UNTOUCHABLES NEWS.ENGLISH.22.04.24.BY TEAM SIVAJI.CHENNAI.26.
Due to dispute, Dalit youth taken hostage, beaten, hair cut
Jodhpur: Due to dispute, a Dalit youth was taken hostage, beaten and his hair was cut. A case of a Dalit youth living near Ramdev Temple in Boranada police station area of the city was taken hostage and his hair was cut. A case has been registered with the police.
The accused later insulted her with caste-related words along with obscene posts on social media. A case in this regard has been registered at Boranada police station on behalf of the uncle of the victim youth. Police have started investigation against the named youth. There is a possibility of mutual dispute among them.
Bairanada police said that a person living near Ramdev temple reported that his nephew was held hostage in a room by a person named Ashok Jat, beaten and his hair was cut. Not only this, he was also insulted with obscene comments and caste based words on social media. Police said that a case has been registered. The accused has not been arrested yet.
Bahujans can create a casteless society only by becoming the rulers of India—Kanshiram
On 10 October 1998, Kanshiram addressed the First World Dalit Convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he spoke about the impossibility of caste annihilation. ‘Caste is the creation of some people. And it is created with a purpose. That purpose still remains.’
KANSHIRAM
The Dalit delegates from all over the world, because of my preoccupations, I could not write my address to this convention. I will have to speak on the basis of my experience, especially keeping in mind the caste factor and the Dalit factor also. Here we are trying to acquire a new vision towards a casteless society. During these two days deliberations and meeting people from various parts of the world, I hope you will try to find out ways and means how to proceed towards this end.
Babasaheb Ambedkar, in 1936, prepared a speech, which was to be delivered in Lahore and later on, it appeared in the form of a booklet. ‘Annihilation of Caste’ was his dream in 1936. After reading that booklet, I understood a lot about the caste factor in India, because that speech was prepared after a great thought and study. So since then, I also started thinking that how the caste can be annihilated. How caste can be annihilated—that thought was bothering me for some time. But after looking at the world, the world available in India, the social setup available in India, I stopped thinking about the annihilation of caste. I thought Babasaheb wanted to annihilate caste. So many people who are victims of the caste system, they must think on the same lines. But I started thinking differently. I thought that it is not easy to annihilate caste. Perhaps it may not be even possible to annihilate caste. What should be done? So I reached a conclusion that I must take note of caste.
Caste is a factor which should not be wished away. We should not try to wish away the caste. Caste is a big factor in India. And wherever the people from India go, if they don’t carry anything with them, at least they carry their caste.
Caste has not come from nowhere. It is the creation of some people. Caste is the creation of some people. And it is created with a purpose. There is a purpose behind the creation of caste. And that purpose still remains. That purpose still remains.
I have decided that if I had to think about eliminating caste, then I must study more deeply, not on paper, not in books, but in life. I must study more deeply about the caste factor. So, in this conference, while taking note of your desire—all of you have come from all over the world—your desire is to move towards a casteless society. That is my desire too. But today it is not as intense as it used to be. I feel that if we are to march towards this end, we must not only take note of caste, but we must learn to handle the caste factor.
Also read: Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan movement was also cultural, not just political
Why am I here today? Why Mr Pandian met me in Delhi and have discussions with me? And why a lot of people in Delhi try to meet me, even though I keep on moving? Very rarely am I in Delhi. Because they feel that this man has learned to handle caste. This man has learned to handle caste. So I feel that even if we want to acquire a new vision towards a casteless society, even for that thing, we must try to handle caste. And it is not easy to handle caste. So in this conference, I would like to make a suggestion from my side. That if we desire to have a casteless society, without handling caste, we cannot do that. Because caste has not come from nowhere. It is the creation of some people. Caste is the creation of some people. And it is created with a purpose. There is a purpose behind the creation of caste. And that purpose still remains. That purpose still remains.
Babasaheb British, in eliminating caste, by acquiring something for the caste, as a result of the Round Table Conferences, as a result of the communal award he got for us, for the scheduled caste, he got the right of a separate electorate. When he got the right of a separate electorate, he got for whom? For the caste, which was to be scheduled later on, in the 1935 India Act. In 1932, he got a separate electorate award for the caste yet to be scheduled. And the schedule was prepared with the help of Babasaheb Ambedkar. So thus, in the 1935 India Act, there are two schedules. One the Scheduled Castes, another the Scheduled Tribes. And later on in 1950, our Constitution came into being. So these schedules are included in that Constitution also.
There are 45 lakh hectares of land under plough. And more than that, land is available in India which can be brought under plough. But nobody has given that land to us and nobody will give. Why? Because of the Brahmanical social order in India. For that reason only, they have created caste. That there should be some caste who should possess land and there should be other caste who should plough the land.
So, Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to annihilate caste. But still he took note of the caste and got a separate electorate for the Scheduled Caste. Similarly, I feel that we must also learn to handle the caste factor. And I feel that India has seen three great men since the exit of the British. Number one, I feel, it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was an expert in handling the caste. I feel it was Pandit Nehru who was a top expert in handling the caste. And he handled the caste in such a manner that he made Babasaheb Ambedkar a helpless person. As long as Babasaheb was alive up to 1956, to me he appeared to be a helpless person. Because Pandit Nehru was an expert in handling the caste. He handled the caste in such a manner that Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to do so many things which he could not do. Because Nehru was an expert in handling the caste. This is what I learned from that period.
Later on, I read somewhere that in the month of July 1942 in Nagpur, in the Scheduled Caste Federation Conference, Babasaheb Ambedkar declared his another intention. When he failed to get the separate electorate for these castes, he declared that he had spoken to the British and the British had agreed to create separate settlements for these castes. I realised and still I keep on pondering over it that after 1932, in 1942 again, 10 years later, he made a desperate effort to develop these people who were known as the Scheduled Caste.
I will not take more time, but it is essential to understand that effort also. Yesterday, some people from the United States were telling me ‘why don’t you revive the effort of having a separate electorate again’, about which I never spend a moment. I am fully convinced that during the British Raj, in 1932, Babasaheb Ambedkar had to dispense with the separate electorate because of Gandhiji’s fast. Gandhiji threatened that he will prefer to die instead of giving this right to the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe. And during the British period, Babasaheb Ambedkar was forced to sign the Poona Pact.
During the British Raj, who were willing to give us justice, it was not possible to get a separate electorate. How can it be possible today when those who created caste, who made us the lower caste, when they became the rulers, and when today they are the well-established rulers in India?
Why don’t I think about this factor today? Because under the leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar, under his able leadership, and during the British Raj, who were willing to give us justice, it was not possible to get a separate electorate. How can it be possible today when those who created caste, who made us the lower caste, when they became the rulers, and when today they are the well-established rulers in India? Why should we make an effort for this?
Again, I rake up this issue for the separate electorate. Not only that, I have given full thought to a separate settlement also. Because separate settlement was another effort by Babasaheb Ambedkar to improve our lot. But that also is not possible today. Again, I may give the reason here why it’s not possible. Because I know fully well there are 45 lakh hectares of land under plough. And more than that, land is available in India which can be brought under plough. But nobody has given that land to us and nobody will give. Why? Because of the Brahmanical social order in India. For that reason only, they have created caste. That there should be some caste who should possess land and there should be other caste who should plough the land.
There are many poor people in India who have left their villages and landed in the slums of the cities. My suggestion is that whether we are able to eliminate or annihilate caste or not, we must keep on moving towards that end. I say that we should acquire a new vision towards that end. It is okay. But till the caste is eliminated, what should we do? We should be able to handle the caste successfully in the interest of those people who are the victims of the caste system, something which can do the needful for them. So for that reason, I feel we should take note of the caste and the caste behaviour.
Now, as you have invited me here, I feel you would like to know something about my experiences. That we can create even a casteless society only by becoming rulers of India. More caste to the group of 600 castes known as the Bhaujan Samaj. Thank you.
This is part of ThePrint’s Great Speeches series. It features speeches and debates that shaped modern India.
Courtesy : The Print
Dalit teachers face action for holding discussions on Ambedkar’s works on varsity campus
The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya suggested the Ambedkar readings, which had started two years earlier, could endanger the “safety and health of (participating) students and reputation of the university”
Basant Kumar Mohanty
A central university has forced an informal body of Dalit faculty members to stop their weekly readings and discussions of Bhimrao Ambedkar’s works on the campus, show-caused seven of the teachers, and taken punitive action against four of them.
The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya suggested the Ambedkar readings, which had started two years earlier, could endanger the “safety and health of (participating) students and reputation of the university”.
After most of the show-caused teachers refused to express regret, the university transferred two of them and removed two others from the positions they held at an academic centre on the campus.
Some academics have criticised the university for cracking down on open discussions, particularly on a subject such as Ambedkar’s writings and speeches.
A group of Dalit faculty members started the Ambedkar Study Circle India on the campus in February 2022. It met after 6pm every Thursday in front of the Ambedkar statue at the university and read from his collected works, published by the central and Maharashtra governments, and discussed them.
Some sixty-one sessions had been held in two years when the registrar-in-charge, Dharvesh Katheriya, ordered the practice stopped in January this year.
Katheriya issued show-cause notices to seven teachers asking them to declare that reading Ambedkar’s works would create security problems and tarnish the university’s reputation.
“The literature should be taught in classes instead of conducting reading sessions through an unauthorised group. Keeping in view the safety and health of students and reputation of the university, it is not appropriate to conduct such a reading session,” the notice said.
It alleged the group had not taken permission from the authorities.
One of the seven teachers expressed regret and resigned from the study circle.
The other six, in their responses, said the study circle had been formed by teachers from various academic departments after informing the campus authorities.
Its sessions generally began with a reading of the Preamble to the Constitution and ended with the national anthem, and all the participants came voluntarily, they wrote.
They rejected the concerns about security, the university’s reputation and student health, and said that anyone having any issues was free to skip the sessions.
Besides, they said, the ambiance at the venue — under the open sky and in front of the Ambedkar statue — inspired the participants to collectively read and listen to Ambedkar’s writings and speeches with an open mind.
The university transferred Shailesh Marji Kadam, one of the seven teachers, to the university’s Amravati campus and Ravindra Borkar to the Prayagraj campus. Borkar moved court and got a stay.
The authorities also removed Lella Karunyakara as director of the Buddhist Study Centre and Surjit K. Singh as acting head of the same centre. Several non-teaching staff from Karunyakara’s office have been transferred too.
An email was sent to Katheriya last week seeking his comments. His response is awaited.
Courtesy : The Telegraph
Tata Institute of Social Sciences suspends Modi-critic Dalit PhD scholar for two years
Ramadas had on January 12 participated in a demonstration outside Parliament against the NEP’s alleged promotion of the privatisation of education. He had held up a banner of the Progressive Students Forum (PSF)-TISS. The institute considered this a gross misuse of its name and an act of misconduct
Basant Kumar Mohanty
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences has suspended for two years a Dalit PhD scholar who had protested the country’s education policy outside Parliament and last year helped screen a documentary critical of Narendra Modi on the campus.
Late on Saturday night, the students’ union at TISS issued a statement alleging a lack of transparency and due process in the institute’s decision to suspend Ramadas K.S. and questioning its timing.
The PhD student with the School of Development Studies had last month been issued with a showcause notice for his alleged involvement in “anti-national activities”.
Ramadas had on January 12 participated in a demonstration outside Parliament against the National Education Policy’s alleged promotion of the privatisation of education. He had held up a banner of the Progressive Students Forum (PSF)-TISS. The institute considered this a gross misuse of its name and an act of misconduct.
Also, after Prime Minister Modi attended the January 22 temple consecration in Ayodhya, Ramadas had posted pamphlets on social media inviting students to a screening of the documentary, Ram ke Naam, on January 26. The film by Anand Patwardhan raises questions about the Ram temple movement.
However, the film was not eventually screened, a student told The Telegraph. The showcause notice mentioned Ramadas’s posts on the documentary.
It also says that Ramadas had screened a “banned” documentary, India: The Modi Question, on the campus in January 2023. The two-part BBC film takes a critical look at Modi’s time as Gujarat chief minister and Prime Minister, and the Indian government had got certain social media platforms to take down the documentary.
The notice used the expression “anti-national activity” without specifying the activity.
On April 18, the day Ramadas was suspended, a few other students were issued with showcause notices for “anti-national” activities over the screening of the Modi documentary last year.
The decision to suspend Ramadas was taken on the recommendation of an empowered committee.
Ramadas had been admitted to the integrated MPhil-PhD course in 2017-18. In 2020, he began the PhD programme. He stayed at a hostel on the campus but says he gave up the seat last November.
However, the institute has thought it fit to accuse him of staying at the hostel “for a prolonged period”, depriving accommodation to deserving students.
The statement from the students’ union, the officially recognised representative body of the students, said: “Now, especially when it is the season of general elections in the country these notices are being sent out labeling students as ‘anti-national’ and giving baseless accusations as ‘hurting religious sentiments’. This questions the intention of the administration on these matters and looks very much suspicious.”
An email has been sent to vice-chancellor Manoj Kumar Tiwari seeking his comments on the allegations of opacity in the decision to suspend Ramadas. His response is awaited.
Courtesy : The Telegraph
A case of cheating a Dalit woman came to light, she was beaten and injured.
Motihari: A case of fraud with a Dalit woman has come to light in Badharwa village of Jaisinghpur Dakshin Panchayat of police station area. When the victim woman talked about holding a Panchayat against the fraudster, she and her husband were beaten and injured.
The victim, Sulekha Devi, wife of Ashok Ram of Badharwa village, has applied in the police station and lodged an FIR. In which it is said that he had purchased the land from Shiv Shankar Pal. Which they have got back in their name by appointing another woman. When she asked about this and convened a Panchayat, Shiv Shankar Pal, Indrajit Pal, Girja Devi, Anju Devi, Pappu Pal, Chandan Pal, Neelu Devi came to her house, hurled caste based abuses and beat her and her husband. Police Station Head Suresh Kumar Yadav said that an FIR has been registered.
Video of waving weapon has gone viral, a video of a young man from Tikaita Teliapatti of Kes police station area waving weapon has gone viral on social media. Police have identified the youth and registered an FIR. The youth waving the weapon is Sandeep Kumar Gupta, son of Lalbabu Sah of Tikaita Teliapatti. In this matter, Police Station Head Suresh Kumar Yadav has registered a case on his own statement. Told that a photo of waving illegal weapons at a function is going viral on social media. Senior officials gave this information. Police reached the house of the said youth to verify the information. Duly raid was conducted.
Dalit Icons of resilience & excellence
Makers of Modern Dalit History by Sudarshan Ramabadran and Guru Prakash presents a powerful narrative that challenges historical biases and celebrates the enduring legacy of 18 Dalit icons of the country born across millenniums
BY Sanjeev Chopra
18 ‘Dalit’ icons covering at least five thousand years of our history — the epochal narrators,
1)Ved Vyasa of the Mahabharata and
2)Valmiki of the Ramayana,
3)the medieval saints Namdev,
4)Ravi Das and
5)Kabir,
6)the freedom fighter Rani Jhalkaribai,
7)the educational reformer Savitribai Phule, and Phule..
8)the revolutionary Udham Singh,
9)the law ministers of India and Pakistan Dr Ambedkar and
10)Jogendranath Mondal, respectively,
and many more like 11)Thanthai N.Sivaraj,Diwan Bhahadur.
12)Meenambal Sivaraj..
13)Thaatha Rettaimalai Srinivasan,—
14)Narayana guru,kerala
have been brought together by Sudarshan Ramabadran and Guru Prakash Paswan in this powerful discourse on how Indian history, from the times of the epics to the present, has been shaped by Dalits.
Before we devolve into each of these personalities “change gears from Incredible India to In not given the due ‘space’. Whether it was addressed independently; for the purpose attempt to address this anomaly and bring, We begin with the life and times of sages which define Bharat and bust the factoid their origin, or writing or different philosophy Bhagwad Geeta (the Song celestial). It certainly shows how societal roles in circumstances of birth. However, it must be in certain circumstances of birth became the data.
We have Nandanar, the twelfth-century man ‘The Untouchables’. There are numerous Shiva to direct Nandi to move aside for a Telugu poet, whose writing style became lament on Kalidasa’s famous Meghadoota Lord Shiva in Varanasi”.
Varanasi is also home to both Kabir and that the two met Guru Nanak during his V 41 of his verses were included in the Guru princess Meerabai, who wrote, ‘When R /my Master revealed the secret of the Namadev, While Namdev is well known and well companion Sant Janabai who was a spirit, spiritual journey elevation. He, in turn, in wonderful relationship between the two – was also a contemporary of Soyarabai.
Let’s now move from the medieval to the closest associate of her queen Laxmi was at her best astride amount with queen to give Laxmi Bai the chance to ex governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Mata Pr ‘Jhalkaribai Natak Savitri Phule and her husband Jyotirao and emancipation of the depressed class, child widow in Marathwada in 1847, and Indian history to light her husband’s funeral Samaj which Jyotirao had started. She who took charge of her clinic head-on.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Ayankali community, the Pulayars, were considered established community courts for mediatation nominated to the Travancore assembly in in public schools. At the dawn of Independance the Constituent Assembly, made a very in Harijans, or by whatever name they are called demanding separate electorates or joint electorate percentage.
Personally speaking, I am no Jogendranath Mandal was born into the North Bengal, and then Pakistan, but in his 8,0 he gave vent to his frustration against the clear violation of the commitment given against the Congress.
Next, we have Babu Jagjivan Ram, a pow first Dalit prime minister. By all account distinction as a cabinet minister in several in the 1971 war when he was helming the Growing up in the Doab region of Punjab political entrepreneur. He rose to fame and Ambedkar Jayanti with those of Tila with DS4 (Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sanghars to establish the BSP, and mentored Maya powerful CMs of UP.
The first Dalit President of India KR Narayanan bright student, as a researcher, a journalist edition of the Times of India, he met Maha communalism were two sides of the same. The penultimate entry is on Udham Singh Baugh massacre by fatally attacking the his muse, he kissed the gallows and his l The final tribute is reserved for Babasaheb all Indians, an ideologue for linguistic state political equality, without social justice a was “a way of life which recognises liberty be treated as separate items in a trinity. The other is to defeat the very purpose of Democracy.
This is a book that deserves to be read, cover to cover, many times over!
The writer, a former Director of LBS National Academy of Administration, is currently a historian, policy analyst and columnist, and serves as the Festival Director of Valley of Words — a festival of arts and literature
Courtesy : millenniumpost
Narendra Modi will change the Constitution to eliminate reservation, claims Asaduddin OwaisiPublished / Updated- April 21, 2024 19:24 ISTSYED MOHAMMEDAsaduddin Owaisi | Photo Credit: Listen to articleThe AIMIM chief invokes the demolition of Babri Masjid in his criticism of BJP Lok Sabha candidate Madhavi Latha, who stirred a controversy outside a place of worship recentlyAll India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would change the Constitution of India, in order to eventually remove reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.Mr. Owaisi, who represents the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, was addressing a public meeting as part of his election campaign.Keep reading for free!Please register and continue reading this.
Jammu April 21: Congratulating the electorates of 4-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency for enthusiastic participation in the elections has reflected the faith of people in a democratic setup and a sign of change.
Addressing media persons here today at PCC HQ Jammu, President JKPCC Shri Vikar Rasool Wani while congratulating the voters for larger participation in the Lok Sabha elections in 4-Udhampur Constituency, despite rain and bad weather, most of the areas witnessed heavy polling is an indication of change. He said people are fed up from BJP and wanted a change, which is expected 1st phase of heavy polling.
He expressed confidence that Congress would emerge stronger and victorious in the 5-Jammu- Reasi Constituency and its alliance partner NC from 3 Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir Valley which will go to poll in 2nd and following phases.
Wani said Congress makes programmes for ameliorating the lot of the people by providing basic amenities of life to all of them. Education, Healthcare, Provision of Modern Infrastructure, Uninterrupted Power Supply, Provision of safe and pure drinking water, Job creation for the unemployed, Empowerment of the Women and Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Handicapped persons, and all the socially neglected sections of the society are on top most agenda of the Congress party.
PCC Chief reiterated that Congress regards every citizen of the state as equal irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or sex and the Congress party believes in giving the best quality of life to all of them in fixed time schedule. All the policies of the Congress party like better housing facilities, a pollution-free environment, decongestion of the existing cities, development of model cities, development of villages, enhancing the facilities of trade and industry etc. are geared towards this end.
Wani said that the entire poll campaign of BJP is to cash on the personality of one person whereas Congress is approaching the voters with the history and achievements of the party which brought the country and the state to a present state of development in almost every aspect of life. Congress party will continue doing its utmost with courage and conviction without indulging in hollow sloganeering.
PCC Chief appealed to the electorates of district Jammu, Samba, and Reasi to cast their valuable votes in favour of the Congress party which guarantees restoration of statehood, security of land and jobs, employment for locals, enhancing the salary of Anganwadi workers, Asha workers, regularization of daily wagers, need-based, ad hoc, contractual employees and ameliorating all sorts problems of the people of the state including smart meters issue, water tariff, etc.
Mr. Wani was flanked by PCC Vice President Vinod Sharma, General Secretary (Org)
Narinder Gupta, General Secretary Inayatullah Rathar, Pradesh Mahila Congress President Shameema Raina, Media Coordinator Neeraj Gupta, Secretary Michael Wazir, Incharge PYC HQ Ricky Dalotra in the Press conference.
“Buddhism is Based on Reason and has a Bearing on Peace of Mind,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Second Day Teaching on Hundred Deities of the Joyous Land
Laypeople reciting the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Mongolian at the start of the second day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India, 20 April 2024: Today, the clouds had lifted, and sunlight played on the courtyard as His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked to the temple. People sat on either side of the walkway to greet him, with white silk scarves in their folded hands.
Six Mongolian laypeople sat before His Holiness’s throne and recited the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Mongolian while many of their compatriots sitting in the body of the temple joined in.
His Holiness addressed the congregation: “Today, we have here Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhists, as well as people from elsewhere who are interested in learning about Buddhist teachings. They are attracted by their discovery that Buddhism is based on reason and has a bearing on peace of mind as well as peace in the world.
“As for me, I have reflected on cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta and an understanding of emptiness since I was a child. I’ve found them helpful and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned with other people.
“We Tibetans here are living in exile because we lost our country. But where we are doesn’t matter that much because we rely on the Nalanda Tradition that the great Indian master Shantarakshita established in Tibet at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen. This tradition has spread all over Tibet and the Himalayan region. Conditions may change but we have a custom of responding to each other warm-heartedly. This is something worth preserving.
“Tibetans in Tibet continue to wish to follow the tradition introduced by Shantarakshita, and they place their trust in me. Not only in Tibet, but also in mainland China, growing numbers of people are taking an interest in Tibetan Buddhism and its essence—warmheartedness. Tibetan Buddhism includes a thorough understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions, which interests scientists. Other people are keen to know more about training the mind and tackling their emotions.
“Because I meditate on the awakening mind and emptiness every day I have peace of mind and sleep soundly at night. True peace is to be found in our inner world.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the congregation on the second day of teachings requested by a group from Mongolia at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
His Holiness noted that the main disciples for the teaching were Mongolian. He recalled that there has long been a special affinity between Tibetans and Mongolians. Many Mongolians became scholars in Tibet. In his own case, he said, his principal teacher of philosophy and dialectics was a Mongolian called Ngodrup Tsognyi. He remains very grateful for this teacher’s kindness and is happy to repay it to some extent by teaching others, particularly Mongolians.
He observed that spirituality is not just a matter of words. It entails practice and developing good qualities within. It’s not enough for Buddhist monks and nuns to wear the robes; they need to study what the Buddha taught and integrate it within themselves.
“My Dharma friends,” His Holiness observed, “it’s good to remember that we are able to study and practice now due to the traditions passed down by past masters. The Chinese Communists have tried to destroy Buddhism, but many other people in China are showing an interest in Buddhism. We Tibetans need to think carefully about the significance of sharing what we know of the Buddha’s teachings with interested Chinese.”
His Holiness announced that he would like to discuss the awakening mind of bodhichitta. He declared: “Bodhichitta is very precious. It brings peace of mind. It is a powerful way of serving others. There is the Seven-fold Cause and Effect method and the more powerful Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others approach.
“Taking account of all sentient beings and cultivating the mind that cherishes others more than oneself is powerfully transformative. It brings confidence and peace.”
He advised the congregation to meditate briefly on this. Next, he pointed out that we all have a mind characterized as clarity and awareness and that it is powerful to use it to help others.
Some of the more than 6000 people attending the second day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching sitting in the courtyard of the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
“As human beings,” he remarked, “we were nurtured by our mother from the very start of our lives. She planted a seed of kindness within us. Think of all sentient beings, especially the human beings of this world, and imagine extending that sense of kindness to all of them. We can build temples and institutions with a view to preserving the teaching, but what is ultimately most important is to cultivate the thought of cherishing others more than ourselves. This is how we’ll achieve a life at ease.
“Like us, all human beings wish to be happy. We are the same. That’s why we need to be warm-hearted to everyone. Cherishing others is the source of all good qualities. Cherishing only ourselves is a source of misery. We survive due to the kindness of others, therefore, showing kindness and good heartedness are the simple key to happiness.”
His Holiness counselled his listeners to reflect on the shortcomings of self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others. Think, he said, how good it would be if all human beings were happy. Wishing others to be happy brings peace of mind. Think of other beings as friends. The best offering you could give to me, he suggested, would be to cultivate the wish to benefit others.
“My Mongolian Dharma friends,” His Holiness told them, “practice is not just about the prayers you say, it’s about transforming your mind and cultivating a good heart. Reciting mantras is not as effective as cultivating a good heart. When I was a child I came across a parakeet that could recite Om mani padme hung, but with no sense of what it meant. We don’t want to be like that bird. The real way to benefit others is to generate the awakening mind. What you can do is to visualize Avalokiteshvara on the crown of your head and as you recite your ‘manis’ seek his blessings that you may develop a good heart.
“We Tibetans have a custom of reciting ‘manis’ whenever we can, but if, while we’re doing so, our minds wander after jealous thoughts, then it’s not helpful at all.”
His Holiness gave the transmission of the mantras of the three Long Life Deities:
Amitayus — Om amarani jivantaye svaha
White Tara — Om tare tuttare ture mama ayuh punye jnana pushtim kuru svaha
Ushnishavijaya — Om drum svaha om amrita ayu dadai svaha
Representations of the body, speech and mind of enlightenment in the form of a statue of Jé Tsongkhapa, a silver chörten and a precious scripture were presented to His Holiness by the Lamaiin Gegeen.
Lamaiin Gegeen offering representations of body, speech and mind on the second day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching requested by a group from Mongolia at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
As a thanksgiving mandala was offered, he made an appeal to His Holiness as follows:
The nature of the kindness showered on the faithful people of Mongolia in general, and upon the successive members of the Lamaiin Gegeen lineage, by your previous incarnations, and particularly by Your Holiness yourself, who are the Buddha for us, and brought to us by the strength of our prayers, is such that even if the entire universe were filled with the seven kinds of precious objects and offered, it would be difficult to repay. Since the welfare of sentient beings and the Buddha Dharma depend on Your Holiness, the Great Treasury of Compassion; and since for us your disciples, otherwise bereft, you are our impeccable refuge, like the eyes in our brows and the hearts in our chests; and since we will have no higher refuge than you in all our future lives, we make this fervent request to you:
Again, in the future, through your unceasing and successive emanations, may you never release us from the hook of your compassion. This is the sole supplication that has lingered long in our minds.
Your great compassionate activities are unending like the rolling of the ocean’s waves, and although it is difficult to make this request, we offer this fervently unflinching supplication:
Just as when a piece of stone is treated as gold, you have showered your compassion on us. In your future incarnations may you continue to be our sole refuge, our supreme field for accumulating merit. May we never be separated from you, who manifests as a monk, wearing the robes and upholding the three vows-Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Tantric. From the sphere of your primordial wisdom, may you, the Omniscient One, kindly ensure that we are not separated from the supreme Avalokiteshvara, but are kindly led by him.
From our side, as your disciples, under your unexcelled guidance, with the support of the Gaden Phodrang, we remain committed to observing our pure and unwavering commitment. We will please you by obediently carrying out your instructions. We have been sincere until now and there will be no change in the future. We will persevere by every possible means to obediently please you.
May you live long, unwavering, like an indestructible diamond.
His Holiness smiled in acquiescence and as the congregation recited the Mig-tse-ma prayer he left the temple saluting well-wishers as he went and returned to his residence.
Lamaiin Gegeen reading an appeal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the second day of teachings at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
Ward boy gets lifer for raping Dalit woman in Nainital
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ward-boy-gets-lifer-for-raping-dalit-woman-in-nainital/articleshow/109484807.cms
Download the TOI app now:
https://timesofindia.onelink.me/mjFd/toisupershare.
Comments
Post a Comment