21st Century by H.H. the Dalai Lama As the twentieth cen- happiness and try to avoid suffer- views on this. We must, therefore, with universally recognized hu- tury draws to a ing regardless of our race, religion, insist on a global consensus not man rights, these forms of behav- close, we find that sex or political status. Human be- only on the need to respect human ior should change. The universal the world has grown ings, indeed all sentient beings, rights worldwide, but also on the principles of equality of all human smaller. The world's have the right to pursue happiness definition of these rights. beings must take precedence. Ven. Lobsang Gyatso people have become almost one and live in peace and in freedom. Some governments have con- Artificial barriers that have di- community. Political and military As free human beings we can tended that the standards of hu- vided nations and peoples have alliances have created large multi- use our unique intelligence and try man rights laid down in the fallen in recent times. With the dis- national groups; industry and in- to understand ourselves and our Universal Declaration of Human mantling of the Berlin Wall, the ternational trade have produced a world. But if we are prevented Rights are those advocated by the East-West division which has po- global economy. Worldwide com- from using our creative potential, West and cannot be applied to larized the whole world for de- I THE FOUR munications are eliminating an- we are deprived of one of the ba- Asia and other parts of the Third cades has now come to an end. We 1 NOBLE cient barriers of distance, sic characteristics of a human be- World because of differences in are experiencing a time filled with language and race. We are also be- ing. It is often the most gifted, culture and differences in social hope and expectations. Yet there TRUTHS ing drawn together by the grave dedicated and creative members and economic development. I do still remains a major gulf at the §| by Ven. Lobsang problems we face: overpopulation, of our society who become vic- not share this view and I am con- heart of the human family. By this dwindling natural resources, mili- tims of human rights abuses. Thus vinced that the majority of Asian I am referring to the North-South Gyatso tary build-up and aggression, and the political, social, cultural and people do not support this view divide. If we are serious in our 96 pp. $9.95 terrible human rights situations. economic developments of a soci- either, for it is the inherent nature commitment to the fundamental I believe that to meet the chal- ety are obstructed by the viola- of all human beings to yearn for principles of equality, principles After his enlightenment, the Bud- lenges of the next century, human tions of human rights. Therefore, freedom, equality and dignity and which I believe lie at the heart of dha taught the Four Noble Truths, beings will have to develop a the protection of these rights and they have an equal right to achieve the concept of human rights, which are the foundation and es- greater sense of universal respon- freedoms is of immense impor- that. today's economic disparity can no sence of all forms of Buddhism. sibility. Each of us must learn to tance both for the individuals af- I do not see any contradiction longer be ignored. It is not enough The first truth diagnoses the na- work not just for his or her own fected and for the development of between the need for economic to merely state that all human be- ture of our existential illnesses self, family or nation, but for the the society as a whole. development and the need for re- ings must enjoy equal dignity. This and neuroses. The second ex- benefit of all mankind. It is very If we accept that others have spect of human rights. The rich di- must be translated into action. We plores their causes and conditions old-fashioned to think in terms of an equal right to peace and happi- versity of cultures and religions have a responsibility to find ways for arisal. The third shows that the my nation, or my country. Univer- ness as ourselves, do we not have should help to strengthen the fun- to reduce this gap. causes of our problems can be re- sal responsibility is the real key to a responsibility to help those in damental human rights in all com- In this context, another impor- moved and that we can be free human survival. need? Respect for fundamental munities. Underlying this diversity tant issue is overpopulation. From from suffering. The fourth in- Whether we like it or not, we human rights is as important to are fundamental human principles a Buddhist point of view, the life cludes the many paths of practice have all been born on this earth as the people of Africa and Asia as it that bind all of us as members of of every sentient being is precious, that Buddhism offers to realize part of one great family. Rich or is to those in Europe or the Ameri- the same human family. Diversity and birth control is not favored. that goal. The Buddha has shown poor, educated or uneducated, cas. All human beings, whatever and traditions can never justify the But today we are facing a situation that the spiritual path is pragmatic black, white or yellow, belonging their cultural or historical back- violations of human rights. Thus, where the growing number of and works directly with everyday to one nation, religion, ideology or ground, suffer when they are in- discrimination of persons from a people poses a threat to the sur- experience in order to fundamen- another, ultimately each of us is timidated, imprisoned or tortured. different race, of women, and of vival of humanity. Therefore, I per- tally transform the practitioner. just a human being like everyone The question of human rights is so weaker sections of the society sonally feel we need to be Ven. Lobsang Gyatso is the Di- else. We have the common human fundamentally important that may be traditional in some re- pragmatic and adopt birth control rector of the Institute of Buddhist needs and concerns. We all seek there should be no difference of gions, but if they are inconsistent Continued on page 5 Dialectics in Dharamsala, India. He is a meditation master who lives his life according to the Bud- dhist philosophy of wisdom and Nawang Khechog to Tour with compassion. Kitaro Here is an excerpt from Chap- has produced three albums and touring with Kitaro's "Mandala" ter 4, "How True Origins Give Rise performed internationally at a tour throughout Japan, the Ameri- to True Suffering": wide range of venues including cas, S.E. Asia, Australia and Eu- Ignorance is the very root of all the Pentagon, World Peace Festi- rope. His new CD and cassette the origins of suffering and vals, Carnegie Hall, The National album, produced by Kitaro and samsara. The question then be- Gallery in Washington, D.C., U.N. distributed worldwide by Kitaro's comes "Is there any way to get rid General Assembly Hall for the new record label, Domo Music of that ignorance?" If there were opening of the 1992 Earth Summit Group, will be released by the end no way to do so, it would be better and the opening of several public of this year. His three previous not to introduce people to these addresses by H.H. the Dalai Lama cassettes are now distributed by ideas about suffering or to say life Nawang has collaborated with Snow Lion Publications. They re- is in the nature of suffering. numerous other leading musicians tail for $10 each. Their titles are Rather, it would be kinder just to such as Paul Simon, Richie Ha- Sounds of Peace, Rhythm of let them be happy in their own vens, Paul Winter, Carlos Nikai, Peace, and Sounds of Inner Peace. situations. Suffering and its causes Nawang Khechog is one of Nawang was a monk for 11 years Baba Olatunji and most recently, are explained only in the context Tibet's foremost contempo- studying philosophy and medita- Kitaro. During 1994-95, Nawang is of a way to abandon them. rary musicians. He is a Tibetan- tion with many Tibetan masters If a poor family had no means born Australian citizen and now and also living as a hermit medi- to buy food, it would be better not an American resident. Since China tating in the Himalayan foothills. Order from our toll free number to tell them their diet was really took over Tibet, he has lived over Nawang aims to utilize music as thirty years in India as a refugee. an instrument for world peace. He 1-800-950-0313 Continued on page 19 SUMMER '94 SUPPLEMENT SNOW LION 1 TIBETAN LANGUAGE "-G"-" CORRESPONDENCE COURSE Little Buddha, Little Buffalo: <M, Home study program of colloquial and The Emerging Saga of Tatanka Changlochen Rinpoche Wf(^~ scriptural Tibetan emphasizing spoken m&g^Dharma. Text, tapes and ongoing help. Sarah Harding by Steven McFadden 1630 30th St.,Box 356 Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 499-3*41 a confident and independent s£ youth. As with many boys his age, he has a passion for comic books, football, baseball, video games (in- Tibetan Culture House cluding Super Mushroid), and also Dungeons and Dragons.