Buddhism: the Dalai Lama agrees

With my last post’s sentiments. In his little book, “Many Ways to Nivrana: Reflections and Advice on Right Living” on page 28 he says:

“Sometimes, I feel that my talk about compassion is merely paying lip service. I really admire those individuals or organizations that are involved in helping impoverished people and working in the area of education, and so on. These people are implementing compassion on a practical level. I just sit here on a comfortable seat and talk about compassion! Perhaps this is hypocrisy.”

But he goes on to say that the necessary ingredient in action is firm determination. And it is through study of philosophical ideas that we clarify our own determination and can act effectively.

It is a constant back-and-forth, or dialectic, between thought and study on the one hand, and action in the world, on the other. At some point the study is much less important and action is most necessary.