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Listening Session Paintings

Friday, March 13, 2009

A Message from the Dalai Lama

At the end of the talk someone
from the audience asked the Dalai Lama,
"Why didn't you fight back against the Chinese?"
The Dalai Lama looked down, swung his feet
just a bit, then looked back up at us
and said with a gentle smile,

"Well, war is obsolete, you know. "

Then, after a few moments, his face grave, he said,
"Of course the mind can rationalize fighting back...
but the heart,
the heart would never understand.
Then you would be divided in yourself,
the heart and the mind,
and the war would be inside you."

He also said,

"Never give up
no matter what is going on.
Never give up.
Develop the heart.
Too much energy in your country
is spent developing the mind
instead of the heart.

Develop the heart.
Be compassionate.
Not just to your friends, but to everyone.
Be compassionate.

Work for peace in your heart
and in the world.
Work for peace,
and I say again,
Never give up,
no matter what is happening.
No matter what is going on around you.
Never give up!"