Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Wisdom among the nations
I just read an interesting article about the Dalai Lama's visit to New York this week. He's among the world religious leaders who, in my opinion, are doing their part to further G0d's holy work. Rambam is very clear that any man or woman, from any walk of life, can devote his or her life to G0d, forsaking material comforts and living simply, to better devote his or her energies to service. I can't speak for the finer points of Buddhist philosophy, but nobody can accuse the Dalai Lama of being materialistic.
R' Shlomo said, many times, that after the Holocaust, many young Jews felt disconnected from their roots and sought answers among "teachers from the East." The holy teachers, he added, brought their students to a point where they were ready to connect to spirituality, and then instructed them to continue their studies in authentic Jewish institutions. The not-so-holy ones did not turn their students on to yiddishkeit.
If I'm not mistaken, the current Dalai Lama is one of the 'holy teachers' who has returned Jewish seekers to their roots. Interestingly enough, the article excerpts one of the handouts that the Dalai Lama distributed for his three-day teaching session:
Followers of other religions are urged to "practice your own religions seriously and sincerely." To the non-religious, he writes, "I request you try to be warm-hearted."
Good advice, I think, from an inspiring and genuinely holy person.
R' Shlomo said, many times, that after the Holocaust, many young Jews felt disconnected from their roots and sought answers among "teachers from the East." The holy teachers, he added, brought their students to a point where they were ready to connect to spirituality, and then instructed them to continue their studies in authentic Jewish institutions. The not-so-holy ones did not turn their students on to yiddishkeit.
If I'm not mistaken, the current Dalai Lama is one of the 'holy teachers' who has returned Jewish seekers to their roots. Interestingly enough, the article excerpts one of the handouts that the Dalai Lama distributed for his three-day teaching session:
Followers of other religions are urged to "practice your own religions seriously and sincerely." To the non-religious, he writes, "I request you try to be warm-hearted."
Good advice, I think, from an inspiring and genuinely holy person.
