A brief dialogue between a Brazilian theologist Leonardo Boff and the Dalai Lama.
In a round table discussion about religion and freedom in which Dalai Lama and myself (Leonardo Boff) were participating at recess, I maliciously and also with interest asked him: “Your holiness what is the best religion?”
I thought he would say “The Tibetan Buddhism” or “The oriental religions, much older than Christianity.”
The Dalai Lama paused, smiled and looked me in the eyes which surprised me because I knew of the malice contained in my question. He answered “The best religion is that one that gets your closer to God. It is the one that makes you a better person.”
To get out of my embarrassment with such a wise answer, I asked: What is that makes me better?”
He responded “Whatever makes you more compassionate, more sensible, more detached, more loving, more humanitarian, more responsive, and more ethical. The religion that will do that for you is the best religion”.
I was silent for a moment marveling and even today thinking of his wise and irrefutable reply. “I am not interested, my friend about your religion, or if you are religious or not. What really is important to me is your behavior in front of your peers, family, work commitment and in front of the world. Remember the universe is the echo of our actions and our thoughts.” “The law of action and reaction is not exclusively for physics. It is also of human relations. If I act with goodness, I will receive goodness. If I act with evil, I will get evil.”
“What our grand-parents told us is the pure truth. You will always have what your desire for others. Being happy is not a matter of desire. It is a matter of options.”
Finally, he said: “Take care of your Thoughts because they become your Words. Take care of your Words because they become your Actions. Take care of your Actions because they become your Habits. Take care of your Habits because they become your Character. Take care of your Character because they become your Destiny and your Destiny will be your Life and “There is no religion higher than Truth.”
~ Borrowed from the internet
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