See if paying attention to the nature of the mind early in the morning makes your mind more alert throughout the day. Your thoughts certainly will be more tranquil. The conceptual mind that runs on thinking of good things, bad things, and so forth will get a rest. A little non-conceptuality can provide a much-needed vacation.

first published May 2010 – but still fascinating

Dalai Lama Uses Twitter Social Networking to Circumvent Chinese Government

The Dalai Lama, having only been a Twitter user since late February 2010, is already using the platform to circumvent Chinese censorship. Today the Tibetan spiritual leader held a one-hour question-and-answer session via Twitter to respond to questions submitted by Chinese web users.

The Twitter chat was hosted by Chinese writer Wang Lixiong who met with the Dalai Lama in a New York hotel room. The Dalai Lama’s Twitter responses were translated by a Chinese interpreter and tweeted on Lixiong’s Twitter account. A translated portion of the conversation from Lixiong’s Twitter profile can be seen below.

The Twitter chat was a strategic maneuver on behalf of Wang and the Dalai Lama to communicate directly with the Chinese people despite long-time opposition from Chinese officials.

According to the AFP’s report, “Nearly 12,000 people selected the 250 questions by online voting done on a Google Moderator site, which was blocked in China on Thursday.”

Another report writes that, “the Dalai Lama tweeted messages of criticism about the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet and words of welcome to Chinese citizens.”

It’s not known how many Chinese people were able to follow the tweets as Twitter is blocked in China. Still there are an estimated 150,000 people in China who use Twitter, and access to the Dalai Lama’s responses were accessible via third-party Twitter applications.



Jennifer Van Grove

article source: http://mashable.com/2010/05/21/dalai-lama-twitter-chat

Visit to Mumbai – February 2011
Images from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Mumbai, India, on February 18th and 19th, 2011

My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit of reconciliation. However, I believe that a human being, without religious faith, can be a very good person – sincere, a good heart, having a sense of concern for others – without belief in a particular religious faith.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/188380877841453

In spiritual growth, it is important to avoid imbalances between academic or intellectual learning and practical implementation. Otherwise there is a danger that too much intellectualization will kill the more contemplative practices and too much emphasis on practical implementation without study will kill the understanding. There has got to be a balance.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/135433353187620

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In contemporary life, humility is more important than ever. The more successful we become, both as individuals and as a family, through our development of science and technology, the more essential it becomes to preserve humility. For the greater our material achievements, the more vulnerable we become to pride and arrogance.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/146836468704304

Learning is the first step in making positive changes within yourself. Other factors are conviction, determination, action and effort. Learning and education help develop conviction about the need to change and increase your commitment. Conviction then develops into determination. Next, strong determination leads to action: a sustained effort to implement the changes. This final factor of effort is critical.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/127274034006412

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Although I personally believe that our human nature is fundamentally gentle and compassionate, I feel it is not enough that this is our underlying nature; we must also develop an appreciation and awareness of that fact. And changing how we perceive ourselves, through learning and understanding, can have a very real impact on how we interact with others and how we conduct our daily lives.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/150427008338568

The modern world is such that the interests of a particular country or community can no longer be considered to lie within the confines of its own boundaries. Cultivating contentment is therefore crucial to maintaining peaceful coexistence because discontent breeds a sense of acquisitiveness that can never be satisfied.

article source: http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama/posts/103287899738882