When in Doubt, Practice Compassion

A Lesson ON SIMPLICITY from H.H. the Dalai Lama 80th Birthday Celebration

Last week at the birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama held at the Jacob Javits Center here in New York City I was shown this excerpt from The Compendium of Perfect Dharma sutra.

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"O Buddha, a bodhisattva should not train in many practices. If a bodhisattava properly holds to one dharma and learns it perfectly, he has all the Buddha's qualities in the palm of his hand. And if you ask what that one dharma is, it is great compassion (mahakaruna)"

TRANSLATION: Keep it simple. When in doubt, whatever your religion, practice Compassion.

This is the mindset that Tibetan nannies are raised with from childhood. Most of our caregivers will say they have little knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, but on a practical day-to-day level, they are the world's best role models on practicing compassion.