Talks at Sevagram

On 18 December 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche arrived at Mundgod, from Pune. Thereafter, on 27 December 2017, via Belgaum and Mumbai, His Eminence Rinpoche arrived in New Delhi.

On 28 December 2017, from New Delhi, via Nagpur, His Eminence Rinpoche arrived at Sevagram, in Wardha district, in the afternoon. In the evening, His Eminence Rinpoche gave time for an interview by research scholar Neel Gautam, who had come from Guwahati, and interviewed His Eminence Rinpoche on a variety of subjects related with Gandhi’s views and thoughts.

On 29 December 2017, organised by the Sevagram-based Institute of Gandhian Studies, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpcoche gave talks, for two sessions, on the theme of “Why it is necessary to know the self and steps to move ahead,” at the one-week workshop on “Indian Freedom of Gandhi’s View,” for All-India university students.

At the beginning of the event Prof. Ramachandran Pradhan welcomed His Eminence Rinpoche with offerings of khadi-handwoven scarf, rosary with khadi-handwoven thread, and a coconut fruit. C. V. Joseph, the head of the Institute, gave introduction of His Eminence Rinpoche; Bharat Mahodaya, the Director, gave a talk on feelings and experiences in having met His Eminence Rinpoche.

His Eminence Rinpoche began the lectures, in modesty, by expressing the difficulty in communicating the theme because of three reasons: non-proficiency in the language, the difficult nature of the theme, and not having prepared. Following that, His Eminence Rinpoche pointed out: Although India had gained independence, but there is no independence of language; as regards Education in India, there have been many commissions—from Radhakrishna Commission up to Ramamurti Commission—set up, but there have not been implementations of the recommendations; although the present meet has been labelled as “Workshop,” it is to be called “Joint Enquiry”; therefore, on the theme there would not be answering from the beginning, rather a pointing of direction is to be done; one needs to always stay together with questions, not to rush for the goals or the answers; if one rushes for the goals, the process of studies will become blocked; as such, there has to be an unbiased way of thinking; if one recognises oneself, one would know who one is, for what purpose oneself is for, the universal responsibilities incumbent on oneself, the relationship between oneself and the entire world. His Eminence Rinpoche continued in detail, the reasons why both the believers in religions and non-believers need to know oneself; the assertions regarding this by the individual tenets, Buddhist and non-Buddhists; the situations that are universal to all as regards the individual; the special attributes necessary for an individual; and the pivotal reason why there is the need to know oneself; and so forth.

At the end His Eminence Rinpoche answered in detail the questions from the participants. The Director of the Institute gave a word of gratitude. The Joint Enquiry was attended by students from some 20 Indian universities and from Nepal, and also the officials of the local and nearby Gandhi organisations attended it.

On 30 December 2017, in the morning, Bharat Mahodaya, the Director of the Institute, gave a brief introduction regarding the Workshop. Thereafter His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave the concluding address of the Workshop on “Indian Freedom of Gandhi’s View,” for All-India university students. His Eminence Rinpoche advised that, Hind Swaraj may be a small booklet, yet from it one can realise the essential thoughts of Gandhi; this booklet is something that is to be studied for the whole life; since Gandhi’s Works are so vast that it may be difficult to read all of them, yet if one reads Hind Swaraj one would understand the important contents of Gandhi’s Works; even those who do not agree with Gandhi’s thoughts should first know what his thoughts are, otherwise it would not be a rational approach; by knowing the thoughts of Gandhi, whether or not they benefit the individual, but for world at large there are benefits; Hind Swaraj is not only a text (śāstra; transformative instructive text), it is a fundamental text as well; if one knows it, one would know Gandhi; of the many ways of writing a text, this is in the mode of a discussion; the subjects of the text cover the society in general, although it came about because of specific time and situation.

His Eminence Rinpoche continued: In this booklet Gandhi has tried to show the things that have come about from the modern civilisation; all problems and conflicts have come about from the modern civilisation, which considers the body more important than the mind, the self as more important than others, the individual as more important than the society, competition as more important than co-operation, rights as more important than duties/responsibilities, thus bringing about these five inequalities; through them, there occurs violence, environmental degradation, gap between the poor and the rich, population increase, intolerance as regards religions; the means to remove them are to be sought solely from the primary education system professed by Gandhi, not from science and technology; the modern education is merely of knowing the letters; assuming is not understanding; thus the students gathered have the universal responsibilities; if they cannot fulfill the duty of being the Teacher to the world, they should try to fulfill the duty of leading the world; if by coming to the Workshop the students have recognised (come to know) Gandhi, that is meaningful and would be beneficial—His Eminence advised thus in great detail.

The Workshop was concluded with a word of gratitude by the Director of the Institute.

In the evening, His Eminence Rinpoche visited Sevagram Ashram, and paid a holy visit to “Bapu Kuti.” The officials of Sevagram Ashram Trust welcome His Eminence Rinpoche, and after a group prayer together in Bapu Kuti, His Eminence Rinpoche gave, in Peace Hall, a public talk, on the theme of “Significance of Gandhi’s approach in the context of emerging issues,” organised jointly by major Gandhi associations in the area.

The event began with the students of the Institute chanting a Supplication Prayer, then officials of Sevagram Ashram welcoming His Eminence Rinpoche with offering of a rosary of khadi-handwoven thread, and khadi-handwoven scarf. Sugana Varamta gave introductory speech, then His Eminence Rinpoche gave a talk in Hindi, describing it as greatly meritorious in being able to visit there prior to the year ending, and said that each time His Eminence Rinpoche visits the place there grows a seed of virtuous attributes and compassion; it is difficult to understand the present, and one either falls in visions of future or memories of past; from seeing time there arise the understanding of what need to be accomplished and what need not to be accomplished; Jiddu Krishnamurti, the late famous philosopher, would often ask, “Can you stay in the present?”; how should one consider the present as a span of time?; perhaps it would need a span of two hundred or three hundred years; the emerging issues of the present have participation from all of us; to remove the present problems we need to look at their causes and factors; in the past the word “development” was attached with another word it defines, but now the word “development” has become an independent word; what idea it conjures in the minds of those who use and listen to this word; these days, the first steps for development are to cut down trees—for building highways—and rob land and fields off farmers, and so forth; the harms done to the world at large and the globe by exploitation of nature; the present problems have come about from the folly of those pride themselves as educated, which comes about from one’s ignorance and an incomplete education; just as one takes from nature, if one knows to give back as well, there would be the inequalities; now the time is such that not just to say by mouth, rather the time has come to show as a positive model by implementing in practice; for any work, there should be pure motive and pure facilities—the motive devoid of selfishness and violence, and the facilities not acquired through non-truth and exploitation.

After explaining in detail on the above points and others, His Eminence Rinpoche answered the questions from the participants. At the end the Honourable Minister, Shri Ram Yadav, of Sevagram Ashram Trust, gave a speech of gratitude. Those who attended the event comprised of many officials of Gandhi organisations in the area, teachers, doctors, business persons, and others.

Thereafter, at the request of the local Buddhist association, His Eminence Rinpoche visited the place and gave a brief guidance talk.

On the morning of 31 December 2017 His Eminence Rinpoche headed, via Nagpur, Delhi and Patna, to Bodhgaya.