We are born to be happy - 1

[Guest guest]

An interview appeared in Life Positive magazine,

with HH the Dalailama in one of the recent issues

which I made interesting reading. A formal introduction

is not at all required for a personality like HH

Dalailama. I reproduce in this posting and the subsequent

postings, some of the interesting questions and the answers

to its by HH.<br>(Courtesy: Parveen Chopra and Swati

Chopra)<br><br>Q: You seem to exist on numerous planes—as a world

figure, the temporal and spiritual head of Tibet, a

world-renowned spiritual master. Yet you often refer to yourself

as a simple monk. Who is the real you? <br>DL: I see

myself as a monk first, then as a practitioner of the

Nalanda (the world reknown Buddhist education center of

India, established around 200 B.C.) tradition of wisdom.

Masters of Nalanda such as Nagarjuna, Aryadeva,

Aryasangha, Dharmakeerti, Chandrakeerti and Shantideva have

written the scriptures that we, as Tibetan Buddhists,

study and practice. They are all my gurus. I feel that

I might have interacted with them in previous

lifetimes. When I read their books and meditate upon their

names, I feel a connection. At this point, I don't say

that I belong to the Hinayana or the Mahayana

traditions, but to the lineage of Nalanda.<br><br>Q: You are

called the 'living Buddha'...?<br>DL: The term 'living

Buddha' is a translation of the Chinese word 'ho fu'. In

Tibetan, the operative word is 'lama' which means 'guru'.

A guru is someone who is not necessarily a Buddha

but is heavy with knowledge. I believe that previous

Dalai Lamas were manifestations of Avalokiteshwara (the

Buddha of compassion) and the fifth Dalai Lama is

believed to be an incarnation of Manjushree. I am

fortunate to be the reincarnation of all these great lamas!

(laughs) <br><br>Q: Can anyone become a Buddha?<br>DL: Oh

yes! All sentient beings have the seed of the Buddha

within them. <br>Q: It is also said that eventually all

sentient beings will attain Buddhahood?<br>DL: Yes, this

is so because all negative emotions of the mind can

be eliminated. Once the mind is purified, you are a

Buddha.<br><br>Q: How would you describe the Buddhist concept of

shunyata?<br>DL: Shunyata is different from Buddhahood. It is the

ultimate reality of everything. To purify the mind it is

essential to know the nature of reality, which is shunyata.

Negative emotions arise from a misconception of reality.

In order to remove suffering, you have to meditate

on shunyata.

<br><br>Contd.../<br><br>Namaskaram<br>Devan