..續本文上一頁ess of all phenomena that appear in samsara and any clinging to them will only bring immense sufferings. We should therefore long to escape from samsara. Furthermore, we shouldn”t selfishly long for our own liberation without thinking about other sentient beings. In fact, sufferings we experience all stem from our selfish attitude. On the other hand, if we do not cling to this “self” and generate complete universal love toward others, then there won”t be any mental afflictions. This is what we call “bodhicitta.” In our care and love for all sentient beings, we carry out activities without attachment to all phenomena; this is called the “wisdom of selflessness.” If we can realize these three states, in Buddhist terms, we can say that we have already realized the nature of mind; in secular terms, we can say that we have already achieved the highest state of freedom.
Of course, it is impossible for us to measure or validate this state by using instruments. Only through our own efforts to put the Dharma into practice can we prove its validity. Once we have realized this state, it is just like seeing all the hills from the top of a mountain. All other knowledge, such as science, is just like the small hills. The renowned Tibetan scholar, Gendun Chophel, also said: “Whether it is about finding the origin of things and events, the path of practice, or the noble qualities of fruition, Buddhism will not be embarrassed by science; instead, it can serve as a solid foundation for science.”
The famous German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche also said: “Historically, Buddhism is the only religion that can truly prove its validity by realization.”
Likewise, the modern scientist Dr Shen Jiazhen said: “I am a scientist. Just as I am very interested in science, Buddhism is also a subject in which I am very interested. I personally think that Buddhism and science are two sides of the same coin.”
Thus, we can see that Buddhism does not conflict with science. Many truths revealed by Buddhism have not been completely proven by science in the past, but with continuous advances in science, it will prove their validity in the end.
Currently, some people reject and despise Buddhism. Actually, this is only a manifestation of their ignorance. Whether you choose to have a faith or not, it is your free choice. If you don”t desire to believe in Buddhism, even Lord Buddha will not force you to do so. However, if you think that the Buddhist view is unreasonable, we always welcome you to debate with us, however intense it may be. Especially, Tibetan Buddhism has many debate halls; through discussions with others, many doubts and questions can be resolved immediately. For this reason, I often think it would be better if universities in the Han area adopted the Tibetan method of debate. Through this method, many issues and questions could be debated frankly and openly. Ultimately, many people would certainly generate the very pure wisdom.
Epilogue
Recently, many disasters have happened in the world, particularly the earthquake in Japan. As intellectuals, how should we deal with disasters
I think that each of us should be mentally prepared to face them.
Of course, I do not mean to scare you by indicating that humankind will be facing devastating disasters soon; this kind of intimidation is not something Buddhism advocates. It is because from the viewpoint of the Buddhist law of causation, we believe that the increasing negative activities of humankind will significantly increase the chance of various natural and man-made disasters.
When a disaster occurs, it can also serve as a touchstone to test the morality and standards of how a nation deals with disasters. During the recent Japanese earthquake, the Japanese people”s calm reaction to the earthquake is worthy of admiration. This is closely related to their education system and training. Another incident was the Yushu earthquake. After it occurred, I went to provide disaster relief and found that because the local people understood the law of karma, impermanence, and the pervasive sufferings of samsara from their childhood on, they were very strong in facing the disaster. Nobody committed suicide; nobody was overwhelmed by grief. Even if they had lost their families, they had the courage to continue their lives. Many psychologists and experts from different countries were stunned by what they saw. This is exactly the result of those people”s faith in Tibetan Buddhism as well as their systematic study and practice of the way of living and dying based on Tibetan Buddhism.
Though the fictional scenes of doomsday shown in the movie 2012 may not necessarily happen to humankind, the fact that the screenwriter chose the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau as the place to build the Noah”s Ark perhaps indicates that the indestructible spirit of Noah”s Ark is hidden in this mystical land. With the increasing confusion of the human mind and the rising frequencies of serious natural disasters in the world, the wise should start to reflect, ponder, and slowly turn their attention to Tibetan Buddhism to find an answer. I believe that the wisdom and altruistic philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism will shine brilliantly in glory.
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