AnswerFebruary 25 - 7-8pm

ANSWERS: Discussions with Western Buddhists
by H.H. the Dalai Lama, trans. & ed. by Jose Cabezon

In India, at the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, it became a well-established tradition for the Dalai Lama to spend several days each year giving teachings to Buddhists from all over the world. Following his teachings, he held informal group discussions with Western students of Buddhism. In these lively exchanges the Dalai Lama exhibits clear and penetrating insight into issues that are most important to Western students. Some of the topics discussed are: psychology, Christianity, being a practicing Buddhist in the West, spiritual teachers, reincarnation, emptiness, tantra, protector deities, liberation, meditation, compassion, disciplining others, the power of holy places, and retreats.

Moderator: Melissa Smith

AnswerJune 24 - 7-8pm

HEALING ANGER: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective
by H.H. the Dalai Lama, trans. by Thupten Jinpa

Buddhist traditions unanimously state that compassion and love are the foundation of all paths of practice. To cultivate the potential for compassion and love inherent within us, it is crucial to counteract their opposing forces of anger and hatred. The Dalai Lama shows how patience and tolerance overcome the obstacles of anger and hatred. His Holiness presents the practice of the Six Perfections, the central role of bodhichitta, the twelve links of dependent origination, and offers a clear road map for the practitioner to achieve the goal of liberation. The techniques and methods are relevant for everyone—the Dalai Lama shows the power that patience and tolerance have to heal anger and to generate peace in the world.

Moderator: Sian Behnfeldt

 

AnswerAugust 26 - 7-8pm

LIGHTING THE WAY: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective
by H.H. the Dalai Lama

This concise and extremely accessible presentation shows how to apply Buddhist principles in our lives.

Lighting the Way contains 3 fundamental Buddhist teachings given by the Dalai Lama to Western students. "Principles of Buddhism" provides the framework for understanding the Buddha's teaching on the Four Noble Truths, upon which all of his other teachings are based. "Teachings on Eight Verses on Mind Training"comments on a classic text within the genre of Tibetan spiritual writing known as lojong(literally "mind training".) His Holiness often refers to this short work as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion. Finally, the Dalai Lama's commentary on Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment discusses in a lucid and inspiring manner one of the most important texts for serious practitioners of Buddhism.

Moderator: Gabbie Ciuca