I was there about 1974 and it was the same rough poor conditions. People were hungry, sick, desperate, having a very hard time with Indian climate and culture. But they have managed and their children and grandchildren are doing well now in 2020. The great lamas were still alive and the vibe there was unbelievably wonderful. May such sanctity always exist in the world.
When I think of a Christian, immediately I see his image. I think he is one of the good human beings. A person who has deep experience. Not the type who is cheating other people or looking down on them. Not that type. Honest, truthful. He is a Christian monk, one of the Christian monks who knows quite deeply about Buddhism. ?Practice, this is some of the ideas, mainly to give it meditation.? If you apply different religions and philosophies in the right way, they all have the same aim.[cont.]
That is: A better human being, a good human being, a good human community, a happier human community. So, that, largely, you see, depends on the individual. So, there is such a person - the late Thomas Merton. He is a Christian, in the meantime, he is very open-minded to take various healthy things, different religions' ideas, and look at their basic aim. [...] I think if he still remained, today, I think he would be one of my comrades in doing something for mental peace.
Thanks for sharing a some footage of H H the Dalai Lama discussing Thomas Merton. Anything that involves a bit of the living history and testimonials by those that knew him I treasure.
