His Holiness begins four-day teaching of Aryadeva’s Uma Shigyapa
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, Oct, 3: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today began a four-day teaching of Aryadeva’s 400 Stanzas on the Middle Way (Uma Shigyapa) at Tsug-lag-Khang, the main temple in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.
The teaching is being held at the request of Tibetan Buddhist Association of Taiwan and the translation of which are available in English, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi and Russian.
Around 1100 Taiwanese, some newly arrived Tibetans from Tibet and hundreds of local Tibetans and foreigners have gathered for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s four-day teaching from October 3-6.
“His Holiness always maintains that for better understanding of Uma, one must understand Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Wisdom Treatise of the Middle Way (Uma Tsawa Sherab), Aryadeva’s 400 Stanzas on the Middle Way (Uma Shigyapa) and Uma Juk Pa. As His Holiness has already taught Uma Tsawa Sherab, (October 1-4, 2015) Uma Shigyapa is being taught toady and Uma Juk Pa probably next year,” Jamyang Rinchen, His Holiness’ Chinese translator said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama began by thanking all the devotees congregated who have braced all the odds and came from different parts of the world.
“Religion should be the source of peace rather than conflict, if religion becomes a source of conflict then it is like a medicine turned into poison,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said.
“Irrespective of one’s faith, If we all think for the prosperity and betterment of seven billion human being, ultimately we as individuals will benefit from it,” His Holiness said and urged all Buddhist practitioners to practice love and compassion.
