July 28, 2008
Tibetan Prime Minister Visits the Himalayan Institute
By Ashley Hecht, Staff Writer
Honesdale, PA/Dyberry Township—Hundreds gathered at the Himalayan Institute Monday to hear Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, the current Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Speaking on "Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World," Rinpoche shared his teachings on the need for spiritual values in the world of politics and economics. Traditionally trained in the monasteries of Tibet from an early age, Rinpoche is a close associate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as a leading Tibetan scholar of Buddhism. Serving the people of Tibet in India and around the world, Rinpoche holds the highest elective post in the Tibetan community.
Rinpoche was introduced by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. "Even in this age when forces of darkness and light are colliding, there are still those who are able to live in the world, and yet rise above it," said Tigunait of the Tibetan leader.
Rinpoche’s message focused on individual tolerance and compassion in relation to the concerns of the modern world. He emphasized the necessity of knowing oneself, a virtue he believes to be essential for the elimination of human suffering. Rinpoche spoke about the challenges confronting humanity as a whole, and how we are facing ever-increasing violence, fear, economic disparity and degradation of the environment.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi—"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed"—Rinpoche emphasized that peace can only be achieved if we implement compassion on a personal level. "We cannot wait for the entire group to start making a change," he said, "we must begin individually."
Rinpoche also addressed ‘religious tolerance’—a term he believes to be a contradiction. "If someone is religious, they can never be intolerant…we have forgotten the essence of religion completely," he said. Encouraging equal reverence for all religious traditions, and a sincere awareness of oneself, Rinpoche urged the audience to set aside time for introspection.
In response to a question on China-Tibet relations and the summer Olympics in Beijing, Professor Rinpoche stressed that the Tibetan conflict with Chinese rule is not about political ideology, but rather a matter of justice.
"We have no ill-feeling for the Chinese people," Rinpoche stated. "In spite of terrible conditions, the strength of truth and compassion are with us. We support the Olympic Games hosted by Beijing … [and] wish all goes successfully."
Rinpoche’s visit marks a significant step for the Himalayan Institute, a nonprofit, international organization, with headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The Institute draws on roots in the yoga tradition to offer programs in holistic living and personal development. Its multi-varied activities include extensive educational and humanitarian programs, most recently in Cameroon, Africa. Currently, the Institute is working to bring similar community development projects to the Tibetan refugee settlements in India.
The program concluded with a Tibetan chant from Rinpoche and a prayer from Tigunait: "May this world be full of enlightened leaders and may we create a global family where all live in peace and prosperity."