Ep. 298 – The Dalai Lama’s Message for Modern Times: How to Live with Courage, Compassion, and Integrity

From gender equity to joyful adaptation, Jack recounts how the Dalai Lama challenged teachers to reshape Buddhism for a modern world in need of heart.

This Dharma Talk recorded on 03/29/93 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

“Somebody said the Dalai Lama’s mind is like a diamond, and whichever facet, whichever direction he turns it to, it comes with clarity and beauty. Everything that he did had a sense of graciousness and beauty about it.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack holds a thought-provoking talk on:

• Counseling, ethics codes, and teacher-training for a new era
• Sectarianism vs. the shared heart of awakening
• A dramatic call for gender equity: nuns, councils & training funded “on the spot”
• Sylvia Wetzel’s meditative reflection: What if the Dalai Lama had always been a woman?
• Humor & honesty: “rebirth control” and other Dalai Lama one-liners
• Engaged Buddhism: arms sales, poverty, over-population, climate
• Drafting a pan-Buddhist code of conduct; yearly councils of elders
• Spirit Rock as a living experiment in consensus leadership
• The invitation: awaken the Buddha-heart in every man, woman & child

“There is no price worth paying to hide what is wrong—tell the truth.” – H.H. the Dalai Lama

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.

Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.

“Use your heart to awaken that spirit of the Buddha in