How Tibetan Buddhism Changes the Way We Live | Renmin University of China

This is a lecture given by Khenpo Sodargye on March 17, 2011, at Renmin University of China, with the theme "Tibetan Buddhist Thought and Real Life." Khenpo's core perspective is that Tibetan Buddhism possesses the most outstanding inner science, capable of providing genuine happiness and wisdom to modern people. He develops his argument on three levels: first, Tibetan Buddhism has deeply integrated into Tibetan life, cultivating intellectuals with sound outlook on life and values; second, the rainbow body attainment and other supreme realization states in Tibetan Buddhism demonstrate spiritual power that transcends material existence; third, the compassion and wisdom emphasized in Tibetan Buddhism—universal love for all sentient beings and freedom through non-attachment—are unparalleled by other teachings. Khenpo particularly emphasizes the importance of "right view," quoting Nagarjuna's teaching: "Those who possess right view will not fall into lower realms for a thousand kalpas." He calls upon intellectuals to achieve "perfect integration of faith and understanding"—possessing both wisdom and faith—and to find in Tibetan Buddhism humanity's spiritual Noah's Ark.