1	The Fate of Non-violence in the 21^st Century Geshe Thupten Dorjee, professor University of Arkansas
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4	"Cultivate balanced attitudes toward oneself..." Cultivate balanced attitudes toward oneself and others. Developed ways of thinking. Train our minds to affect changes in our own lives and the lives of those around us. Transform adverse situations into opportunities for spiritual growth. H.H. the 14^th Dalai Lama
5	Mahatma Gandhi “Truth, purity, self-control, firmness, fearlessness, humility, unity, peace...”
6	Quotes of Mahatma Gandhi “I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.”
7	Not more arms What is required to dissolve conflict is not more arms. There are conflicts in the world that arise from a failure to understand one another's humanness. Basically the answer is spiritual, in the sense that what is required to resolve conflict is not more arms but a sensitive understanding of our common human condition.
8	Nonviolence Hatred and fighting cannot bring happiness to any one, even to the winners of battles. Violence produces misery and is always counter-productive. It is, therefore, time for all the world to learn to transcend the differences of race, culture, and ideology, and to regard one another through eyes that see the common human situation. To do so would benefit individuals, communities, nations, and the world at large.
9	Knowledge Self realization is possible without the knowledge of letters. Today, most of the students look listless and devoid of energy. They ask about serving the country and earning a livelihood. I feel they are most anxious about the last. It is necessary to consider what the true aim of education is. Education should aim at building character. Our seers say that if a man, though well versed in the vedas and shastras, fails to realize the Self and make himself worthy of liberation from all bonds, his learning will have been in vain.
10	Knowledge Self realization is possible without the knowledge of letters. Prophet Mohammed was illiterate and Jesus Christ never went to school. They had all that learning that knowledge could bring. They were Mahatmas. We too can attain knowledge of the Self only by cultivating good character. “I hope that you at this moment will think of yourself as a human being rather than as an American, Asian, European, African, or member of any particular country. These loyalties are secondary. If you and I find common ground as human beings, we will communicate on a basic level… All else-whether you are educated or uneducated, young or old, rich or poor-is secondary.” – H.H. the 14^th Dalai Lama
11	Knowledge What is character? What are the hallmarks of a virtuous life? A virtuous man is one who strives to practice truth, non-violence, non-possession, non-stealing, fearlessness and other such rules of conduct. He will give up his life rather than truth. He will choose to die rather than kill. He will rather suffer himself than make others suffer. He will be as a friend even to his wife and entertain no carnal thoughts towards her.
12	Knowledge He does not seek ease and comfort and does not use things he does not really need but is quite content to live a simple life. Firm is the belief that, “I am the immortal spirit and not this perishable body and that none in this world can ever kill the spirit,” he casts out all fear of suffering of mind and body and of worldly misfortunes. If our schools never succeed in producing this result, the students, the system of education and the teachers - all three must share the blame.
13	1989 Nobel Peace Prize Citation The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize to the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the religious and political leader of the Tibetan people. The Committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people. The Dalai Lama has developed his philosophy of peace from a great reverence for all living things and upon the concept of universal responsibility embracing all mankind as well as nature.
14	Spiritual Teachers Your enemies are your best spiritual teachers. It is very important to develop the right attitude toward your enemy. Indian scholars ask, "If you do not practice compassion toward your enemy then toward whom can you practice it?" If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience, and understanding.
15	Spiritual Teachers In order to develop one's capacity for tolerance toward all beings, and particularly toward an enemy, it is important as a precondition to have a feeling of equanimity toward all. It is quite natural for all of us to feel hostility toward those who harm us, and to feel attachment toward our loved ones. It is a natural human feeling, so we must make that transition from these inherently biased feelings toward a state of greater equanimity.
16	Spiritual Teachers In Christianity there is the idea of creation and that all creatures are equal in that they are creations of the same god. There is also the belief that all human beings are created in the image of God, that we share a common divine nature. This is similar to Buddha-nature in Buddhism. We have a strong ground, a powerful reason to believe that it is possible for each one of us to develop a genuine sense of equanimity toward all beings.
17	Nonviolence Anger and hatred are our real enemies. It is necessary to understand and overcome the enemy within us. Anger and hatred are our real enemies. Others are temporary enemies, who appear intermittently throughout our life. And unless we train our minds to reduce their negative force, they will continue to disturb us and disrupt our attempts to develop a calm mind.
18	Root of Anger The root of anger lies in the attitude that cherishes our own welfare and benefit while remaining oblivious to the well-being of others. This self-centered attitude underlies not only anger, but virtually all our states of mind. It is a deluded attitude, misperceiving the way things actually are, and this misperception is responsible for all the suffering and dissatisfaction that we experience.
19	Perfections of Patience The 7 precepts of a practitioner of patience: Verbal: Not to scold another who scolds you Not to become angry when incited to anger Physical: Not to hit another in return when being hit Not to reveal another’s faults when he does so to you Mental: Not ignoring those who are angry Accepting others’ sincere apologies Not following thoughts of anger Patience is by nature the mind being undisturbed by any harm that is inflicted or mental anguish due to suffering. In other words Patience is defeated by anger.
20	Disciplined The undisciplined mind is like a mad elephant. What inhibits compassion? We need to understand factors that inhibit and we need to restrain these factors. Perhaps, what inhibits compassion is that lack of inner restraint, which is the source of all unethical conduct. We find that by transforming our habits and dispositions, we can begin to perfect our overall state of heart and mind.
21	Disciplined The first thing then - because the spiritual qualities conducive to compassion entail positive ethical conduct - is to cultivate a habit of inner discipline. Merely being told that envy, potentially a very powerful and destructive emotion, is negative cannot provide a strong defense against it. If we order our lives externally but ignore the inner dimension, inevitably we will find that doubt, anxiety, and other afflictions develop, and happiness eludes us. This is because, unlike physical discipline, true inner - or spiritual - discipline cannot be achieved by force but only through voluntary and deliberate effort. In other words, conducting ourselves ethically consists of more than merely obeying laws and precepts.
22	Disciplined The undisciplined mind is like a mad elephant. It can wreak havoc, not only destroying things but causing lasting pain to others and ourselves. The mind is not inherently destructive. If hatefulness were an unchangeable characteristic of consciousness, then consciousness must always be hateful. Clearly this is not the case. There is an important distinction to be made between consciousnesses as such, and the thoughts and emotions it experiences.
23	Nonviolence Suffering is not desirable. There are many sad and serious situations in this world that we need to understand and face. The question concerns people who have suffered extreme abuse, such as sexual or physical abuse as children, or the victims of atrocities like political torture.
24	Nonviolence There are two levels and meanings of 'illusion.' In the conventional level, your mind is simply confused, and you perceive incorrectly because of it when you confront someone who has undergone a traumatic experience, this is real suffering. It is not just an illusion. There is another level of illusion that is subtle. Here, you see that there are dependently related events, there is an illusory aspect to the suffering. But the chance of misunderstanding here is great.
25	Nonviolence Spiritual does not mean any kind of religious faith. The basic fact is that all human beings want happiness. We have every right to be happy and to achieve happier lives. The methods, however should not infringe on the rights of others, nor should they create suffering for others. You should be aware that there are differences between short-term and long-term interests and consequences. The long-term interest is more important.
26	Nonviolence After all we are human beings and not machines. Therefore, we must think seriously about our own inner abilities and deeper values. One could also say ‘spiritual’ developments. But when I say spiritual I do not mean any kind of religious faith. I mean basic qualities of human goodness.
27	Nonviolence Human affection, honesty, discipline and human intelligence guided by good motivation are these basic human qualities. All religious teachings and traditions teach us to be good human beings, to be warm-hearted people. These religious teachings strengthen the basic good human qualities we have from birth.
28	Nonviolence Humans have the potential not only to create happy lives for themselves; but also to help other beings. We have a natural creative quality and it is important to realize this. It is my belief that the human brain and basic human compassion are by nature in a kind of harmony.
29	Nonviolence Such a form of training though it may not actually result in a reduction of suffering by other sentient beings or a production of your own positive qualities, psychologically brings about a transformation in your mind so effectively that your feeling of love and compassion is much more enhanced.
30	Nonviolence These mental transformations take time and are not easy. Keep it in your mind and make a constant effort. Eventually some change may happen. I still sometimes find it difficult to practice these things. However, they are extremely useful. I will remain to make some small contribution for the benefit of others.
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32	Prayer Dedicated to world peace: Whenever I give advice to others, I shall do so with sincerity and sympathy. I abandon any disrespect for other forms of spiritual practice and I appreciate whatever religions others are interested in. I shall dedicate whatever virtues I have done in the past, do now and will do in the future to the benefit of other sentient beings.