The Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Menlhai Jamtse Centre, was founded in 2018 by Geshe Lobsang Tenzin La to propagate Tibetan Buddhism in Mumbai. And, in honour of the Dalai Lama, the Centre celebrated His Holiness’ 87th birthday (July 6).
India has been the Dalai Lama’s adopted home in exile for many decades. He fled to India after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. When the Dalai Lama came to India he established a de facto Tibetan government in Dharamsala, the scenic Indian city of Himachal Pradesh.
Tibetan Buddhism is based on the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism that originates in India, from Bihar’s Nalanda University. The tradition relies primarily on “reason and logic” to achieve peace and focuses on the science of the mind and emotions to solve day-to-day problems.
As per the wishes of the Dalai Lama, the centre has five aims primarily — promoting religious harmony, secular values, developing mental peace through meditation and mind training, cultivating compassion, and conserving ecology.
“We believe secular ethics are significant in the 21st-century human society. We have to promote ethics in society to create good human beings. Another important goal for us is promoting religious harmony where one shouldn’t criticise another’s religion. We are also aiming to preserve the Tibetan language and culture which are being targeted by foreign forces. The Tibetan language is crucial to embark on the spiritual path and practice mediation today,” Geshe La said.
Geshe La also added that ancient Indian knowledge is important in spiritual growth, even in today’s modern age, because it can help deal with many problems like anxiety, depression, fear and stress.
“Having this knowledge helps us cope better with the world in which we live, where stressors are everywhere, for example at work, home and in the family environment. Everyone can attain Buddhahood.”
Today would-be Tibetan Buddhist monks study a wide variety of subjects namely neuroscience, metaphysics, poetry, philosophy, psychology and more to become more balanced and enlightened individuals.
Along with the above aims, Tibetan Buddhist organisations like Jamtse are also keen to protect Tibet’s natural heritage, since Tibet is the world’s Third Pole, the third-largest source of drinkable water in the world with many major Asian rivers and glaciers, which need protection and maintenance. Protecting against climate change is an important aim promoted by Dalai Lama.
