How the Dalai Lama practices mindfulness daily—and what you can learn from him
The Dalai Lama is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term Dalai Lama is a part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" and is a title that is accepted by each successive leader.
Currently, the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. Born in a small village Taktser in northeastern Tibet to a peasant family, he was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor of the 13th Dalai Lama at the young age of two.
The Dalai Lama is a figure known to harness the power of mindfulness and often teaches people about how they can integrate the quality into their day-to-day lives.
He will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6 and prior to that he took to social media to send a message to his followers, writing: "On the occasion of my 90th birthday, I understand that well-wishers and friends in many places, including Tibetan communities, are gathering for celebrations.
I develop determination and courage in my daily life through the teachings of the Buddha and Indian masters such as Shantideva, whose following aspiration I strive to uphold.
As long as space endures,
As long as sentient being remain,
Until then, may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world," he wrote.
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How does the Dalai Lama practice mindfulness daily?
Image credits: X
Mindfulness allows a person to develop awareness of their self, thoughts, emotions and actions creating clarity and aiding self-regulation in an often chaotic world. According to the Dalai Lama, mindfulness is not merely a meditative practice but a way of fostering present-moment awareness along with ethical responsibility.
When at home, his holiness wakes up at 3 am and begins the day with prayers, meditations and prostrations until 5 am. He also takes a short walk around the premises. From 9 am he studies various Buddhist texts and commentaries written by Buddhist masters. Throughout the day he includes many meditation sessions for at least two hours.
He includes structural frameworks of Buddhism to obtain mindfulness through the practices of Shamatha and Vipassana.
Shamatha or "calm abiding" trains the mind through focused attention and tranquillity by focusing on breath or a visual image. Vipasaana meaning "insight meditation" complements the earlier practice by profound introspection and wisdom.
He also believes that the four foundations of mindfulness- contemplation of body, feeling, mind and dhammas, deepen a practitioner's ability to gain mastery over his or her own mind.
He teaches to practice mindfulness not only through meditation but also by being aware of every moment and the actions we take in them-how you eat, how you talk, how you listen.
He also includes the tantric practice of deity yoga which involves transforming death and rebirth into the three bodies of a Buddha.
For the Dalai Lama, mindfulness and compassion align with each other and a great way to inculcate both is by the practice of tong len, giving and taking. On one side you visualize your own normal self that is impervious to others' well-being and on the other side, you visualise a group of people who are suffering. Thirdly, you view yourself as a neutral observer. This helps you understand the limitations of self-centredness and the importance of concerning one with the welfare of other beings.
Thus, one can learn to include meditation, reading of dharma texts, momentary mindfulness and compassion in their regular schedule from the Dalai Lama.
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