Govinda Poudel spoke to Gyuto monks who are here in Darwin for a 10-day program spreading the teachings of Buddha.
"Make peace with yourself knowing
that you are a good human being, and then, help others."
Today, the Supreme Court of Darwin has an atmosphere unlike it does most other days of the year. I hear chanted Buddhist slogans; the hum almost makes me feel like I’m in a bee farm.
Tibetan monks in special robes are trying to fix the stage for a Kama
ceremony. Meanwhile, others pray for peace and for harmony.
In another part of the building, judges and laywers debate offences and penalties.
The Gyuto Monks are here for a 10-day program that runs until 25 August. It includes a range of programs for children
and adults including meditation, talks, chants and children's activities.
The life of a Gyuto monk is a life of practice, of loving kindness and of compassion for the benefit of all. The monks practice tantric art, including harmonic chanting, butter sculpture and the creation of sand mandalas.
According to senior monk, Jen Lama, the group has a 600-year-old tradition of being ambassadors for peace and practitioners of kindness and compassion.
There are two kind of suffering, he says, the kind that leads to more suffering and the kind that brings and end to suffering.
The commitments of Gyuto monks are based on basic human values or ethics; these fall within the interests of human happiness. They foster inter-religious harmony and focus on preserving Tibet’s Buddhist culture, as well as the culture of peace and non-violence. The monks maintain a commitment to their spiritual leader, his Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Govinda: Can you explain in brief what being a monk is about?
Jen Lama: It means to be a student of nature, of reality, with the specific aim of practising compassion and kindness. That has been the philosophical framework and we have certain vows and precepts that we keep and maintain, such as complete celibacy, complete control of spiritual arrogance, telling no lies, and no killing. In short, a monk is a person who decides to dedicate his life to serving all other living beings, or to be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live his life in prayer and contemplation.
Govinda: You define the monk in
Buddhist terms, is there any relationship between Buddhism and being a monk?
Jen Lama: To be Buddhist
practitioner you don’t have to be a monk. An ordinary person leading a married lifestyle can practice Buddhism as equally and as effectively as a monk does.
However, being a monk, you have some extra rules, regulations, discipline
and precepts.
Govinda: How do you feel about being
part of the Darwin Festival?
Jen Lama: The
Gyuto monks have been a part of the Darwin Festival for several years now. We
already have a connection with Australian people. They have been
immensely kind to the monks over the last 14 years and made a difference at a practical level. It’s not enough [to express in] words [how great] their generosity, kindness
and support towards us has been. So it's our great honour
to get the opportunity to be a part of the Darwin Festival. We are really thankful.
Govinda: The thing that always amazes
me is all the monks around the world look very similar. They wear the same
clothes and all of them shave their hair. Can you tell me the reason behind this?
In
short, it is just a practice of non-attachment to your appearance. Attachment to appearance causes lots of valgus
and confusion. When you no longer concern with yourself with fashion you are peaceful of
mind. Shaving your hair and using the non-attractive clothes makes you almost
ugly, hence when you don’t care about your appearance [and] you are less likely to
judge other people.
Govinda: Tell me what inspired you
to be a monk?
Jen Lama: Let me put this in a Tibetan cultural context. Tibet has been a Buddhist country for the last 1300 years, so most of the monks you see [from the] Tibetan tradition pretty much [had it] decided for them by their patents to lead that sort of life. So they didn't have much of a say.
Having said that, as they hit their teenage stage they have a choice; if being monk doesn’t satisfy their life they can leave. So if you [at it within a] Tibetan cultural context [you can see how it's preferable] to become a monk in mature age. [Sometimes people don't find] satisfaction [with their lives], then go looking for a different way of existing... that’s the point where most of the ordinary people inspired and become monks.
Govinda: Have you ever reached a
situation where you were about to breach the monk rule?
Jen Lama: Of
course as a human being we pass through those situations. But if you are a seriously thinking monk, then destructive things shouldn’t challenge you. We
maintain our own integrity at all times. Being monks we are tied to extra rules and regulations than ordinary people are. We're all, at all times, aware of what we should and shouldn't be doing. If someone breaks the
rules, they are cheating themselves. If you cant
control yourself, if you cant follow the precepts, you are free to leave
anytime.
Govinda: Is there anything you’d like to say in conclusion?
Jen Lama: First of all, I would like to thank the Australian
people for their support and kindness. We really appreciate it. Secondly there
is suffering in everyone’s life: that suffering is caused by too much desire, so please, make peace [with] yourself. In your own individual way you are a good human being, a perfect
human being, even though there might be some issues [for you]. So make peace with yourself knowing
that you are a good human being, and then, help others. If you can’t
help others that’s absolutely fine, but please don’t [cause] trouble and harm to
others. Thank you.
What
Daily program of Meditation, Ceremony,
Talks and Children’s’ activities
Talks and Children’s’ activities
When
10am – 5.30pm (Everyday, from 15 to 25 Aug)
Where
Supreme Court Darwin
Tickets
All welcome.
Entry by donation.
What
Sunset Harmonic Chanting Performance
When
6pm, Sunday, 25 August
Where
Supreme Court Darwin
Tickets
$25.
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