“This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.”

–His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

At the center of Buddhism stands the simple (but not always easy) precept: to be kind. Each one of us has the humble ability to ease someone’s burden or to lift someone’s spirits. According to one of the teachings, understanding this tenet is the one true way to respect and honor the Buddha. When nurtured, kindness becomes the organizing principle for our entire spiritual practice.

Come join Geshe Namdak as he directs our minds to this beautiful and deceptively simple practice of cherishing others, by way of Nagarjuna’s “Praise to Satisfying Sentient Beings.” The 2nd century Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna composed this moving and lyrical work around the Buddha’s central teaching on being of benefit to others. These verses of praises inspire us to depend on sentient beings, strive for their sake, practice our virtue in relation to others, have affection for them, and never seek to do harm. After all, by the power of our awakening bodhicitta, our eventual enlightenment will become wholly for the sake of these dear ones.