Dhammapada and the Jataka Tales; 26-February-2008 (Day 5 of 7; Morning) - Dalai Lama Audio Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism Podcast

His Holiness begins by quoting the Dhammapada he has been reading from, saying, it is with the help of alertness and conscientiousness that we guard our minds. Guarding the mind leads to liberation or nirvana, which comes into being as a result of causes and conditions. Likewise, favourable states in cyclic existence are achieved through causes and conditions. The basis of training or taming the mind is to cultivate the ten wholesome actions. His Holiness remarks that while in the normal run of things we tend not to notice the movement of our minds, if we pay attention to it, we will gradually distinguish pure and impure states of mind. For example if we encounter the teachings of the Buddha and try to put them into practice, we should notice that our minds become calmer. Ultimately, it is the awakening mind that provides the greatest benefit to sentient beings. His Holiness continues to read the Jataka tales which reveal the importance of speaking the truth, the drawbacks of drinking liquor, the virtues of attachment and how those who wish to benefit themselves abandon the state of the householder, how important it is to strive for virtue and how by controlling anger we can appease our enemies.