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Introduction to the Dalai Lama

For teenagers and adults

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Introduction:Thiscurriculumwasdesignedin2013anticipatingthearrivalofHisHolinesstheDalaiLamatoNewOrleans,Louisiana.ItwascreatedwiththeintentionofintroducingtheNewOrleanspopulationtosomeofthecommonthemesoftheDalaiLama’steachings,aswellastotheDalaiLamahimself.LearningGoals:Throughparticipationinthiscurriculum,individualswill:1.KnowwhotheDalaiLamais.2.Becomeacquaintedwiththeconceptsofcompassion,tolerance,forgiveness,resilience,andhappiness.3.Engageinage‐appropriatesocial‐emotionalactivitiesthatallowthemtoconnecttotheotherparticipants.Facilitator’sNotes:Thiscurriculumwasdesignedtobeusedwithgroupsofteenagersoradultsofpreferablynomorethanten.Eachlessonshouldtakeapproximately30minutestocomplete.FacilitatorsneednopriorknowledgeoftheDalaiLamaorhisteachings,aseachlessonprovidesascriptedplan.Itissuggestedthatfacilitatorsreadthelessonspriortopresentingandgatheranynecessarymaterials.Materialsneededforeachlessonarelistedandanyattachmentscanbefounddirectlyafterthatday’slessonplan.Writtenby:LauraHasensteinSteffiWaddellDianaWiningderKaralineZeiglerHisHolinesstheDalaiLamaVolunteerOutreachTeam,2013

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Day One: Who is the Dalai Lama?

Facilitatorwillintroduceherselfandwhatwillbecoveredineachofthesessions:compassion,tolerance,forgiveness,resilience,andhappiness.ExplainthatthepurposeofthecurriculumistolearnmoreabouttheideasthattheDalaiLamateaches,toshareknowledgeabouteveryone’spersonalexperienceswiththeseconcepts,andtoreflectontheapplicationoftheseconceptsinourownlives.Thisgroupwillmeetfor6sessions,withtheculminatingeventsbeingthegroupviewinghisNewOrleanspublictalks.IcebreakerHavethemembersofthegroupcompletethefollowingsentences:1.IfIcouldonlyeatonefoodfortherestofmylife,itwouldbe....2.WhatIwantmosttoseehappenintheworldis....AskthegroupwhattheyknowabouttheDalaiLama.Showhispictureandaskthegrouptocalloutwordsorexpressionsthatcometomindwhentheylookathispictureorthinkofhim.Thenaskagroupmembertoreadthefollowingquote:“BroughtupinTibetasitsgod‐king,theDalaiLamareceivedallthetraditionaltrainingandmajorteachingsofalllineages,andbecameoneoftheverygreatestlivingmastersintheTibetantradition.Yetthewholeworldknowshimasabeingofdirectsimplicityandthemostpracticaloutlook.TheDalaiLamahasakeeninterestinallaspectsofcontemporaryphysics,neurobiology,psychology,andpolitics,andhisviewsandmessagesofuniversalresponsibilityareembracednotonlybyBuddhistsbutbypeopleofallpersuasionsallovertheworld.Hisdedicationtononviolenceintheforty‐year‐long,agonizingstruggleoftheTibetanpeoplefortheirindependencefromtheChinesewonhimtheNobelPeacePrizein1989;inaparticularlyviolenttime,hisexamplehasinspiredpeopleintheiraspirationsforfreedomincountriesineverypartoftheglobe.TheDalaiLamahasbecomeoneoftheleadingspokesmenforthepreservationoftheworld’senvironment,tirelesslytryingtoawakenhisfellowhumanbeingstothedangersofaselfish,materialisticphilosophy.Heishonoredbyintellectualsandleaderseverywhere,andyetIhaveknownhundredsofquiteordinarypeopleofallkindsandnationswhoseliveshavebeenchangedbythebeauty,humor,andjoyofhisholypresence.TheDalaiLamais,Ibelieve,nothinglessthanthefaceoftheBuddhaofCompassionturnedtowardanendangeredhumanity,theincarcerationofAvalokiteshvara[theBuddhaofCompassion],notonlyforTibetandnotonlyforBuddhists,butforthewholeworld‐‐inneed,asneverbefore,ofhealingcompassionandofhisexampleoftotaldedicationtopeace.”‐‐SogyalRinpoche,TheTibetanBookofLivingandDyingQuestionsforDiscussion:1.Whoissomeonethatinspiresyou?Whataresomeofthecharacteristicsofthatperson?

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2.TheDalaiLamaembodiescompassioninallofhiswordsandactions.Isthereabelieforphilosophythatguidesyourdailylife?Thanktheparticipants.Tellthemthateverysessionwillendwithaclosingritual.Havethempracticethefollowingritual.Allowparticipantstoclosetheireyesandencouragethemtothinkofpeopleintheirlivesasthefollowinglinesareread.ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayallbeingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)

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Day Two: Compassion

Welcomeparticipants.Afterdoingabriefcheckintoseehoweveryoneisdoing,explainthattoday’stopicwillbecompassionandsharewiththemthefollowingquotes.“WhenImeetsomeoneforthefirsttime,Itellmyselfthataboveallthepersonisahumanbeingwhowishestobehappyandnottosuffer,justlikeme.Age,size,skincolor,andsocialrankdonotreallymatter;thereisnofundamentaldifferencebetweenus.Inthisway,Icanopenuptothatpersonasthoughheorshewereamemberofmyownfamilyandallshynessdisappears.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Ifyouwantotherstobehappy,practicecompassion.Ifyouwanttobehappy,practicecompassion.”‐‐TheDalaiLamaQuestionsforDiscussion:1.Whatisyourpersonaldefinitionofcompassionandwhataresomeofthewaysyoupracticeitinyourdailylife?2.Describeatimewhensomeoneshowedcompassiontoyouinameaningfulwayoratameaningfultime.3.Whataresomewaystodevelopmorecompassioninourlives,especiallyforthosewithwhomwestruggleordislike?Activity:AskparticipantsiftheyhaveeverparticipatedinaTonglenMeditation.ExplainthattheTonglenMeditationispracticeofcompassionintheBuddhisttraditionthatinvolvesfocusingondifferentlevelsofconnectioninourlives.Theideaistobreatheinsufferingandbreatheoutcompassion.Thoughtheexactdescriptionsvary,thefirstlevelistofocusonsomeonewhohasbeenkindtoyou;thesecondisonpeopleyoulove;thethirdonyouradversaries;thefourthonthepowerless,suchaschildrenandanimals;thefifthonthosewhosuffermostintheworld;thesixthonallsentientbeings.InviteparticipantstogothroughabriefTonglenmeditationtogether,ledbythefacilitator.Allowparticipantsonetotwominutestofocusoneachlevelasyoureadthemaloud:Iinviteyounowtofindacomfortablepositionwithbothfeetonthefloor,astraightspineandyourhandsrestingonyourlap.Gentlycloseyoureyes.Begintofocusonyourbreath.(Pausetoallowparticipantstosettleintotheirbreathandrelax).Nowbringtomindsomeoneinyourlifewhohasbeenkindtoyou.Asyouholdtheirimageinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).

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Next,takeamomenttobringtomindsomeoneyoulove.Asyouholdtheirimageinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).Now,bringtomindsomeoneinyourlifethatyou’veexperiencedconflictwith.Asyouholdtheirimageinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).Now,bringtomindthoseinyourlifewhoarepowerless,suchaschildren,animals,andtheelderly.Asyouholdtheirimagesinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).Now,bringtomindthosewhosuffermostintheworld,suchasthosewhoarestarving,affectedbywar,orsufferingfromsevereillness.Asyouholdtheirimageinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).Now,bringtomindallsentientbeings.Thisincludeseveryoneonourearth,includingpeople,plants,animals,insects,andallcreaturesoftheuniverse.Asyouholdtheirimageinyourmind,imaginethateachtimeyouinhale,youarebreathingintheirsufferingandeachtimeyouexhaleyouaresendingthemloveandcompassion.(Allowparticipants1‐2minutestofocustheirbreathingonthisperson).Nowbringawarenessbackintoyourbody.Slowlymoveyourfingersandtoes.Gentlyopenyoureyes.Askparticipantstoreflectonwhattheyfeltastheywentthroughthepractice.Howdidmovingthroughthedifferentlevelhelporhurtyourpractice?Whatistheimportanceofincludingadversariesandthepowerless?ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayall_beingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)

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Day Three: Tolerance

Welcomeparticipantsandtellthemtoday’ssessionnumberandhowmanysessionsremain.Afterdoingabriefcheckintoseehoweveryoneisdoing,tellthemthattoday’ssessionwillbeabouttolerance.Ask:Whatdoestolerancemeantoyou?Afterallowingparticipantstoanswer,readthefollowingquotesfromtheDalaiLama.“Weareallpotentialcriminals,andthosewhoweputintoprisonarenoworse,deepdown,thananyoneofus.Theyhavesuccumbedtoignorance,desireandanger,ailmentsthatweallsufferfrom,buttodifferentdegrees.Ourdutyistohelpthemrecover.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Weshouldconsiderthatourcompetitorsarealsohumanbeingsandhavethesamerightsandneedsasourselves.Weshouldthinkthattheytooaremembersofoursociety.Itisallthebetteriftheyarealsosuccessful.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Inthepracticeoftolerance,one’senemyisthebestteacher.”‐‐TheDalaiLamaQuestionsforDiscussion:1.WhatthoughtscometomindafterhearingtheDalaiLama’swordsontolerance?2.Peoplecanusuallyrecognizeintoleranceonapersonalandcommunitylevel.CanyouthinkofexamplesofourNewOrleanscommunitydemonstratingtolerance?4.Whataresomeoftheways,asacommunity,thatNewOrleaniansmightbecomemoretolerant?5.Howmightpeoplepracticetolerancetowardsthemselves?Activity:ShowapictureofTibetanprayerflagsorhaveactualprayerflagsthatmaybepassedaroundtoeachparticipant.ExplainthatitisimportanttotheDalaiLamaandhisfollowersthattheflagsnottouchtheground,sopleaseholdthemverycarefully.ExplainthatTibetanprayerflagscontainholyprayersandimagesonthemthatwishforpeaceandprosperityforallpeople.PeoplehangthesecolorfulflagsinthewindandbelievethatthewindcarriestheprayerstoeveryoneacrosstheEarth.Taketimetowritedownthenamesofpeopletowhomyouwanttosendthoughtsoftoleranceandcompassiononyourprayerflags.Inthiswaywecanreflectonhowwemightbemoretoleranttoallpeopleinourlivesandinthisworld.

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Considerincludingthefollowinggroups:peopleyoulove,peoplethathavebeenkindtoyou,peoplethatyouhavehaddifficultieswith,peoplewhoaresickorsuffering,allsentientbeings(Thiscanincludebugs,plants,animals,andpeopleinothercountries)Asyouhangtheseprayerflagsoutsideyourhomeorbusiness,letthemserveasareminderoftoleranceandinspireyourthoughtsandactions.*TheDalaiLamaoutreachgroupiscoordinatingacity‐wideprayerflagdayonApril21.Weencourageyoutohangyourflagsoutsideinfrontofyourhomesorbusinessesandallowyourthoughtsofcompassionandtolerancetobeblowninthewind!ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayallbeingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)

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Day Four: Forgiveness

Welcomeparticipantsandtellthemtoday’ssessionnumberandhowmanysessionsremain.Afterdoingabriefcheckintoseehoweveryoneisdoing,tellthemthattoday’ssessionwillbeaboutforgivenessandsharewiththemthefollowingquotes.“Allmajorreligioustraditionscarrybasicallythesamemessage,thatislove,compassionandforgiveness.Theimportantthingistheyshouldbepartofourdailylives.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Theverypurposeofreligionistocontrolyourself,nottocriticizeothers.Rather,wemustcriticizeourselves.HowmuchamIdoingaboutmyanger,aboutmyattachment,aboutmyhatred,aboutmypride,myjealousy?Thesearethethingswhichwemustcheckindailylife.”‐‐TheDalaiLamaQuestionsforDiscussion:1.Whydoyouthinkitcanbesohardtotrulyforgive?2.Whatisthehardestthingyouhaveeverhadtoforgivesomeonefor?(Participantsmaychoosetojustreflectonthispersonallyinsteadofsharingoutloud.Allowthemamomentofsilencetodoso).3.Howdoesforgivenessaffectboththepersondoingtheforgivingandthepersonbeingforgiven?Activity:Distributepaperandpenstoallparticipants.Askthemtothinkofsomeoneintheirlivesthattheymayneedtoshowforgivenessto.Makeitclearthatthispersonmaynotevenknowthattheyneedforgiveness,astheymaybeunawareoftheangerorpaintheyhavecaused.Allowparticipantstimetowritealettertothisperson.Explainthatthisletterdoesnotneedtoeverbereadbytheintendedrecipientinordertobemeaningful.After,allowparticipantstosharetheirlettersiftheydesire.ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayallbeingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)

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Day Five: Resilience

Welcomeparticipantsandtellthemtoday’ssessionnumberandhowmanysessionsremain.Afterdoingabriefcheckintoseehoweveryoneisdoing,tellthemthattoday’ssessionwillbeaboutresilienceandsharewiththemthefollowingquotes.“Whateveryoursituationisitisalwayspossibletoviewitinapositivelight,especiallynowadayswhenmoderntechnologygivesusmorereasontohavehope.Itisimpossiblenottofindanywayofchangingouroutlooktoreducesufferingthathasbeencausedbyexternalcircumstances.Itisveryraretofindacasewhereweonlyhavereasonstosufferwithnopossibilityofreassurance.Whenyouarefacedwithphysicalpainthinkofthepositiveside,keepthisinmindanditwillcertainlyhelptorelieveyoursadness.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Weneedtorecognizethatsufferingisapartoflifeor,inBuddhistterms,ofsamsara,thecycleofconditionedexistence.Ifweregardsufferingasnegativeandabnormal,andconsiderourselvesitsvictims,thenlifebecomesamisery.Ourattitudeistheproblem.Happinessispossibleonlywhenwhatwecallsufferingnolongercausesusdistress.”‐‐TheDalaiLamaQuestionsforDiscussion:1.Whatdoesresiliencemeantoyou?2.Howhasyourcommunityasawholeshownresilienceinthefaceofstruggleoradversity?3.Whatistheoppositeofresilience?Whatmightthislooklikeinaperson?Canyouthinkofanyonewhomeetsthisdescription?4.Whataresomewaystofosterresiliencewithinyourselfandyourcommunity?Activity:ResilienceStoryCircleIntroductiontoStoryCircles:Thepowerandpracticeofstorytellinghasbeenpasseddownthroughvariousculturesandgenerationsasamethodofconnecting,healing,andempoweringcommunities.ThemethodologyofstorycircleswasdevelopedduringtheCivilRightsmovementasatooltoorganizecommunities,facesocialissues,buildcommonmemoryandinstigatesocialchange.TheywereusedbytheStudentNonviolentCoordinatingCommitteetoamplifyandunifythevoicesofthosefightingforsocialjustice.Storycircleshavespecificguidelinesthathavebeendevelopedtomaximizetheseaims.Thesearecoveredbelow.StoryCircleshavefourstages:1)Introduction2)ListeningandTellingStories3)Cross‐Talk

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4)CalltoActionStoryCircleGuidelines:

[takenfromJunebugProductions,Usingartandtheatertosupportorganizingforjustice]Makesuretheguidelinesarereadaloud.•Everyonesitsincirclesofnomorethanten.Theoptimalgroupissix.•Eachparticipantreceivesanequalamountoftimetotellher/hisstory.Theamountoftimeallowedvariesdependingonthesizeofthegroupandthetotalamountoftimeavailable.•Thestorytellingproceedsinorderaroundthecircle.•Ifaparticipantdoesnothaveastorywhenitishis/herturn,theparticipantmaypass.Afterthelastpersoninthecirclehastoldastoryorpassed,theparticipantswhopassedwillhaveanotheropportunitytotellastory.•Listeningismoreimportantthantalking.Everyoneshouldlistentothestorytellerofthemoment–nottalk,askquestions,oreventhinkabouther/hisownstory.Itisnotnecessarytothinkaboutwhatstorytotell.Usuallyastorywillemergethroughtheprocess.Trustthecircletobringyouastory.•Ifyouhaveseveralstoriesinmindwhenitisyourturntotell,choosethestorythatcomesfromthedeepestplacethatyoufeelsafetelling.•Itisnotnecessarytolikethestorythatotherstell;however,itisimportanttorespecttheperson’srighttotellit.•Aftereveryonewhowishestotellastoryhashadanopportunitytodoso,participantsmayengageincrosstalk,askquestions,orcommentonthestoriesofothers.•Silenceisallright.Takeyourtime.Donotrushtotell.Prompt:Tellastoryaboutatimewhenyou,someoneyouknow,oryourcommunityshowedresilience.[Note:facilitatormaywanttohavehisorherstorypreparedaheadoftimetostartthecircle.]Fortransformativeactionpiece,explainthatself‐careisanimportantcomponentofbuildingresilience.Havethegroupgoaroundthecircleandshareonethingheorshewilldoduringthenextweekforself‐care.Thankthegroupforsharing.ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayall_beingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)

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Day Six: Happiness

Welcomeparticipantsandtellthemtoday’ssessionnumberandthattodayisthelasttimetheywillbemeetingaboutthesetopics.Afterdoingabriefcheckintoseehoweveryoneisdoing,tellthemthattoday’ssessionwillbeabouthappinessandsharewiththemthefollowingquotes.“Ifyourattitudeisnotright,thenevenifyouaresurroundedbygoodfriendsandthebestfacilities,youcannotbehappy.Thisiswhymentalattitudeismoreimportantthanexternalconditions.Despitethis,itseemstomethatmanypeoplearemoreconcernedabouttheirexternalconditionsandneglecttheinnerattitudeofmind.Isuggestthatweshouldpaymoreattentiontoourinnerqualities.”‐‐TheDalaiLama“Inordertohavelastinghappiness,wefirstneedtoacknowledgetherealityofsuffering.Thismaybedepressingtobeginwith,butitworksinthelongrun.Althoughsomepeopleprefertoavoidfacingrealitybytakingdrugs,byseekingfalsestatesofblissthroughdirectionlessspiritualpaths,orbylivinglifeinthefastlanesotheyhavenotimetothinkdeeply,theyonlyexperienceashortreprieve.Whentheirproblemscomebackinforcetheyfindthemselvesatseaand‘fillthelandwithlamentations,’aswesayinTibet.Angerordespairtakesthemover,compoundingtheirinitialdifficultywithpointlesssuffering.”‐‐TheDalaiLamaQuestionsforDiscussion:1.Whataresomenon‐externalthingsthatbringyouhappiness?2.Whataresomeoftheactionsyoutaketomakeyourselfhappy?Whatabouttomakeotherhappy?3.Thinkofsomeoneyouknowwhoyouwoulddescribeashappy.Whatcharacteristicsdotheyhavethatmadeyouchoosethisperson?Activity:Tellparticipantsthattheyhavetwooptions:journalalistofthingforwhichyouaregratefulORmakeacardforsomethinginyourlifewhobringsyouhappinessortowhomyouwouldliketobringhappiness.Becreative.Remindparticipantsthat,liketheDalaiLamasays,“Happinessisnotreadymade.Itcomesfromyourownactions.”Happinessisachoicethatwemakeeachday.Askparticipantswhatchoicestheywanttostartmakingtobringthemselveshappiness,andaskthemhowthisexperienceofparticipatinginthegroupmayhavecontributedtotheirhappiness.Thanktheparticipantsforsharingthisjourneywithyou.ClosingRitual(callandrepeat):

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MayallbeingsbesafeMayallbeingsbehealthyMayallbeingsbehappyMayallbeingsbefilledwithloving‐kindnessFacilitator:“Holdtheloving‐kindnessthatitinsideofyou,nowsharethatloving‐kindnesswitheverybeinginthisroom(offerhands),nowgathersomemoreofyourloving‐kindness(handstoheart),nowshareyourloving‐kindnesswithallbeingsintheuniverse!(handstothesky)