Dalai Lama: "Study of religion essential to understand right and wrong"

On Sunday from India, His Holiness urged people to study and use the knowledge of religion to understand what is right and wrong.

“To understand what is the right path, one needs to base knowledge upon extensive study. At the same time, one should not just be satisfied by attaining bookish knowledge, but understand and implement it in the course of life.”

Praising India for its proverbial "Unity in diversity", His Holiness noted that the world could take a lesson in tolerance from India.

“The world today is torn apart in the name of religion. India, on the other hand, has religions that were born inside it and those that came from other countries. Despite this, it treats different religions at par and is highly tolerant.”

The Dalai Lama also added that people should try to learn the principles of different religions — which espouse the universal message of peace and non-violence, and reminded us that Gautam Buddha was not treated as God in Buddhist philosophy and that he was a human being.

“Buddha was a human being and he lived a normal mortal life. Hence, we do not call Buddhism a religion of the Gods, but a religion of the people."

Read the entire article at the cities.expressindia.com web site.

Little Black Book (year 5)

I did not know Bishop Ken Untener from the Diocese of Saginaw, but the extension of his ministry through the Little Black/Blue/White Books has provided so many of us with an opportunity to reflect on the life of Jesus. This is my fifth year reading daily from these tiny gems during the Lent, Easter and Advent seasons. Bishop Untener died in 2004, but his work continues through the ladies of the Diocese. Visit them at www.saginaw.org.

The reflection for today struck a chord with me. It reads, in part:

"I am a Christian, a disciple of the Lord. How seriously have I chosen Jesus? Is it more or less implicit, sort of an understanding, a not-so-thoroughly examined assumption that I was born into? Or is it an explicit, determined, resolute decision that anchors my day-to-day life?"

As my mind moved around that thought in various ways, tasting the flavors of the words and digging into the concepts, it occurred to me that this same thinking might be applied to many situations in life in general.

"I am a (insert occupation, relationship, sexual orientation, age reference, etc.). How seriously have I chosen (that)? Is it more or less implicit, sort of an understanding, a not-so-thoroughly examines assumption that I was born into? Or is it an explicit, determined, resolute decision that anchors my day-to-day life?"

We could use "husband", "father", "dentist", "school teacher" .. or just about any word describing something that we perceive ourselves as being. Whether good or bad.

"Drug addict", "Child/Wife abuser", "Thief". Suddenly, the concept of the words takes on entirely new shapes, offering the opportunity of secular or religious salvation through the recognition that these things, whatever they are, might not be preordained. They might be "less implicit".

Continuing, the reflection for today read:
"Lent is meant to be decision-time -- to make one, if I haven't, and renew one if I have".

What do you think? What decisions would you like to make? What decisions would you like to renew?

Uncredited photo of Bishop Untener found on the internet.

Parking Lot Buddhism?

Seen in a parking lot: "For sale, $3500 obo. 69,000 miles" Note the broken window panel (duct tape window covering adds extra value?) and the, well, is that a bullet hole?, next to the driver door handle.

Parking Lot Buddha - Noble Truth Number 2: The origin of suffering is attachment. It would seem that the owner of this car has some attachment to it (not to mention a possible misperception concerning value). He must be suffering greatly to have such attachments. Of course, one could argue that attachment is denied by selling the car, but the price-for-condition at least suggests some emotional commitment to the auto. What do you think?