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Dalai Lama on guilt

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Here's a little anecdote: A friend of mine once saw the Dalai Lama speak at a conference. He told me that from the audience several questions arose, and one of the people was asking something about guilt and how to deal with it. Then, to everyone's surprise, this lengthy conversation started between the Dalai Lama and his interpreter. The Dalai Lama just didn't understand the question and kept getting back to his interpreter to clarify. In fact, as it happened, the Dalai Lama was not aware of a concept that we call "guilt!" Isn't that wonderful? Guilt is the emotion that one has done something wrong. But: what if you just don't do something wrong?

posted by Marco Visscher on 7/ 2/2007 5:05 pm | COMMENTS (8)

Comments (8)

It's possible not to do wrong things and if that is so then why do people continue to confess that we all are human and we make mistakes. It's a justifiable comment to say such, for when one gets caught in the act the statement remains to be true for them.

Jesus said be ye perfect for I am perfect and there was no sin or guile found in Him. If people wants to just see Jesus as a good person, instead of God as the scripture assured us, then He has perfected humanity and called us mankind instead.

Guilt and shame is removed when an act of wrongdoing is committed and is truly repented of and STOPPED for sure.

People can be without wrongdoings if they make the choice to do so, and so there is no room for GUILT.

posted by deniseisaac on 12/26/2007 7:58 am

I do not believe in human perfectability, except to the extent that we are all destined to be perfectly human. There are infinite ways to do no wrong and yet cause negative consequences for which we might feel some modicum of regret or guilt. When a homeless person asks for money, is it wrong to ingnore him/her? Should we feel shame or guilt if we do not help them out? Yet, is it wrong to give him/her money, knowing that they may use it for addictive substances?

If we give money to a homeless person and they are later assaulted by another person who noticed that we had given them money, have we done the homeless person a service, or a disservice by having put them in a situation to become assaulted? I might experience some guilt for having put this series of events into motion, and yet my intentions were very honorable.

I would think that the Dalai Lama might respond to the "guilt" situation by saying that it is not appropriate to become locked in the concepts of right and wrong, because one can never guarantee that even our highest intentions will come to manifestation. If we try our best to behave with kindness, we should let go of our guilt and yet learn that our powers to change the world are finite and we often do not know as much about a situations as we believe.

The Dalai Lama is one of my teachers and I respect him greatly, and yet he is not on this earth to serve my ideals and ideas of perfection. I am certain that he faces many difficult situations and choices, and that the outcome is not always harmonious for everyone. Yet, what an inspiring and amazing person, and wonderful teacher, he is.

Peace,

Earon

posted by Earon on 2/ 7/2008 12:51 am

Yes, guilt is an emotion and, in Reality, emotions are non-existent; mere creations of the mind which itself does not exist! Hence guilt is non-existent. However, from a human perspective we do experience guilt and human error and much more that is "human". There is nothing inherently "wrong" with this but an increase in one's awareness of what these really are and how we can overcome being affected by them leads to enlightenment and the cessation of all such "burdens".

posted by IanGardner on 12/19/2008 1:38 am

Could it be that the Dali Lama knows the same thing being taught by christ in the A course in Miracles

posted by bcentsble on 5/18/2009 11:51 pm

The feeling of Guilt can be a teacher. In this lifetime I have commited almost every sin imaginable...except to murder another human being.

When I looked back upon each of these acts be they lying, stealing, cheating or immorality, I use to be beset with inescapable guilt and remorse...but no more.

My guilt feelings have taught me two things: 1. That only an honest person will feel guilty when they steal; that only a truthful person will feel guilty when they lie; that only a moral person will feel guilty when they behave immorally. My guilt has told me who and what I was!

sociopaths and inherently dishonest, immoral people will not feel guilt when they carry out behaviors which are painful or harmfull to others. Thank you, Brahm, for my guilt.

2. I will remain free of painful guilt feelings as long as I maintain healthy loving responsible behavior toward myself and others.

posted by enidel on 6/19/2009 2:06 pm

Guilt, comes from doing something that is in conflict with ones moral fiber, additionally

I think that many of us take guilt from situations of: should of, could of, would of....

and we feel that we made a less than perfect choice in that situation.

Perhaps, if we acknowledge that at our best we do strive to be our best and treat each other with respect....then if each of us just forgive ourselves for being human, the weight of guilt would disappear.

posted by Dianne on 7/22/2009 6:22 pm

In my opinion, shame and guilt grow from our regret for our actions or thoughts. I believe it is wiser to invest our energy in joy for discovering we have made a mistake, and that we are still alive and able to take action to correct our mistake. Having bad feelings toward one’s self seems to me to be foolishly ascetic.

It is important to include the self in our kind and loving thoughts. Hating yourself is no more helpful or wise than hating another. Compassion itself has its root in our own needs. The Golden Rule says it clearly: "Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you."

You too. No guilt; no shame; just right thought and action.

posted by Dwight on 10/ 2/2009 10:23 am

Guilt is no different than pain. It's simply natures way of telling us something is wrong. If we make a wrong choice or fail to act when we should have, we feel bad about it.

I don't trust anyone that doesn't feel guilt. It means they aren't taking responsibility for their actions or they're blindly unaware of their surroundings. These things are obvious signs of a lack of compassion. You'll only feel guilty if you actually care about the things happening around you.

So, it doesn't surprise me that the Dalai Lama doesn't understand guilt. Buddhists are taught that they have no real control over anything and thus have no responsibility. This is an utter lie, as all live has the desire to live, and thus all actions are born of desire. Ignoring our desires and failing to take responsibility for our actions only leads to problems. All of this is evident in the current state of affairs in their country.

posted by neosapience on 11/ 4/2009 2:30 pm