A brief dialogue between a Brazilian theologist Leonardo Boff and the Dalai Lama. Leonardo is one of the renovators of the Theology of Freedom. Does it.

A brief dialogue between a Brazilian theologist Leonardo Boff and the Dalai Lama.

Leonardo is one of the renovators of the Theology of Freedom.

Does it matter – what religion you belong to? It’s not important

In a round table discussion about religion and freedom in which Dalai Lamaand myself wereparticipating at recess I maliciously, and also with interest,asked him:

“Your holiness, what is the best

religion?”

which surprised me because I knew of the malice contained in my question. He answered:

“The best religion is the one that gets you closest to God. It is the one that makes you a better person.”

I thought he would say:“The Tibetan Buddhism” or “The oriental religions, much older than Chritianity”

Dalai Lama paused, smiled and looked me in the eyes ….

To get out of my embarassment with such a wise answer, I asked:

“What is it that makes me better?”

He responded:“Whatever makes you more compassionate, more sensible, more detached, more loving, more humanitarian, more responsible, more ethical.”

“The religion that will do that for you is the best religion”

I was silent for a moment, marvelling and even today

thinking of his wise and irrefutable response:

“I am not interested, my friend, about your religión or if you are

religious or not.

“What really is important to me is your behaviour in front of your peers, family, work,

community, 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 eviI, I will get evil.”

“What our grandparents told us is the pure truth.You will always have what you desire for others.

Being happy is not a matter of destiny. It is a matter of options.”

Finally he said: “Take care of your Thoughts because they become Words.Take care of your Words because they will become Actions.Take care of your Actions because they will become Habits.

Take care of your Habits because they will form your Character.Take care of your Character because it will form your Destiny,

and your Destiny will be your Life … and …

“There is no religion higher than the Truth.”

Buddha Quotes

• "The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings."

• "All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.“ - The Dhammapada

Prophet Muhammad Quotes• “Whatever mishap may befall you, it is on account of something which

you have done.” • “He who knoweth his own self, knoweth God.”

• “Everyone is divinely furthered in accordance with his character.” • “Riches are not from an abundance of wordly goods but from a

contented mind.” • “Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which revolves in your

heart and which you do not want people to know.”

• “To listen to the words of the learned, and to instil into others the lessons of science, is better than religious exercises.”

• “It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better to sit with the good than alone. And it is better to speak words to a speaker of knowledge than to remain silent; and silence is better than bad words.”

Other Religious Quotes• "The One Truth, sages know by many names" (

Rig Veda 1.164.46)• "There is none to compare with Him. There is no

parallel to Him, whose glory, verily, is great." (Yajur Veda 32.3)

• Chant, and meditate on the One God, who permeates and pervades the many beings of the whole Universe. God created it, and God spreads through it everywhere. Everywhere I look, I see God. The Perfect Lord is perfectly pervading and permeating the water, the land and the sky; there is no place without Him."

• —Guru Granth Sahib, Page 782

Einstein Quotes on Religion:

1. God is subtle but he is not malicious He does not play dice Did God have a choice in creating the Universe ?

2. I believe in Spinoza’s God who reveals himself in the ordinary harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings

Etymology of the word ‘Religion’

• derived from relegare - "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods," in L.L. "monastic life" (5th century)- according to Cicero

• "bond between humans and gods." • “Way to be closer to the Devinity”• "conduct indicating a belief in a divine power," • http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?

term=religion