newbuddhism.net

The Dalai Lama in his presentation to the Tibetan community and friends at Berkeley today makes an eloquent case for the modern relevance of all Tibetan Buddhist literature, recorded in the native language of Tibet for centuries in a continuous stream of teachings from continuous lineages of enlightened teachers, into the present time and on into any foreseeable future, such that Western minds could well benefit from going so far as to learn the Tibetan language in order to be able to study and assimilate these vast extant teachings directly in the language of their original recording, or in the case of teachings translated into Tibetan from the original Sanskrit long ago, study these teachings in a modern language which is yet the closest to the original language of the teaching. 

I find this strongly compelling personally, not only because it is entirely sound and reasonable in its own right, but also because I have found that adopting a very simple modern scientific view  of the vision process leads directly to a model of Being comprising singular Consciousness, Awareness, and appearances or Manifestations arising in Consciousness in essentially exact correspondence with very fundamental teachings of Buddhism regarding the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya of Enlightened Being.  This view arises naturally in modern context in conformity with essential Tibetan Buddhist teachings, and especially with regard to the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on "Dzogchen".  

Taken together these two points essentially require the inclusion in any "New Buddhism" of the full historical array of Tibetan Buddhist teachings as at least a component of perhaps an even larger, more inclusive Dharma of an overall, yet to be entirely filled in "New Buddhism".  

Thus, although we may wish for something simple and quick to bring profound results of Self Realization, Self Liberation and Complete Enlightenment in this very lifetime, yet in so doing we must not set aside origins that yet continue not only in tradition but in fruition of producing even today in our presence ongoing Fully Enlightened Beings who continue to Bless us through their self-less acts of reincarnation entirely for our own benefit.   These sages of old, now babes of today or of tomorrow, are the true foundation for any "New Buddhism", be it yesterday's, today's, or tomorrow's version, this old is ever new, and entirely for our blessing and benefit.  I think we should make every effort to do our best on behalf of all beings ourselves to be worthy of it.