“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”
~ Dalai Lama
Wow, it’s so hazy this photo almost looks like I’ve applied a sepia tone mask! But with the haze, we have a wonderful fresh trade wind blowing today, which hopefully will cut through some of the still heat we’ve been experiencing the past few day!! I hope some of you have been enjoying the beach, as it’s perfect beach weather … I am stuck with villa duties this weekend, but maybe will take a break today for a dip in the pool 🙂
So last night, I watched a documentary, produced by a Russian filmmaker entitled “Sunrise/Sunset”. It chronicles a day in the life of the Dalai Lama. His Holiness (HHDL) has been quoted as saying “Sometimes people call me a Living Buddha or a God King, but I always say this is nonsense. I am a simple Buddhist monk. Through this film you will realize I am a normal human being, nothing special. Just a normal Buddhist monk.”
(Ok, we just had a pretty strong earthquake!)
Anyhow, I was contemplating as my alarm went off at 5:15 that HHDL would have been awake already for 2 hours … His day begins around 3:15. After his morning shower, His Holiness begins the day with prayers, meditations and prostrations until 5 am …
He recites an inspirational stanza. It reads:
Enthused by great compassion,
You taught the immaculate teaching.
To dispel all perverted views.
To you, the Buddha, I bow.
He writes: “I recite that with prayers in prostration. After that, analytical meditation: What is Buddha? What is self? I reflect on emptiness, the ultimate reality, and altruism. All human beings are the same: We all want happiness and we do not want suffering. ” He then uses the treadmill for 40 minutes 😉
What struck me about the movie was how easily Dalai Lama seemed to move from his meditation time into a brisk, fast paced worldly, spiritual leader. His primary aim, he explains, is to maintain emotional equilibrium. “Ups and downs,” he says, “are not good.” And while he is protected with armed guards, he seems humored by it all. There were many little pieces of wisdom, just in watching his orientation towards everyday life in general. And his own description of time, and being present, is something I will go back and listen to again today.
The second part of the film then moved to his thoughts on reincarnation, world overpopulation and hunger. Very thought provoking. In asking for this consideration, one was given the true sense of his altruism and compassion. Always looking to better the world, in case one is sent back down from the heavens …. Wanting a better world for those in need now, for our children in the future. This is important … But what about our next self … ?
“There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?”
❤
Sunrise/Sunset is available via Steaming Netflix:
http://movies1.netflix.com/WiMovie/Sunrise_Sunset/70124095?trkid=2361637
And here’s another helpful link for documentaries & movies on the spiritual way of life:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37689.asp
