봉축특집섹션 - 달라이라마 봉축 영문 메시지 전문
2004-05-24 법보신문
May 13, 2004
Dear The Beopbo Weekly Newspaper
MESSAGE
Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment and taught in India over two and a half thousand years ago, yet his teaching remains refreshing and relevant today. No matter who we are or where we live, we all want happiness and dislike suffering. The Buddha recommended that in working to overcome suffering, we should help others as much as we can. He further advised that if we cannot actually be of help, we should at least be careful not to do anyone harm.Part of Buddhist practice involves training our minds through meditation. But if our training in calming our minds, developing qualities like love, compassion, generosity and patience, is to be effective, we must put them into practice in day-to-day life.
The ultimate purpose of Buddhism is to serve and benefit humanity. Converting other people to Buddhism is unimportant in comparison with the contribution we Buddhists can make to human society according to our own ideas. The Buddha gave us an example of contentment and tolerance, through serving others unselfishly. The key is inner peace. If we have that we can face difficulties with calm and reason, while our inner happiness remains intact. The teachings of love, kindness and tolerance, the conduct of non-violence, and especially the Buddhist theory that all things are relative are a source of that inner peace.
In an increasingly interdependent world our own welfare and happiness depend on many other people. Ultimately each of us is just a human being like everyone else. Whether we are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to this social class or that, following this or that religion or none, we all desire happiness and do not want suffering. As other peoples right to peace and happiness is equal to our own, we have a responsibility to help those in need. As human beings we are social creatures and concern for each other, which I have called universal responsibility, is the very basis of our life together.
On the sacred occasion of Vesak I offer my greetings to the Korean Buddhists with my prayers.
The Dalai Lama
With best wishes,
Sincerely,