Teachings on Cultivation of Compassion and Altruism Based on the well known text The Bodhicaryavatāra by Śāntideva, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stresses the importance of cultivating Compassion and Altruism and says that individual happiness has a powerful effect in creating a better and happy world for all. According to His Holiness the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we might encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.

Here, His Holiness The Dalai Lama gives introductory teachings on the Medicine Buddha. These are followed by a brief empowerment ceremony representing a transmission from His Holiness of a sadhana or practice that we might follow. The practice of Medicine Buddha, the Supreme Healer (or Sangye Menla in Tibetan) is not only a very powerful method for healing and increasing healing powers both for oneself and others, but also for overcoming the inner sickness of attachment, hatred, and ignorance. To meditate on the Medicine Buddha can help decrease physical and mental illness and suffering. The practice is often done to request the blessing and help of the Medicine Buddha to heal disease, to clear obstacles to health, to have successful surgery, to help those who have already passed away, as well as to overcome obstacles to the achievement of temporary and ultimate goals and happiness, not only for oneself and loved ones but for all sentient beings.

Holiness encourages us to learn from Buddhism – as from all other religions – and practice those principles that appeal to us without necessarily becoming Buddhists. The response to this introduction to a core Buddhist teaching , explained simply but in depth was as much through the words of a great master as in every action and gesture of His Holiness' warmhearted and compassionate presence. Of course there is no substitute for being in the presence of a great master. For those unable to attend His teachings, the DVDs offer the next best option to being there.

Explaining the Middling stages of meditation as propounded by Acharaya Kamalashila His Holiness lays stress on the importance of training the mind and cultivating compassion.

The peaceful, compassionate White Tara gently protects and brings long life that we may better and for longer pursue the Dharma and serve humanity. Her love heals at the source of dis-ease, bringing health, strength, and longevity. In Buddhist tradition Tara is a female Buddha, one who can take human form to show us the path. His Holiness The Dalai Lama here gives introductory teachings on the White Tara. These are followed by a brief empowerment ceremony representing a transmission from His Holiness of a sadhana that we might develop towards a regular practice devoted to the deity with the aspiration to acquire some of her qualities.