BUDDHISM CLASSES

Development of human mind has been considered progressive resulting in scientific inventions, discoveries etc. yet, unfortunately the world has seen marginal attempts in the development of the human heart - loving kindness and compassion. The violence we see between nations, states, organisations and individuals bring innumerable miseries to humankind. Buddhism has in its philosophies disclosed wisdom that can break through the cycle of violence and enable us to see through the differences and conflicts.

TCCR has in the past years attempted to incorporate the ancient Buddhist philosophies with modern approaches to Conflict Resolution through our work.

Various Buddhism classes have been organised at various levels by the TCCR. Some of them have been organised exclusively for the members of the Centre where some brought together people from different backgrounds who were interested in deepening their understanding of Buddhism. Some classes were held at the Sarah College, some at the Library Teaching room and one also at the hall of Surya Resort at Mcleodganj so as to reach out to different groups of people.

We have invited different Teachers for these sessions they are Geyshe Lhakdor la the Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Geyshe Jamphel Dhakpa the Director of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah, Geyshe Kelsang Damdul the Vice-Chairman of Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Geyshe Pema Dorjee former Principal of the Sarah College.

Apart from the basic introduction to Buddhist Philosophy we have requested these teachers to dwell deeply into various other concepts. Some of the concepts that have been dealt with are Four Noble Truths, The Three Poisons of Life, concept of Meditation the “J`o` Gom”, Guide to the Way of Bodhisattva’s Life “Chun-Juk” and Karma; Cause and Effect.

A report on a special Buddhist class organised by the Centre.

The Buddhism class is a part of TCCR's initiative to incorporate classical conflict resolution and Buddhist philosophy. This time TCCR invited Venerable Jamphel Dakpa, principal Sarah Tibetan College as the resource person

• To enrich the knowledge of Buddhism of all the TCCR members and those CTA staff who interested in Buddhist Philosophy
• To be able to use the simplest tools of Buddhism in they're every day life
• TCCR members to work towards the incorporation of Buddhism and Conflict Resolution.

Participants: There were more than 50 peoples were participated in this scared event. Among them 25 were members of TCCR and rest were CTA staff from various departments and those who were interested in learning Buddhist philosophy.

Detail account of the resource person on the topic as following:

1} Effects that can be see and experience in this very life.
2} Effects that can be see and experience in next life.
3} Effect that can be see and experience after several lives.

Good or virtuous karma {action} sow seeds of future happiness. Similarly bad or non-virtuous karma sow seeds of future sufferings. These actions produce their effect. In some cases these effect can be experience many lifetimes after the original action was performed.

Tibetan lost their country led to number of Tibetan killed both in Tibet and exile by ammunition, starvation and due to hot weather respectively. If the matter is consider in the context of Buddhist way of thinking then it won't go beyond the Buddhist term KARMA. Another example of karma and its effect was given. It was during the war between Sakyas {Buddha's clan} and lichhvi in which numbers of Sakyas were killed. When asked to Buddha what was the reason behind it? He said it was because of the bad karma of Sakyas in earlier lives where they were born as fishermen and killed fishes that are now born as licchvi.

There is a legendary story about the life of Acharya Nagarjuna whose life has no end and his friend king Gautamiputra's life is in his life. One day a prince showed a dress to his mother and said that he wants to wear it when he becomes a king. Queen mother said that he will never become a king since his father life lies in the hand of Acharya. So the prince asked if there is any way to become a king. Mother replied that he should go to Acharya and ask for his life. Son did the same. Acharya being called as second Buddha in some of the Buddhist text agreed upon it. Nagarjuna consented to his own death at the hands of the son of king Gautamiputra. Prince tried to cut his throat by sword but it didn't kill him. At last Acharya told him to cut his throat by kushi grass. He was beheaded with the help of kushi grass. It was told that in one of the earlier lives, Acharya Nagarjuna unintentionally killed an ant by kushi grass. Because of this karma, he was killed by kushi grass.

There is a well-known legendary story that proves that cause and effect does exist. It was during the time of lord Buddha, A family had a baby girl born with the clothes on her body and size of the cloth increase as a girl grows into a lady. The question was put before the lord why a girl was born with clothes on her body and Buddha replied that it was due to her good karma in previous life. He narrated a story. It was during the time of one of the past Buddhas. When Buddha visited the place where she and her husband live in a very poor condition. People at that place were waiting for Buddha with their gifts comprises of gold, silvers, jewelry etc. Seeing that a poor lady felt extremely sad since she doesn't have anything to offer except clothes on her body which also she shared with her husband. When she goes out for food, her husband remains naked in their room and similarly she remain without cloth on her body when her husband goes out for food. So that single cloth is the only possession, which they have, and out of all faith and compassion they donated it when certain people came to collect gifts for lord Buddha. When the collection of gifts were offered to Buddha, Lord rejected all the valuable gifts and accepted only a cloth that was offered by poor lady with pure heart. Because of her virtuous action she was born with a cloth on her body for many lives.

Good or virtuous actions are the main cause of rebirth in higher realms. These realms are the Human realm, the Demi-god realm and the God realm. Bad or non-virtuous actions are the main causes of rebirth in lower realms. These realms are the hell realm, the hungry ghost realm and the animal realm. So one should avoid committing negative actions in the future and we have to purify the negative karma we have accumulated in the past.

Venerable Jamphel Dakpa stated that anger is not inevitable. One should learn to avoid it for many reasons. Cause of suffering being main reason but besides it makes your facial expression fearful. He asked to look at mirror when we were at edge of our anger. We will be scare of seeing our own reflection in mirror. You will develop a enemy images on others once anger arises. Contrast to it, everything seems good when your inner heart is pure and fair.

Venerable pointed out some of the mistakes that we laymen do usually. He said that blacken a monk is a severe sin. It didn't see whether a monk really does a wrong things. They will have their own share of effect produce by karma in future. Many people make such misdemeanor and collect demerits by saying against a monk.

Buddhist concept of "Cause and Effect" is hard to accomplish by the logic and the theory but can be carry out through one's belief. Here the venerable Jamphel Dakpa lak concluded with the message of peace and prayers.