Campus audience encouraged to go 'beyond religion'
Published on 12 April, 2013
Around 60 students, staff and community members gathered on Rockhampton Campus recently to hear from visiting Tibetan meditation master and author Lama Choedak Rinpoche.
As part of the talk hosted by the Multi-Faith Centre, the visitor encouraged the audience not to get bogged down or be blinded by faith in institutional religion. He cautioned against denigrating people who have different beliefs as heretics, non-believers or infidels.
"The only thing that matters is how we treat each other ... with kindness, compassion and tolerance ...fear-mongering does not work," he said.
"We should be seeking with reason rather than blind acceptance and child-level preaching; nailed down by chapter and verse. Our love and friendship should not be affected by differences but enhanced and nurtured ... we should be seeing good in others and giving equal opportunity to their beliefs.
Lama Choedak Rinpoche spoke in detail about the 'law of cause and effect' underpinning Bhuddist beliefs.
"The Dalai Lama tells us that humanity can live without religion and meditation, but cannot survive without human affection," he said.
Addressing Christianity, the visitor said the real good work of Christians happened "not in church but out in the street with generosity and charity".
About the speaker: Renowned Tibetan meditation master and best-selling author, Lama Choedak Rinpoche is founder of one of the most established Buddhist centres in Australia. He leads weekly meditation and philosophy classes in Canberra and conducts regular retreats throughout Australia and New Zealand. His teachings are offered from the heart, spiced with the richness of his experience, dedication and realisation.
