My Religion is Best

“… Most people feel their own form of religious practice is the best. I myself feel that Buddhism is best for me. But this does not mean that Buddhism is best for everyone.  What is important is what is suitable for a particular person or group of people. Religion, for most of us, depends on our family background and where we were born and grew up. I think it is usually better not to change that. However, the more we understand each other’s ways, the more we can learn from each other.

By declaring my respect for all religious faiths, I do not advocate attempting to unify our various traditions. I firmly believe we need different religious traditions to meet the needs and mental dispositions of the great variety of human beings. All the major religious traditions make the betterment of humanity their main concern and all of them carry a similar message. When we view them as essential instruments for developing good human qualities such as compassion, tolerance, forgiveness and self-discipline, we can appreciate what they have in common.

I am convinced that the most significant obstacle to inter-religious harmony is the lack of contact between different faith communities and consequently, the lack of appreciation of their mutual value. However, in today's increasingly complex and interdependent world, we have to acknowledge the existence of other cultures, different ethnic groups, and, of course, other religious faiths. Whether we like it or not, most of us now experience this diversity on a daily basis.

Even amongst the various Buddhist traditions that have come about in different times and places, there are those who look to the collection of scriptures preserved in Pali as their source and those who look to the Sanskrit tradition. I believe that time has now come to communicate freely with one another, those in the Pali tradition engaging in dialogue with those in the Sanskrit tradition. After all, all our different branches come from the same common trunk and roots. As a Tibetan Buddhist monk, even today I consider myself a student of the Nalanda tradition. The way Buddhism was taught and studied at Nalanda University represents the zenith of its development in India.

If we are to be 21st century Buddhists it is important that we engage in the study and analysis of the Buddha's teachings, as so many did then, instead of simply relying on faith…”— His Holiness the Dalai Lama

"His Holiness was welcomed by his host, Richard Moore. They embraced and His Holiness invited Moore, who cannot see, to touch his face. “Just as handsome as ever!” was his report. Arriving at the hotel in Derry, on the western banks of the Foyle River, the Tibetan flag flew aloft while Tibetans offered a traditional welcome in the lobby. Many other well-wishers and friends were on hand to greet His Holiness. Shortly afterwards, at the Everglades Hotel, Richard Moore introduced Marcus O’Neill, Chairman of the Board of Children in Crossfire, and other members of the board, to His Holiness . Friends and supporters of the NGO, whose aim is ‘Giving children the chance to choose’, were gathered for lunch. Moore showed His Holiness a large illustrated display depicting Children in Crossfire’s work.

Invited to address the gathering, His Holiness laughed and told them that when your stomach is empty, what’s important is to eat lunch. Bishop Donal McKeown responded to Moore’s request that he say grace—“Make us not like porridge, thick, stodgy and hard to stir, but like corn-flakes, light, quick and easy.” When His Holiness and Richard Moore arrived at the nearby Millennial Forum, the Long Tower Folk Group, conducted by Moore’s wife, Rita, was singing a song of peace. His Holiness greeted an audience of more than 1000 when he came on stage and Moore gave a short introduction. He remarked that His Holiness has said that compassion without corresponding action is not enough. He added that there are children alive today, children with access to clean water and education, as a result of the action of Children in Crossfire. He described His Holiness as “representing something we’d all like to be”. He ended, “Ours is a city of many names—Derry, Londonderry, Legendderry, and you are welcome here once more.”

“My dear respected brother,” His Holiness responded, “I usually describe you as my hero. When I first met you and heard your story, (of being blinded as a child, but going on to work for others,) I was much moved. I often talk about compassion, but I wonder if I had undergone the same experience as you, if I wouldn’t have lost my temper. You’ve shown such inner strength and your work to establish Children in Crossfire shows what it really is to be human. What you have experienced transformed your life. Instead of provoking your anger, it has strengthened your compassion. Wonderful!

“Compassion is an emotion that brings all social creatures together. Scientists tell us they have evidence that basic human nature is compassionate. I’ve seen an experiment in which infants, still too young to speak, were shown animated clips of different behaviour. They responded with pleasure and approval to the one that showed people helping each other, and turned away from the one that showed people being obstructive. Physicians say constant anger and fear undermine our immune system. Meanwhile, no doctor tells you that if you were angrier you’d be in better health. They advise you to relax, which means not only being physically at ease, but finding peace of mind too. Compassion brings us self-confidence and inner strength.

“When I heard scientists say that basic human nature is compassionate, I felt it was a sign of hope. Whatever our religious faith, showing others loving kindness is the best way to bring about inner peace. I am committed to promoting fundamental human values like compassion. What we need today are universal values based not on faith but on scientific findings, common experience and common sense. Just as we preserve our health by observing physical hygiene, we can protect our inner well-being by tackling our destructive emotions and cultivating emotional hygiene.”

His Holiness suggested that fear and anger are rooted in self-centredness, being obsessed with ourselves and what we think we need. Being more concerned about others and taking compassionate action on their behalf, on the other hand, is the basis for living a happy life here and now. He said that it’s on such grounds that we can hope to make the 21st a more peaceful century.

“Peace will not be achieved by force. We need to take a human approach to resolving human problems. Talk and dialogue based on candour and respect are the foundation on which to build peace. I’m an admirer of the European Union and the spirit of the decision to put the common good ahead of narrower national interests. Similarly, I have some reservations about the slogan ‘American first’ and the US’s withdrawal from the Paris accord. It seems to me that the natural disasters we’ve witnessed in recent days have been trying to teach us something about climate change. However, if I’ve said anything wrong, I apologise.”

Answering questions from the audience His Holiness compared our pursuit of sensory pleasure to the experience of a Catholic monk he met in Montserrat in Spain who told him that in his five years as a hermit in the mountains he had meditated on love. His Holiness reported that when he said this his eyes sparkled with joy. He remarked that although young women like to make up their faces to enhance their looks, if they then adopt an angry expression, no one will want to look at them. He talked about teasing a disrobed monk official that his wife was not especially pretty and the official’s reply that it was true, but that her inner beauty—her warm-heartedness—was tremendous. Asked what was the one thing he really enjoyed, His Holiness answered immediately to laughter from the audience, “O, lunch—because as a Buddhist monk I don’t eat dinner!”

A question about grief prompted His Holiness to recall that when his Senior Tutor passed away, he felt as if the solid rock on which he had always leaned was gone. He was at a loss. However, he decided that what he should do was to try to fulfil his tutor’s wishes for him. “So it’s better to try to transform your sadness into a determination to lead life in a meaningful way. Richard Moore here is an example of transforming tragedy into opportunity.”

His Holiness declared, in answer to another question, that it’s wonderful to be vegetarian if you can. He reported that in the Tibetan exiled community the kitchens of large monasteries, schools and other institutions are now vegetarian. He noted that some Buddhist traditions recommend their followers to be vegetarian, but others don’t. The Buddha advised his monks who begged for alms to simply accept what they were given. He admitted that for health reasons his physicians had advised him to follow a non-vegetarian diet some of the time.

He recommended someone who asked about patience to read Chapter 6 and Chapter 8 of Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’. He similarly advised that the path to increasing interest in and support for ecology was education. His Holiness concluded, “If we make an effort we can change the world. Those who are still young can make a difference and shape a better future. For my part, I try to encourage interest in inner values and I believe that if I influence ten people and each of them does the same, we’ve reached one hundred. And so it goes on. This is the way to educate people.”

The event ended with other singers joining the Long Tower Folk Group to sing about the power of love and peace. His Holiness sat listening and expressed his appreciation at the end. He saluted the audience and shook outstretched hands from the front of the stage before waving goodbye and returning to his hotel." ~ DalaiLama.com

"Our goal should be a century of peace, a century of dialogue based on a sense of oneness of seven billion human beings." He addressed an audience in Londonderry in Northern Ireland, a city on the UK's only land border with an EU state, the Republic of Ireland, which could be deeply affected by Brexit. The leader in exile of the Tibetan Himalayan kingdom - which was annexed by China in 1950 - has visited Northern Ireland several times: in October 2000, November 2005 and April 2013.

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 has become a symbol of peaceful resistance to oppression throughout the world. He said thinking which led to warfare was outdated - referring to fighting in Burma, Iraq and Syria - adding: "Those developed countries are mentally in a lot of crisis... Unrest, too much warring, fear distrust and anger."

He is a guest of charity Children in Crossfire, which is marking 20 years of international development work. The anti-poverty organisation was established by Richard Moore, who was blinded after he was injured during the Northern Ireland conflict. Mr Moore was walking past an Army post when he said a soldier fired a rubber bullet from 10 feet away. The Dalai Lama urged a greater sense of compassion and love during his speech to a sell-out crowd in the city."
~ Belfast Telegraph

“You might be blind, but you can see further than people with eyesight. You are my hero”, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet told Richard Moore on 17th July 2007 whilst celebrating the tenth anniversary of Children in Crossfire in Derry. Gripping Richards hand, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists said. “Whether you believe it or not, you are my hero and a wonderful son of humanity. Despite your tremendously painful experience, you don’t have any anger or hate. You accept what has happened and keep your peace of mind. You are a good example and model”.

During this visit, the Dalai Lama met privately with Richard and Charles, the soldier who blinded him in 1972. “It is wonderful to see the person who suffered and the person who caused the suffering become true friends, peace-process, ” said the Dalai Lama. “Their’s is genuine friendship and happiness which is based on forgiveness”.

His Holiness first met Richard in October 2001 when he came to Derry
as part of his visit to Northern Ireland in support of peace process. He had asked to meet a small group of victims drawn from all sides of the conflict. Richard explained to the meeting that he had found inspiration from His Holiness’ messages and promotion of the core values of compassion, forgiveness and peace, adding that he “had come to realise that forgiveness is a gift primarily to myself, I have found freedom in it”.  The Dalai Lama responded

Following this initial meeting, Richard wrote to His Holiness to invite him to be the keynote speaker at Children in Crossfire’s 10th-anniversary conference. “We wanted someone who would reflect the ethos of Children in Crossfire and the motivation behind its creation. No one better on the planet fitted this description than the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He knows what it’s like to suffer but has constantly promoted non-violence despite the difficulties that face him and his people. He has both talked the talk and walked the walk.”

In May 2010 Richard and Charles travelled to India for a special audience with His Holiness at his residence in Dharamsala. Whilst in India Richard and Charles spoke at an event at The Tibetan Children’s Village School, attended by over 2500 students, when His Holiness honoured Richard with a citation which the Tibetan leader read himself. In it, His Holiness says of Richard “Among the billions of people in the world you have provided a living example of the true practice of forgiveness and therefore a source of hope for every one of us”.

It was during this visit to Dharamsala that Richard asked His Holiness to become Patron of Children in Crossfire, an invitation which he readily accepted.The extraordinary relationship between these two incredible exemplars has continued to grow and deepen. His Holiness has been a keynote speaker at various Children in Crossfire events and he and Richard are often asked to appear together. In his recent book “Beyond Religion” the Dalai Lama refers to Richard as being “a marvellous example of the power of compassion and forgiveness”.

The Dalai Lama has been a key inspiration behind Children in Crossfire’s Educating the Heart initiative and specifically to the development of its TIDAL programme which seeks to provide a resource for teachers in addressing the issue of global citizenship in a way that results in a ‘felt’ understanding."

"Christianity is the main religion in Northern Ireland. The 2011 UK census showed 40.8% Roman Catholic, 19.1% Presbyterian Church, with the Church of Ireland having 13.7% and the Methodist Church 3.0%. Members of other Christian churches comprised 5.8%, 16.9% stated they have no religion or did not state a religion, and members of non-Christian religions were 0.8%.

The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland is the largest single church, though there is a greater number of Protestants overall. The Church is organised into four provinces though these are not coterminous with the modern political division of Ireland. The seat of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Primacy of Ireland, is St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, closely linked to the Church of Scotland in terms of theology and history, is the second-largest church and largest Protestant denomination. It is followed by the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the state church of Ireland until it was disestablished by the Irish Church Act 1869. In 2002, the much smaller Methodist Church in Ireland signed a covenant for greater co-operation and potential ultimate unity with the Church of Ireland. The Church of Ireland is part of the Anglican Communion.

Smaller, but growing, Protestant denominations such as the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland amongst Presbyterians and the Open Brethren are located in many places. The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland and the Assemblies of God Ireland are also organised on an all-Ireland basis, though in the case of the Assemblies of God this was the result of a recent reorganisation...

Because of recent immigration, the Roman Catholic Church has seen a small growth in adherents, while the other Christian groups have seen a decrease. There are also small Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish communities. Belfast has a synagogue, a gurdwara, a mosque and two Hindu temples. There is another gurdwara in Derry." ~ Wikipedia

Photos ~ Founder of Children in Crossfire, Richard Moore who was blinded by a soldier’s bullet when he was young, greets his Holiness on his arrival in Derry, Northern Ireland
~ His Holiness greets young children as he arrives at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Northern Ireland on Sept 10, 2017