Tibetan monks speak on love, compassion and nonviolence

Despite their own persecution, their main message is to not harm others.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Gwen Kennedy read "The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living," co-authored by the Dalai Lama, and found that it reinforced the value of finding respect and happiness internally.
Kennedy, an environmental science and political science major at Westminster College, said she read the philosophical book that discusses human suffering, conflict resolution and other topics, and that she is sensitive to the persecution that many people in Tibet endured when the Chinese occupation began.
The Dalai Lama was the spiritual ruler of Tibet before being forced to flee the country in 1959 because of the Communist Chinese takeover.
Andrea Ceplecci, a political science major, said that she "wishes Tibet was brought up more in today's society" and that she's grateful she had an opportunity to hear how some people who have suffered persecution are still able to find peace, as well as love and compassion for others.
Ceplecci and Kennedy were among about 55 students who attended a symposium Tuesday in the Andrew J. McKelvey Campus Center as part of a "Religion and the Religions" series. The series featured six Tibetan monks who are in the United States on a cultural mission. The monks have spent several days at Westminster College giving presentations about Buddhism and their philosophies on peace, nonviolence and other topics.
Patience and love
The monks are also trying to raise money to improve their living conditions. The six live in a monestary in Mundguod, India, because it has been illegal for them to practice their beliefs in Tibet since the Chinese occupation, explained Dr. Bryan Rennie, associate professor of religion and philosophy. Rennie organized "The Monks of Gaden Lhopa" series and other events.
Ngarwang Lungtok, a lama monk, spent most of his hourlong talk expounding on what he said is the importance of compassion, patience, love, forgiveness and nonviolence. He said that practicing such virtues will lead to a peaceful existence.
"Patience and love are a state of mind, and they're in every human being. They're natural, so polish such feelings," Lungtok said through a translator. "With a good heart and patience, we can accomplish genuine peace."
Lungtok explained that it's important to overcome what he referred to as negative mind-sets: ignorance, which leads to hatred, anger, desire and attachment. These cause people to rely on external events or objects for happiness instead of allowing them to find it within themselves, he told the rapt audience.
Lungtok told the students that a college campus is a good place to practice such virtues and that by doing so, they can be more "compassionate in society."
Exiled from Tibet
He said that China invaded Tibet in the late 1940s under the pretense of being liberators and that the country had no military or ammunition to fight back. March 10, 1959, was a turning point in Tibetan history because the Chinese officially declared Tibet to be part of China, Lungtok noted.
Lobsang Wangchuk, a Buddhist monk from California, pointed out that martial law was established in Tibet more than 40 years ago. Since 1959, about 2 million Tibetans have lost their lives, a situation Wangchuk called a "modern holocaust," and more than 6,000 monestaries have been destroyed. "That's like destroying every university in America," he said.
The political situation needs to change before Wangchuk and the other monks return to Tibet, he said, noting that the exiled monks are not allowed access to the Tibetan people or they face imprisonment.
Wangchuk said that, despite being persecuted and threatened for their beliefs, his main message is not to harm others.
"All religions can live in happiness and harmony," he said. "All religions want to root out problems in society" and should provide reasons behind establishing laws.
Ashley Williams, a philosophy major, said that America often has a more violent and materialistic view of the world and that she was grateful to hear another perspective.
"It's amazing to discuss and put a human face to the people we've studied," added Bill Stone, a religious studies major.