By His Eminence Karma Acharya Sangay Dorji
The following thoughts were conveyed by His Eminence Sangay Dorji at his Tara Hall in Thimphu, after being asked about what world peace means to him by BDG columnist Rebecca Wong.
True global peace begins with the individual. It depends on the intention of every country’s leaders and the motivation of their own people.
For the world to change, the method must be to rely on Buddhist teachings. Then, our motivation can reorient.
So, how can the Buddha’s teachings bring about world peace? The Buddha’s main teaching is bodhicitta, which comes from compassion and loving-kindness. Whoever has compassion and loving-kindness will radiate benevolence in his behaviour, in body, speech, and mind.
So if our motivation is aligned with loving-kindness and compassion, then our actions will surely benefit other people. Through this, peace is assured.
But one thing we have to know is that when we encounter disaster, such as sickness and war, we may not always perceive the roots and causes. But we must understand them.
When we encounter misfortune, there are many reasons, but one cause is bad karmic fruition from our past lives. Because of this we encounter suffering, afflictions, and pain. Another cause is poor motivation or wrong intention in our current life. Harmful actions arising from unwholesome intention always leads to karmic demerits for sentient beings.
Because of our declining merit, naturally, the world experiences natural disaster, illness, and war. This in turn increases our collective negative karma, hence the entire world’s energy is bad. It is a natural, even expected arising due to the root of said problems, which is ignorance of our unwholesome acts in the timeless past.
So we need to learn and absorb the Buddha’s teaching of compassion and loving-kindness. Through these qualities we can benefit others, and furthermore accumulate merit and purify our bad karma. Through our diligent actions in benefiting others we will regain merit and blessings. When everybody is gaining merit, the world’s problems will diminish, and peace will naturally reign.
This is the reason why this year in Bhutan, we have held the Global Peace Prayer Festival. But when there is such a sacred event, there are also strong obstacles. That’s why we held the 400 offerings of Jabzhi. In these 400 offerings, we identify four kinds of Mara (demons or afflictions). To clear away these Maras’ negativity, we hold the Jabzhi.
This world is not only for humans. In the sky there are devas, on the earth there are rakshasas, and underground there are nagas. In our earth there are also countless fey-beings existing alongside us humans. Our actions will very often affect them negatively, and in retaliation, they visit misfortune upon us. The more negative our actions, the more enraged the fey-beings are, which make the Four Maras become more active. Hence the need for Jabzhi. Through our Jabzhi ritual, we remove all the obstacles posed by these conditions, especially here at the Global Peace Prayer Festival, led by the supreme Je Khenpo, who is himself like Vajradhara, and all the other great Buddhist masters. They are all like bodhisattvas, gathering together here.
With so many dignitaries and devotees coming here all over the world, we all make aspirations with a kind heart and dedication of merit. Through this enormous dedication, the world will attain merit and virtue. This will eradicate our bad karma. Together, we’ve concentrated and focused incredibly powerful merit in one place.
The Buddha’s Dharma is the one and only medicine for removing the Three Poisons and attaining happiness and peace. We must faithfully uphold the teaching of embodying loving-kindness and compassion. Furthermore, the Vajrayana has many methods to enlightenment. If we diligently follow these methods, there will be peace for sure. This path is very helpful and powerful, especially in the Dharma-ending Age. With our good motivation and sincerity, we will surely attain the blessings of the three treasures, and world peace will be assured. To all disciples of the three treasures, all followers of Buddha-dharma, please practice this way. Tashi Delek!
Related videos from BDG
Karma Acharya Sangay Dorji: True Global Peace Begins With…? (YouTube)
