Dalai Lama’s Daily Meditation Routine

This is pretty interesting, for the virtual head of state (Tibet-in-Exile) to spend this much time in meditation.
He has a lot of balancing to do between his Ming (worldy destiny) and Xing (spiritual destiny), and I admire him for the responsibility he has taken on with such a gracious smile. – Michael

DALAI LAMA: THE VOICE OF BUDDHA
By Kamilla Hemandas
Manila Standard Today
August 24, 2006

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife02_aug24_2006

………..

“I am a Buddhist monk who practices infinite compassion and I pray on a
daily basis for the happiness of the entire sentient beings. I believe in
the promotion of human values. I instinctively want a happy life for all the
six billion humanity because we are all part of them. If they are in
difficulty, we also suffer. That is why I have committed fully and
voluntarily in my concern for their well-being.²

— His Holiness the Dalai Lama

…………

At a time when religious violence is justified by many, the Dalai Lama is
admired as one of the few religious leaders who to this day stands his
ground. For him, the end still does not justify the means.

At his official residence in Dharamshala in the Himalayas of India, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, in an in-depth interview with CSS Latha of Society
magazine, related how he has not changed his stance despite the long years
of living in exile away from his native Tibet. He is firm in his conviction
that Buddhism is all about spirituality and not politics. ³Politics is the
business of the human community. But if the people who carry politics are
more religious-minded then their political activities would be more
truthful, honest and compassionate. Practicing ³Buddha dharma² or the
preservation of Tibetan spirituality and culture may provide better platform
for the Tibetan freedom struggle. Tibetan freedom and Tibetan Buddhism are
very much related. I am a Buddhist monk and Tibetan freedom struggle is
purely political. That¹s why I have to consider whether I must involve
myself in this or not.²

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, benevolent, humble leader of Tibetan
Buddhism and Nobel Peace Prize awardee has been living in India since he
fled Tibet in 1959. For years his struggle to lead Tibet through his dynamic
compassion as both its political and religious head has incurred the ire of
the Chinese government. In 1960, then Indian Prime Minister Nehru granted
him and his community refuge in India after he was driven out of his
domicile, the Potala Palace, during the height of communist rule in China.
Today, people from all over India come to listen to his personal teaching
sessions as his views are considered ³the voice of the Buddha himself.² He
confides: ³Deep down inside I will always consider myself a monk. I feel
myself more as a religious person. Even in my daily life, I can say that I
spend 80 percent of my time on spiritual activities and 20 percent on Tibet
as a whole. I have no modern education in politics except for a little
experience. It is a big responsibility for someone not so well-equipped ³

Indeed, the Dalai Lama walks his talk. He leads an austere, disciplined life
characterized by long hours of meditation and study. According to the Joint
Secretary of his office, Chhime Chhoekyapa, ³when His Holiness is in
Dharamshala, he wakes up at 3:30 in the morning. After his morning shower,
he begins the day with prayers, meditation and prostrations until 5 a.m.
After which he takes a short morning walk around the residential premises.
If it is raining, His Holiness uses a treadmill. Breakfast is served at 5:30
a.m. For breakfast, he has hot porridge, tsampa (barley powder), bread and
tea. His Holiness tunes his radio to BBC World News in English while having
his breakfast. From 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., His Holiness continues his
morning meditation and prayers. From around 9 a.m. till 11:30 a.m., he
studies various texts written by Buddhist religious masters. 11:30 to 12:30
is lunchtime.

His Holiness kitchen in Dharamshala is vegetarian. But during visits outside
of Dharamshala, he makes allowances for nonvegetarian food. As an ordained
Buddhist monk, His Holiness does not have dinner. Should there be a need to
discuss some work with his staff or hold audiences, or interviews, His
Holiness visits his office from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Typically, during
an afternoon at the office, one interview is scheduled along with several
audiences, both Tibetan and non-Tibetan. Upon his return to his residence,
His Holiness has evening tea at 6 p.m. He then has time for his evening
prayers and meditation from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. After a long 18 hour day, His
Holiness retires for bed at 8:30 p.m. Sounds like an exhausting regimen for
a man in his 70s.

In the last two years the Dalai Lama has traveled to 25 nations emphasizing
the basic human values of tolerance, compassion, forgiveness and sense of
responsibility. ³All religions speak of the same things… love, compassion,
tolerance and forgiveness. It is the same message given in different methods
and we need different methods. Seeking genuine harmony on the basis of
mutual respect is the voluntary commitment I take as a Buddhist monk and
will follow them till my death².

When asked about the current plight of his fellow monks in Tibet where a few
monasteries still stand, the Nobel Laureate laments, ³I am very much
concerned about them because their lives remain under fear. When I came to
India, I was 25 years old. Today, I am over 70. So the best and most
important years were spent in India where I enjoy a complete freedom.²

On the current suppressed Tibetan society who are growing restless with the
oppressive way of life, ³Many Tibetans particularly the younger generation
who are inside Tibet, want complete separation. But according to me, Tibet
is still quite backward, materialistically speaking. Therefore, as far as
material development is concerned, if we remain within the purview of China,
we might get greater benefit provided the Chinese government gives us a
meaningful autonomy.²

The Lama is a cheerful jovial man who readily breaks into a smile. Bliss and
contentment seem to permeate his personality. Despite the tall order he
faces as both the head of state and an institution that evolved 500 years
ago, he remains optimistic for the future. In another much publicized
earlier interview, he has said that the next Dalai Lama would probably be
born outside of Tibet if the situation of religious persecution still
remains. Meanwhile, this soldier of peace and icon of spirituality is in the
lofty snow-capped Himalayas touching the hearts and minds of everyone he
meets as he walks the eight fold path of the Buddha.