“Use Logic and Reason in Your Studies” Advises His Holiness

By Sam Ferguson / November 8, 2015;

His Holiness addressing the nuns Photo: Tibet.net

Nuns from several monasteries gathered at the Theckchen Chöling temple in Dharamshala on October 31 to make a debate presentation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The event was hosted this year by Geden Choeling, the oldest Tibetan nunnery in Dharamsala.

His Holiness first addressed the gathered nuns, expressing his admiration for those who have completed their studies and are ready to take their final examinations to qualify as Geshemas next year.

He talked at length of the need for critical thinking in Buddhist teaching. “This is the 21st century and we need to understand the Buddha’s teachings in the light of reason. When we teach, we need to do so on the basis of reason”.

He continued “Nowadays, the Nalanda tradition of approaching the Buddha’s teachings through logic and reason is found only amongst Tibetans. It’s something precious we can be proud of and should strive to preserve.”

The Dalai Lama referenced his ongoing dialogue with scientists, who have expressed admiration for the logical approach of Buddhism and its rich understanding of psychology. He emphasised the accessibility of these learnings to Tibetans within the already translated Kangyur and Tengyur texts, before encouraging monasteries and nunneries to study philosophy. He recalled his Ornament for Clear Realisation teaching at Geden Choeling as a propitious start.

The nuns debate in the presence of His Holiness Photo: Tibet.net

The nuns then engaged in debate, discussing topics such as the existence of past and future lives and how effects proved the existence of a cause.

A brief teaching by His Holiness referred to his writings on the Buddhist text Illuminating the Threefold Faith: Invoking the Seventeen Great Wise Adepts of Glorious Nalanda. He reinforced his earlier message, saying “…we are distracted by the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it is extremely important that those of us who follow the Buddha should have faith based on an understanding of his teaching. Therefore, we should examine it with an unbiased and inquisitive mind, analysing it closely.”

The Dalai Lama concluded by leading a short ceremony based on the well-known four line verse for taking refuge in the Three Jewels and generating the awakening mind.