Dalai Lama on Science, Spirituality & World Peace

Dharamsala, HP, India - Invited by the Bhaktivedanta Institute, a centre for advanced studies in science and Vedanta associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the inaugural session of a conference on Science, Spirituality & World Peace today. The event took place in the auditorium of the Government Degree College, Dharamsala.

His Holiness was welcomed to the stage and presented with a bouquet. All stood for the National Anthem. After a song of praise to Lord Krishna, the principal guests gathered to light the peace lamp. The Chairman for the occasion, Dr Sudipto Ghosh gave a welcome address, concluding with a quotation from His Holiness, “If you want others to be happy, practise compassion; if you want to be happy yourself, practise compassion”. In a subsequent address elaborating on the theme of the conference, Dr PB Sharma remarked that truth, the cardinal principle of religion, is also a principle of science. A message from Subhag Swami stressed the need to create a culture of peace and harmony.

When His Holiness was invited to speak, he wanted to greet his respected brothers and sisters on the stage, only to observe that there were no sisters. Turning to those in the audience, he began,

“Brothers and sisters, I’m extremely happy to participate in this meeting. Among this gathering of brothers and sisters, some of us, like me, belong to the 20th century. Others who are not more than twenty years old belong to the new generation of the 21st century.

“The 20th century has gone, but if we look back it was an era of war and violence as a result of short-sightedness, giving in to destructive emotions, a lack of moral principles, as well as a lack of concern for others’ well-being. This was compounded by a belief in the use of force to solve problems. These factors still prevail to some extent at the beginning of the 21st century. The news is filled with stories of killing. Corruption flourishes. Poor people suffer. And in many places religion is used as an excuse for violence, while scientific developments have provided more efficient ways to kill.

“We have to stop and think—if we go on like this, the 21st century will be an era of violence and suffering like the century that went before. For someone 82 years old like me there isn’t much to worry about, but those of you who belong to the younger generation today need to question whether you want to see killing, beating and cheating continue. Much of the suffering we face is of our own making. Climate change is something we human beings have brought about through negligence. We have to ask how we can reduce and counter the problems we have created.”

His Holiness reported that scientists cite evidence that basic human nature is compassionate. This is borne out by our common experience of being cared for by our mothers. Without that care we would die. Common sense also tells us that if one of our neighbours is friendly and smiling when we meet, but another frowns with anger and hostility, we feel more comfortable with the one who smiles.

If it is motivated by anger, science is likely to be destructive. His Holiness observed that we have marvellous brains—how sad it would be if we only use them to find ways to kill each other. He suggested that all 7 billion human beings alive today have the potential to develop compassion and can be guided to do so by adopting universal values that he likes to call secular ethics. He clarified that he uses the word secular in an Indian context of unbiased respect for all religions.

He noted that so far science has learned a great deal about the material world, but is now gradually beginning to explore the mind and human consciousness. He predicted that during this century science will learn much more about our inner world. His Holiness recalled nuclear scientist Raja Ramana’s telling him that quantum physics’ new observations that phenomena do not exist objectively had been anticipated long ago in Nagarjuna’s writings. He asserted that ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions also remains relevant today.

“We can change our minds. We don’t have to give in to anger and hatred. Since compassion and anger cannot co-exist, the more we cultivate compassion the more our anger will be reduced. Other animals seem to have a capacity for some sense of compassion, but they lack the intelligence we human beings possess to cultivate and develop it.

“Compassion brings peace of mind and if we have that we won’t be deflected when negative events occur. A Christian monk I met in Montserrat, Spain, spent five years as a hermit in the mountains living only bread and tea. I asked him what he practised and he told me he meditated on love. And as he said that I could see from the sparkle in his eyes that he experienced the real, deep and lasting happiness of peace of mind.

“Nowadays, whenever I can I tell Indians that you already have a thorough understanding of our inner world and the workings of our mind and emotions. However, in pursuit of material goals, many people neglect this ancient knowledge. One of my commitments is to encourage its revival here in India. I believe that India is a country where it is possible to combine the benefits of a modern education with the benefits of this ancient understanding of the mind. What’s more I believe that this is something India, the world’s greatest democracy, can contribute to the wider world. If we are to succeed, we have to make an effort and we have to start now. Please think seriously about this.”

In responding to several questions from the audience His Holiness expressed appreciation of the practice of vipashyana in the form of analytical meditation. He stated that the purpose of life is to find happiness and joy, observing that day to day we are sustained by hope. He repeated that cultivating a proper sense of secular ethics is a basis for developing compassion. This also has a bearing on world peace. He added that the goal should be the demilitarization of the world, asking “Is this an empty dream?”

Challenged to say how an individual can really help others he agreed that it can sometimes seem as if one person will not be very effective. However, he stressed that change in the world always begins with an individual who shares what he or she has learned and passes it on to others. He reiterated that human beings are intelligent. We are able to understand that compassion is a realistic state of mind, whereas anger is not. We can also understand and observe that anger destroys our own peace of mind as well as good family relations. Anger attracts no friends.

A student from Lower TCV asked about the role of suffering in our lives and His Holiness told him that it depends on your perspective. If you only focus on the hardship you undergo it’s tough, but if you can adopt a broader perspective it’s possible to recognise advantage and benefit even in great loss.

After seeking his host’s permission, His Holiness spoke briefly to the Tibetan students in the audience in their mother-tongue. He touched on the efforts Tibet’s kings made in the 7th and 8th centuries to develop Tibetan culture. Consequently, the Tibetan language is now the most accurate medium for expressing the essence of the Nalanda Tradition—something to be proud of.

He said that after 60 years of hardship, Tibetans have kept up their spirit and determination. Consequently, even Chinese hardliners need to question the effects of their policies.

His Holiness stated plainly that Tibetans need not be shy or modest about their culture. The logic and psychology that are part of the Nalanda Tradition have a positive contribution to make to the world. He encouraged Tibetan students to work to keep those traditions and their modern education alive. He quoted a friend who told him, “Today Tibet is physically occupied by China, but in the future Tibetan culture can occupy the Chinese mind.”

In his final words to the whole audience His Holiness noted that historically Tibetans have regarded Indians as their Gurus and themselves as the chelas or students. However, while the Gurus’ ancient knowledge has fallen into neglect, the chelas have kept it alive and so proved themselves reliable. He ended by repeating his sense of commitment to encourage Indians to revive their ancient heritage.

original link & photos https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/science-spirituality-world-peace

Dalai Lama: Launch of a Secular Ethics Curriculum

After arriving in Delhi yesterday afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove out of the city through dense traffic to Meerut in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh this morning. As he arrived at the CJ DAV Public School, children from a variety of schools lined the road to greet him and he was welcomed by the Principal and senior staff.

After a short rest, His Holiness was escorted to the stage where an enthusiastic crowd of more than 1500 faculty, students and members of their families applauded to show their appreciation of his presence. After the customary lighting of the lamp, Dr Alpana Sharma, the Principal of CJ DAV formally welcomed His Holiness to the school. Prof Avinash C Pandey, Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Allahabad, and former Vice Chancellor of Bundhelkhand University, Jhansi, introduced Ayurgyan Nyas of which he is a founder member.

Established in 2014 with His Holiness’s approval, Ayurgyan Nyas is endeavouring to introduce training in Universal Ethics into the modern Indian education system. The goal is to develop a curriculum that will ensure students’ holistic development on the basis of innate human values.

Prof. Pandey explained,

“With this curriculum, we hope to bring about a positive transformation in the minds of children who are the future of the world.”

The curriculum was formally released by His Holiness and presented to Principals and representatives of 9 schools from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Jhansi, Kanpur, Meerut and Pilibhit who have made a commitment to teach it.

In his remarks, His Holiness explained why he felt there was a need for such a curriculum,

“Since I was born in 1935, I’ve witnessed great violence, including the Second World War. Historians estimate that more than 200 million people died as a result of war in the 20th century. Great suffering resulted from the misguided thought that the way to resolve problems was a resort to the use of force, based on seeing our human brothers and sisters in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’.

“This way of thinking began to change during the latter part of the 20th century as people developed a desire for peace. The indiscriminate suffering that is the result of war had helped open their minds. In this 21st century, at an individual, family and national level we need to understand that the use of force to settle disputes is out of date. We must make efforts to resolve our problems through dialogue conducted on the basis of mutual respect.”

His Holiness stressed his conviction that education is the key to changing people’s way of thinking.

“Modern education tends to be oriented towards material goals and the achievement of physical comfort. It encourages people to seek happiness only on a sensory level of consciousness. The mistake is not to pay more attention to our mental consciousness. Entire generations have been brought up with a materialistic outlook, in a materialistic culture and way of life. Although they want to live in peace, they don't know how to tackle their destructive emotions, which are its biggest obstacle.

“We need to improve the current education system by introducing instructions on ways to cultivate positive emotions like warm-heartedness. Relying on religious tradition won’t appeal to everyone. We need a more universal approach based on common experience, common sense and scientific findings”.

His Holiness drew attention to ancient Indian traditions that deal with concentration and insight, shamatha and vipashyana, that have accumulated profound understanding of the workings of the mind. This ancient knowledge remains relevant today because it can equip us to deal with our destructive emotions and bring about a transformation of the mind, whether we have any religious belief or not.

“This is a country that has the potential to combine ancient knowledge with modern education to achieve peace of mind.”

His Holiness expressed his appreciation of the efforts that are being made to ensure that this 21st century becomes an era of peace and happiness, contributing to the greater joy of all 7 billion human beings alive today.

In reply to a student’s question about whether he missed Tibet, His Holiness replied,

“I was born in Tibet so of course I miss my homeland, but today I consider myself a citizen of the world. In my life I have four commitments. The first is the promotion of basic human values; the second is to foster greater harmony among our religious traditions; the third is to contribute to the preservation of Tibet’s unique language and culture, as well as the protection of the natural environment of the Land of Snow—and the fourth is to encourage a revival of ancient Indian knowledge in this country”.

After enjoying lunch with a group of invited guests at the school, His Holiness returned to Delhi. Tomorrow, he will make his first visit to the north-eastern state of Manipur, where he will participate in an international conference on peace and harmony, organized by the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

original link + photos: https://www.dalailama.com/news/2017/launch-of-a-secular-ethics-curriculum

The Dalai Lama on One World, One Vision, One People

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to speak at the Indian Habitat Centre by Rajeev Chandrasekhar MP and the Ashoka University. Mr Chandrasekhar is an independent member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, representing Karnataka and Bangalore. The Ashoka University is a fully residential university whose founders believe that education should be holistic and liberal. In his introduction Mr Chandrasekhar praised His Holiness as someone who espouses peace and co-existence.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” His Holiness began, “that is what we all are, 7 billion human beings, brothers and sisters, each born from a mother and surviving in dependence on each other. In the past people were self-sufficient and able to live in isolated communities, but today we are much more interdependent. Climate change and the functioning of the global economy present challenges that affect us all, which we have to face together.

“Thinking in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’ is therefore very unhelpful. I consider myself to be just one human being among 7 billion others. If I think of myself as different from others or as something special it creates a barrier between us. We all want to lead happy lives, to gather friends around us and friendship is based on trust, honesty and openness. This is another aspect of the oneness of human beings. If we defeat others, we too are harmed; if others are successful, we too benefit.”

He spoke of how religious traditions outline different approaches to the same goal. Theistic traditions believe in god the creator, while non-theistic traditions, like some of the Samkhyas, Jains and Buddhists believe in self-creation. Although Samkhyas and Jains believe in a self independent of the body and mind, Buddhists say there is no such self. He clarified that this is not to say that self does not exist at all, but that it exists in dependence on other factors.

His Holiness mentioned that while some say the best way to serve god is to serve others, it is also evident that to help others rather than harming them, treating them with love and compassion leads to lasting trust and friendship. Friends attracted to the rich and powerful, however, tend to be only short term friends of wealth and power.

In answering questions from the audience, His Holiness explained that Tibetan Buddhism preserves the traditions of Nalanda University, that the Tibetan language is the most accurate means of expressing that profound knowledge. He mentioned that in terms of the past, the writings of Nalanda masters such as Nagarjuna are what have impressed him most. Closer to the present he takes great inspiration from the example of Mahatma Gandhi, who, despite his sophisticated education, chose to live as simply as he could. Noting that something is lacking in a modern education system oriented towards materialism, His Holiness expressed the belief that this can be countered by introducing a greater sense of inner values, human values that he refers to as secular ethics.

Confirming that warm-heartedness is good for our mental and physical health, His Holiness cited an experiment in which people were physically assessed before undergoing meditation and compassion training. After meditating on compassion for 30 minutes a day over three weeks they were found to have less stress, lower blood pressure and improved interpersonal relations.

Finally, asked about the role of desire, he said:

“Desire is a part of life, for example, right now we all have a desire for lunch. Without natural desire we would die. The problem is when we have too much desire, that’s when we need contentment. But while satisfaction and contentment are appropriate on an individual level, they are not on a national level because nations need to develop. What we also need is self-confidence, because defeatism and low morale are a sure source of failure.”

From the Indian Habitat Centre, His Holiness drove directly to the airport to board a flight that took him home to Dharamsala.

original link and photos: http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1170-one-world-one-vision-one-people

The Dalai Lama on Human Values

New Delhi, India, 22 November 2014 - This morning, after a short drive across Delhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received at Springdales School by the Principal, Mrs Ameeta Mulla Wattal. She escorted him to a brief reception and meeting with other principals and staff, including the Founding Principal, 90 year old Mrs Rajni Kumar. She established the first Springdales School in 1955 with a view to giving students a broad progressive holistic curriculum and a strong value system that included the universal values of love, truth and goodness.

On the daïs, His Holiness was offered a traditional shawl and a living plant. He took part in lighting the inaugural lamp while members of the school choir sang an ecumenical medley. Mrs Wattal declared that as teachers she and her colleagues feel it their responsibility to shape young minds with the notion that compassion is the solution to all ills. She said they had dreamed of inviting His Holiness to speak at the school and were now so pleased the dream had become reality. She requested him to address the gathering of eager young minds and their teachers.

“Respected principals, teachers and older brothers and sisters,” His Holiness began, “and younger brothers and sisters. Whenever I meet other people I remember that we are all the same as human beings. Having the same human brain, we all have the same potential. Sometimes that potential ends up creating more problems, but in general our basic human nature is compassionate.”

He spoke of experiments scientists have conducted with young infants. Showing them animated drawings of situations in which someone gives help and or hinders and obstructs, they favour the instances of help. He said this clearly accords with our status as social animals whose survival depends on others. This is why we develop a sense of community. And the emotions that foster community are love and affection, while anger and jealousy create distance and separation. It is by cultivating a sense of concern for others that we can learn to use our intelligence constructively.

“Modern education tends to focus on materialist goals with insufficient stress on developing warm-heartedness. If our education touches on ethics it is usually in relation to religious faith. Despite their philosophical differences, the main practice of all the major religious traditions is love. And in order to practise love effectively, you need tolerance and forgiveness, self-discipline and contentment. These traditions have a common purpose, to help us develop love. It may be through belief in a creator and the sense that we all have a spark of God, of love, within us. Or we might follow a non-theistic tradition that believes in causality and the idea that if you do good, you benefit, or that if you do harm it will have negative consequences. Whatever their differences philosophically, these spiritual traditions share a common goal.”

His Holiness remarked that in India all the major religious traditions have long lived together in harmony. However, among the 7 billion human beings alive in the world today, 1 billion assert that they have no such belief. He said the question then is how to educate such people in the value of love and compassion. He suggested a need to adopt a secular approach and that India has historically adopted such an approach that expresses an unbiased respect for all religions and even for people who proclaim no faith.

“I believe, therefore, that the idea of secular ethics is something that can appeal to all. We are biologically equipped with love and affection. When we are born we depend on our mother’s affection to survive. Love and affection allow us to grow in a healthy way and give us self-confidence. Many of you young women take time and trouble to make yourselves look beautiful using cosmetics and so on, but the real key to happy relationships, to creating a happy marriage is inner beauty.

“We all need friendship and friendship is built on trust, which comes about on the basis of mutual respect and concern for others. A family may be wealthy and powerful, but if its members are moved by mistrust and suspicion they’ll be unhappy. A poor family whose members trust each other, on the other hand, is happy.”

His Holiness referred to scientific research that shows that people who engage in training in love, compassion and warm-heartedness for as short a time as three weeks show a marked reduction in their levels of stress and blood pressure. Their relations with their friends improve. He cited this as an example that it is possible to educate people on the basis of scientific findings, common experience and common sense. Because of the materialist tendency of modern education, work is going on in the USA and here in India to design a curriculum that fosters secular ethics, that develops the heart as well as the mind.

“The 20th century saw many remarkable developments,” His Holiness declared, “and yet it was also an era of unprecedented violence. 200 million, by some counts, died in violence. Billions of dollars were spent on developing powerful weapons, but it didn’t result in positive change. Even now, when it is pleasant and peaceful where we are, elsewhere human beings like us are being killed and injured. We cannot create a more peaceful world through the use of force; we have, instead, to cultivate inner peace.”

Looking out over the audience he said that those less than 20 years old belong to the 21st century. While nothing can be done to change the past, if this generation tries it can change the future. He said that being concerned only about your own country is out of date, now it is time to be concerned about all humanity. India, with its ages-old traditions of ahimsa and inter-religious harmony, can make a great contribution to this.

“I have lived 55 years in this country as a refugee,” His Holiness said. “I consider myself a messenger of ancient Indian thought. I also sometimes call myself a son of India because as a student of the Nalanda tradition, that is the source of all my knowledge. Meanwhile, my body has been nourished by Indian rice and dal. Indian culture doesn’t reside only in the external trappings of song and dance, but here in the heart. If we pay attention to that, it will be effective. Please take your modern education seriously, but also remember what ancient India can teach us about reality and the nature of our mind and emotions. This knowledge, this Indian treasure, is particularly relevant today, as shown by the appreciation it is receiving from many modern scientists.”

In answering several questions from the audience, His Holiness explained that competition that ensures the success of all participants is helpful, but that competition that favours some while eliminating others is not. He clarified that stern action can be employed in a positive way, for example by a teacher who is wholly concerned for his or her student’s welfare. Asked whether he watches movies he replied that he went to the cinema in the early 60s, but nowadays does not watch television or films.

Questioned whether Buddha was a god, he said no, he was a human being who through his own efforts became an enlightened Buddha. He told his listeners that his greatest challenge had been in seeking to understand emptiness and dependent origination as taught by Nagarjuna. As to his dreams when he was young, he said he only wanted to run here and there, with little interest in study, but today at the age of nearly 80 reading and study are what he likes to do. And looking fondly down at Mrs Rajni Kumar, he expressed a hope to live to 90 or 100 like her.

Asked who his sources of inspiration were, without hesitation he mentioned masters of Nalanda like Nagarjuna and Shantideva. He said that hearing Shantideva’s texts explained changed his life. Prompted to name some contemporary figures, he cited Mahatma Gandhi and India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, whose knowledge and humility had deeply impressed him. Finally, he remarked that making others happy is not a question of sacrificing our own happiness. Trying to make others happy, even when we do not always succeed, is a source of great satisfaction. He concluded that it is anger and hatred that are signs of weakness, while compassion is a sure sign of strength.

In the afternoon His Holiness was invited to address a meeting organized by the Ananta Aspen Centre, which is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to foster positive change in society through dissemination of knowledge. He outlined his own three commitments. Firstly, he talked about the promotion of deeper human values as a source of happiness and physical health; the idea that the ultimate source of happiness is within the mind. He remarked that our lives begin under the care of our mother’s affection and that as social animals it is affection that brings people together.

His Holiness described his second commitment as the promotion of inter-religious harmony, citing Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity as examples of people whose dedication to the welfare of the poor and needy was an expression of their faith. He reiterated that religious traditions may have philosophical differences, but they share a common goal.

Thirdly, he acknowledged that he is a Tibetan and that many Tibetans place their trust in him. While he has wholly retired from political responsibility, he retains a concern for the flourishing of Tibetan culture. Tibetans retain a comprehensive Buddhist tradition, the result of individuals’ study and practice down the centuries. Tibetan Buddhism can benefit not only Tibetans, but also the millions in China who describe themselves as Buddhists. He said that the Tibetan language remains the most accurate medium for exploring and explaining Buddhist ideas. He added that his concern for Tibet also extends to its natural environment, noting that a billion people across Asia are dependent on the water that flows from Tibet’s rivers.

“We are all the same as human beings,” he concluded. “We all need to take responsibility for creating a better world and a more peaceful humanity. Please keep this in mind and take it to heart.”

Answering the audience’s questions His Holiness elaborated on his thoughts about secular ethics, the importance of compassion, the steady changes taking place in China and the fact that the future of the world depends on us and how we exert ourselves. He said that in seeking to find the source of happiness within us, we need a map of our mind and emotions. We need to develop a sense of emotional hygiene, an understanding of how to manage our emotions, how to counter those that are negative and cultivate those that are positive. He said that is the way to find peace within.

Link with photos: http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1200-promoting-human-values

The Dalai Lama: Why I’m hopeful about the world’s future

The Washington Post, Opinions, 13 June 2016

By The Dalai Lama

(The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. Since 1959, he has lived in exile in Dharamsala in northern India.)

Almost six decades have passed since I left my homeland, Tibet, and became a refugee. Thanks to the kindness of the government and people of India, we Tibetans found a second home where we could live in dignity and freedom, able to keep our language, culture and Buddhist traditions alive.

My generation has witnessed so much violence — some historians estimate that more than 200 million people were killed in conflicts in the 20th century.

Today, there is no end in sight to the horrific violence in the Middle East, which in the case of Syria has led to the greatest refugee crisis in a generation. Appalling terrorist attacks — as we were sadly reminded this weekend — have created deep-seated fear. While it would be easy to feel a sense of hopelessness and despair, it is all the more necessary in the early years of the 21st century to be realistic and optimistic.

There are many reasons for us to be hopeful. Recognition of universal human rights, including the right to self-determination, has expanded beyond anything imagined a century ago. There is growing international consensus in support of gender equality and respect for women. Particularly among the younger generation, there is a widespread rejection of war as a means of solving problems. Across the world, many are doing valuable work to prevent terrorism, recognizing the depths of misunderstanding and the divisive idea of “us” and “them” that is so dangerous. Significant reductions in the world’s arsenal of nuclear weapons mean that setting a timetable for further reductions and ultimately the elimination of nuclear weapons — a sentiment President Obama recently reiterated in Hiroshima, Japan — no longer seem a mere dream.

The notion of absolute victory for one side and defeat of another is thoroughly outdated; in some situations, following conflict, suffering arises from a state that cannot be described as either war or peace. Violence inevitably incurs further violence. Indeed, history has shown that nonviolent resistance ushers in more durable and peaceful democracies and is more successful in removing authoritarian regimes than violent struggle.

It is not enough simply to pray. There are solutions to many of the problems we face; new mechanisms for dialogue need to be created, along with systems of education to inculcate moral values. These must be grounded in the perspective that we all belong to one human family and that together we can take action to address global challenges.

It is encouraging that we have seen many ordinary people across the world displaying great compassion toward the plight of refugees, from those who have rescued them from the sea, to those who have taken them in and provided friendship and support. As a refugee myself, I feel a strong empathy for their situation, and when we see their anguish, we should do all we can to help them. I can also understand the fears of people in host countries, who may feel overwhelmed. The combination of circumstances draws attention to the vital importance of collective action toward restoring genuine peace to the lands these refugees are fleeing.

Tibetan refugees have firsthand experience of living through such circumstances and, although we have not yet been able to return to our homeland, we are grateful for the humanitarian support we have received through the decades from friends, including the people of the United States.

A further source of hope is the genuine cooperation among the world’s nations toward a common goal evident in the Paris accord on climate change. When global warming threatens the health of this planet that is our only home, it is only by considering the larger global interest that local and national interests will be met.

I have a personal connection to this issue because Tibet is the world’s highest plateau and is an epicenter of global climate change, warming nearly three times as fast as the rest of the world. It is the largest repository of water outside the two poles and the source of the Earth’s most extensive river system, critical to the world’s 10 most densely populated nations.

To find solutions to the environmental crisis and violent conflicts that confront us in the 21st century, we need to seek new answers. Even though I am a Buddhist monk, I believe that these solutions lie beyond religion in the promotion of a concept I call secular ethics. This is an approach to educating ourselves based on scientific findings, common experience and common sense — a more universal approach to the promotion of our shared human values.

Over more than three decades, my discussions with scientists, educators and social workers from across the globe have revealed common concerns. As a result, we have developed a system that incorporates an education of the heart, but one that is based on study of the workings of the mind and emotions through scholarship and scientific research rather than religious practice. Since we need moral principles — compassion, respect for others, kindness, taking responsibility — in every field of human activity, we are working to help schools and colleges create opportunities for young people to develop greater self-awareness, to learn how to manage destructive emotions and cultivate social skills. Such training is being incorporated into the curriculum of many schools in North America and Europe — I am involved with work at Emory University on a new curriculum on secular ethics that is being introduced in several schools in India and the United States.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the 21st century does not repeat the pain and bloodshed of the past. Because human nature is basically compassionate, I believe it is possible that decades from now we will see an era of peace — but we must work together as global citizens of a shared planet.

Original link: http://dalailama.com/messages/articles/hopeful

Dalai Lama & Secular Ethics

New Delhi, India, 7 April 2016 - To start the day in Delhi this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an interview to Sonia Singh of NDTV Dialogues before an audience of Indian and Tibetan students. It will be broadcast first tonight. Topics included what he had learned from Nehru, the prospects for his reincarnation and whether he still hopes to see Tibet again in this life.

For the remainder of the day His Holiness participated in a meeting convened to hear and discuss results of the first steps to implement guidelines from a curriculum entitled ‘Secular Ethics in Education’ compiled and published by the Emory-Tibet Partnership towards the end of 2015. Prof Meenakshi Thapan introduced the occasion recalling that His Holiness has emphasized the importance of warm-heartedness in education stating that compassion is a core educational ideal. She noted that his stressing a secular approach is particularly attractive.

She explained that teachers who had shown an interest in trying out the new material had been advised to see how two modules - Emotional Awareness and Forgiveness - would work in practice. She requested His Holiness to address the gathering and he opened with words of gratitude:

”First, I would like to thank you for taking these issues seriously and for attending this meeting. Right now we’re all comfortable here together and yet in other parts of the world people are killing each other - the violence is unthinkable. Meanwhile millions of children are dying of starvation, while elsewhere preparations go ahead to prepare ever more dangerous weapons. The urge to employ violence is very much alive. Corruption thrives and the gap between rich and poor continues to grow. Here in Delhi some people enjoy fine facilities, while there are beggars on the street. Is there any way to change our habituated ways of thinking?

“Fortunately, as a result of experiments, scientists have concluded that basic human nature is positive. At the same time there are findings that suggest that constant anger, fear and suspicion undermine our immune system. We all share the common experience of our mother’s giving birth to us. This is even true of ruthless dictators. Without their mother’s love and affection they too would not have survived. Since scientists conclude that basic human nature is kind and affectionate, there is hope.

“By deploying our intelligence we can expand and develop our education. We can look into the value of warm-heartedness and enquire whether anger has any worth. We can extend our natural sense of warm-heartedness by applying our intelligence. We need to learn about our emotions and develop a kind of emotional hygiene. My friend Paul Ekman has been working on developing a map of emotions to help us do this. Many other scientists used to be sceptical that there was any mind apart from the workings of the brain, but their understanding has changed. They have discovered neuroplasticity. This meeting here is not an academic forum so much as an opportunity to discuss how we can change the world.”

Representatives of the team at Emory University, who compiled the draft curriculum on secular ethics, spoke about their work. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin cited the reference in the World Happiness Report 2016 Update to what His Holiness has said about the need for a secular ethics. Jennifer Knox showed how examining responses to different photographs of people can help teach us about the judgements we make. She illustrated this with two different photos of Kelly Gissendaner, an American woman who was executed in September 2015, after many years on death row. She suggested there is a need for trust to be able to change habituated ways of thinking.

His Holiness remarked that learning about inner values affects students. It is our common experience that when we are more compassionate our minds are calmer. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin noted that there are now ways to measure competency in relation to developing compassion.

Teachers from Springdales School, Pusa Road, Convent of Jesus and Mary, GD Goenka Public School, Ghaziabad, Bal Bharti Public Schools, Pusa Road and Rohini and Rishi Valley School, Andhra Pradesh made presentations of their experiences and findings during the pilot study of the secular ethics curriculum. Most of them are working with younger children and had opted to work with the module on Forgiveness of Others. They described using story-telling and role play to lead children to reaching their own understanding of forgiveness and its role in conflict resolution. One eight year old was quoted as saying, “When I say sorry I'm happy because a burden is lifted from my heart.”

His Holiness described the reported findings as ‘wonderful work’. Ven Tenzin Priyadarshi spoke about the work of The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at MIT and the potential for use of technological tools, gaming and apps. He remarked that we don’t want so much to teach values as to teach with values. On a practical point, it was noted that taking time for reflection was important for children and teachers alike to process and digest what had been learned.

Summing up the morning Meenakshi Thapan said that values had to be part of what is going on in the school. Where the good student has previously been the achiever in terms of grades, now a different model emerges. It was found that the curriculum needed to more flexible and less didactic. The project clearly requires taking a more holistic view. She concluded by asking how the curriculum conveys the idea of the good human being we are trying to be.

After a break for lunch His Holiness began the afternoon session:

“The long term purpose of our meeting is to examine how to create a more peaceful world through education and awareness. We need inner peace and we need joy. We need to introduce emotional awareness from an academic point of view. Everyone wants to live in a peaceful world, but it’s necessary to understand that what destroys peace is anger and hatred. This is why the long term goal is to create inner peace within individuals, so contributing to a more compassionate humanity.”

He mentioned that the curriculum in its present form is only a draft. It needs to be tried and tested, the results observed and the content, if necessary, amended. If it is successful it can be implemented more widely. If further meetings can be convened to exchange findings and experience a natural evolution will take place.

On behalf of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility Rajiv Mehrotra described projects to cultivate peace within and without - peace building, non-violence and co-existence, as well as ethics and education. His Holiness responded that he would like to see the Foundation extend the scope of its activities to other parts of India and neighbouring countries. He remarked that although he has several hands to help him, the time has come for those hands to be active. There is an urgent need to act now, to start now.

Dr Meenakshi Gopinath introduced a presentation of the activities of Wiscomp - Women in Security, Conflict Management Peace - but also wisdom and compassion. Wiscomp has been involved effectively in mediation and reconciliation of the Indo-Pak conflict and the troubles in Kashmir.

In the concluding discussion Geshe Lobsang Tenzin pointed out that the material for the curriculum had largely been drawn from His Holiness’s work such as ‘Ethics for a New Millennium’ and ‘Beyond Religion’. Ven Priyadarshi stressed the need to make ethics appealing and relevant. Geshe Lhakdor suggested there was a need to examine what are the obstacles to secular ethics in the 21st century. He also noted that most of the conversation had related to the aspects of method with little consideration of the discerning awareness or wisdom aspects. Naresh Mathur passed on the observation of a friend involved with the Aurobindo Ashram and working with integral values that the curriculum in its present form is too prescriptive. Geshe Ngawang Samten concurred with need for a more holistic approach.

In his conclusion His Holiness suggested that the important thing at this point is to try the ideas out and observe the results. When he proposed meeting again in a year, Meenakshi Thapan intervened and suggested that more frequent workshops in the coming weeks would be a more effective way of maintaining momentum and building on what has been learned so far.

The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks acknowledging everyone who had participated and supported this ground breaking occasion.

Original link & photos http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1380-meeting-on-secular-ethics-curriculum

The Dalai Lama on Human Values

New Delhi, India, 22 November 2014 - This morning, after a short drive across Delhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received at Springdales School by the Principal, Mrs Ameeta Mulla Wattal. She escorted him to a brief reception and meeting with other principals and staff, including the Founding Principal, 90 year old Mrs Rajni Kumar. She established the first Springdales School in 1955 with a view to giving students a broad progressive holistic curriculum and a strong value system that included the universal values of love, truth and goodness.

On the daïs, His Holiness was offered a traditional shawl and a living plant. He took part in lighting the inaugural lamp while members of the school choir sang an ecumenical medley. Mrs Wattal declared that as teachers she and her colleagues feel it their responsibility to shape young minds with the notion that compassion is the solution to all ills. She said they had dreamed of inviting His Holiness to speak at the school and were now so pleased the dream had become reality. She requested him to address the gathering of eager young minds and their teachers.

“Respected principals, teachers and older brothers and sisters,” His Holiness began, “and younger brothers and sisters. Whenever I meet other people I remember that we are all the same as human beings. Having the same human brain, we all have the same potential. Sometimes that potential ends up creating more problems, but in general our basic human nature is compassionate.”

He spoke of experiments scientists have conducted with young infants. Showing them animated drawings of situations in which someone gives help and or hinders and obstructs, they favour the instances of help. He said this clearly accords with our status as social animals whose survival depends on others. This is why we develop a sense of community. And the emotions that foster community are love and affection, while anger and jealousy create distance and separation. It is by cultivating a sense of concern for others that we can learn to use our intelligence constructively.

“Modern education tends to focus on materialist goals with insufficient stress on developing warm-heartedness. If our education touches on ethics it is usually in relation to religious faith. Despite their philosophical differences, the main practice of all the major religious traditions is love. And in order to practise love effectively, you need tolerance and forgiveness, self-discipline and contentment. These traditions have a common purpose, to help us develop love. It may be through belief in a creator and the sense that we all have a spark of God, of love, within us. Or we might follow a non-theistic tradition that believes in causality and the idea that if you do good, you benefit, or that if you do harm it will have negative consequences. Whatever their differences philosophically, these spiritual traditions share a common goal.”

His Holiness remarked that in India all the major religious traditions have long lived together in harmony. However, among the 7 billion human beings alive in the world today, 1 billion assert that they have no such belief. He said the question then is how to educate such people in the value of love and compassion. He suggested a need to adopt a secular approach and that India has historically adopted such an approach that expresses an unbiased respect for all religions and even for people who proclaim no faith. 

“I believe, therefore, that the idea of secular ethics is something that can appeal to all. We are biologically equipped with love and affection. When we are born we depend on our mother’s affection to survive. Love and affection allow us to grow in a healthy way and give us self-confidence. Many of you young women take time and trouble to make yourselves look beautiful using cosmetics and so on, but the real key to happy relationships, to creating a happy marriage is inner beauty.

“We all need friendship and friendship is built on trust, which comes about on the basis of mutual respect and concern for others. A family may be wealthy and powerful, but if its members are moved by mistrust and suspicion they’ll be unhappy. A poor family whose members trust each other, on the other hand, is happy.”

His Holiness referred to scientific research that shows that people who engage in training in love, compassion and warm-heartedness for as short a time as three weeks show a marked reduction in their levels of stress and blood pressure. Their relations with their friends improve. He cited this as an example that it is possible to educate people on the basis of scientific findings, common experience and common sense. Because of the materialist tendency of modern education, work is going on in the USA and here in India to design a curriculum that fosters secular ethics, that develops the heart as well as the mind.

“The 20th century saw many remarkable developments,” His Holiness declared, “and yet it was also an era of unprecedented violence. 200 million, by some counts, died in violence. Billions of dollars were spent on developing powerful weapons, but it didn’t result in positive change. Even now, when it is pleasant and peaceful where we are, elsewhere human beings like us are being killed and injured. We cannot create a more peaceful world through the use of force; we have, instead, to cultivate inner peace.”

Looking out over the audience he said that those less than 20 years old belong to the 21st century. While nothing can be done to change the past, if this generation tries it can change the future. He said that being concerned only about your own country is out of date, now it is time to be concerned about all humanity. India, with its ages-old traditions of ahimsa and inter-religious harmony, can make a great contribution to this.

“I have lived 55 years in this country as a refugee,” His Holiness said. “I consider myself a messenger of ancient Indian thought. I also sometimes call myself a son of India because as a student of the Nalanda tradition, that is the source of all my knowledge. Meanwhile, my body has been nourished by Indian rice and dal. Indian culture doesn’t reside only in the external trappings of song and dance, but here in the heart. If we pay attention to that, it will be effective. Please take your modern education seriously, but also remember what ancient India can teach us about reality and the nature of our mind and emotions. This knowledge, this Indian treasure, is particularly relevant today, as shown by the appreciation it is receiving from many modern scientists.”

In answering several questions from the audience, His Holiness explained that competition that ensures the success of all participants is helpful, but that competition that favours some while eliminating others is not. He clarified that stern action can be employed in a positive way, for example by a teacher who is wholly concerned for his or her student’s welfare. Asked whether he watches movies he replied that he went to the cinema in the early 60s, but nowadays does not watch television or films.

Questioned whether Buddha was a god, he said no, he was a human being who through his own efforts became an enlightened Buddha. He told his listeners that his greatest challenge had been in seeking to understand emptiness and dependent origination as taught by Nagarjuna. As to his dreams when he was young, he said he only wanted to run here and there, with little interest in study, but today at the age of nearly 80 reading and study are what he likes to do. And looking fondly down at Mrs Rajni Kumar, he expressed a hope to live to 90 or 100 like her.

Asked who his sources of inspiration were, without hesitation he mentioned masters of Nalanda like Nagarjuna and Shantideva. He said that hearing Shantideva’s texts explained changed his life. Prompted to name some contemporary figures, he cited Mahatma Gandhi and India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, whose knowledge and humility had deeply impressed him. Finally, he remarked that making others happy is not a question of sacrificing our own happiness. Trying to make others happy, even when we do not always succeed, is a source of great satisfaction. He concluded that it is anger and hatred that are signs of weakness, while compassion is a sure sign of strength.

In the afternoon His Holiness was invited to address a meeting organized by the Ananta Aspen Centre, which is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to foster positive change in society through dissemination of knowledge. He outlined his own three commitments. Firstly, he talked about the promotion of deeper human values as a source of happiness and physical health; the idea that the ultimate source of happiness is within the mind. He remarked that our lives begin under the care of our mother’s affection and that as social animals it is affection that brings people together.

His Holiness described his second commitment as the promotion of inter-religious harmony, citing Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity as examples of people whose dedication to the welfare of the poor and needy was an expression of their faith. He reiterated that religious traditions may have philosophical differences, but they share a common goal.

Thirdly, he acknowledged that he is a Tibetan and that many Tibetans place their trust in him. While he has wholly retired from political responsibility, he retains a concern for the flourishing of Tibetan culture. Tibetans retain a comprehensive Buddhist tradition, the result of individuals’ study and practice down the centuries. Tibetan Buddhism can benefit not only Tibetans, but also the millions in China who describe themselves as Buddhists. He said that the Tibetan language remains the most accurate medium for exploring and explaining Buddhist ideas. He added that his concern for Tibet also extends to its natural environment, noting that a billion people across Asia are dependent on the water that flows from Tibet’s rivers.

“We are all the same as human beings,” he concluded. “We all need to take responsibility for creating a better world and a more peaceful humanity. Please keep this in mind and take it to heart.”

Answering the audience’s questions His Holiness elaborated on his thoughts about secular ethics, the importance of compassion, the steady changes taking place in China and the fact that the future of the world depends on us and how we exert ourselves. He said that in seeking to find the source of happiness within us, we need a map of our mind and emotions. We need to develop a sense of emotional hygiene, an understanding of how to manage our emotions, how to counter those that are negative and cultivate those that are positive. He said that is the way to find peace within.

Link with photos: http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1200-promoting-human-values

Dalai Lama at Conference on ‘Living and Dying in Peace’ at University of Lausanne

Lausanne, Switzerland, 15 April 2013 - The University of Lausanne that originated in 1537 as a school of theology, the only French language Protestant school of theology, is now a modern university well regarded as a leading institution for research in Europe. It is located on the banks of Lake Geneva. Today, it invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to participate in a conference on the theme ‘Living and Dying in Peace - Crossed Perspectives on Aging’. He was welcomed on arrival by the Rector, Dominique Arlettaz and the conference moderator Philippe Moreillon.

In his opening address, the Rector said:

“I have the privilege today to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thank him for spending this day with us.”

Moderator Philippe Moreillon explained that when they heard that His Holiness would attend, faculty and staff members from many disciplines showed interest in participating. They have worked together to formulate common questions for the event that they felt they had been unable to answer within their own areas of study. The first question put to His Holiness imagined a young boy asking his grandfather “Is it a good thing to grow old?”

His Holiness replied:

“I think it depends on what kind of life you have led, whether your life was meaningful and of benefit to other people. The grandfather might say time keeps moving on, eventually we all become old. One day, although you are young now, you will be old too. This is a natural process. He might say I’m fortunate to have lived this long, but I’ve not wasted my time and I’ve gained some experience of how to live.

“On the other hand, if he’s filled his time with sensory pursuits and dedicated himself, for example, to sport, he might say I can’t hear properly any more, can’t see properly - it’s all become hard work.”

The first presenter spoke about increasing life expectancy and different categories of older people, the ‘young old’ who are still active and the ‘old old’ who are increasingly frail. He asked: “How can we age well when our physical abilities are declining?” His Holiness answered that an important factor is your state of mind. Whether your mind is calm and peaceful depends not on your being knowledgeable, but on whether you are warm-hearted. Inner peace automatically gives rise to trust and friendship. On the other hand suspicion, mistrust and lies mean you end up alone and unhappy.

“From the individual’s point of view, if we train from a young age on a mental level, developing our analytical ability, the mind will remain alert. I’ve noticed that people who do this may face physical decline, but their minds remain clear and alert. From the family point of view, affection and support are important.”

Asked how to deal with dementia in the old, His Holiness replied:

“I don’t know, because I have no experience, but I believe showing affection is very important. You can show affection without having to rely on words.”

He speculated about how memory declines, noting that while you tend not to forget faces, remembering names is difficult and because of the concepts they represent there is terminology that you never forget. He wondered whether we forget names because they have no meaning, whereas terms with meaning are much easier to remember.

A question about spirituality prompted him to try to define the term, wondering if it means looking for meaning in life and the world; a collection of visions and values that are beneficial to ourselves and others. Because there could be spirituality linked to religious faith and independent of it, he suggested that people who have no faith might derive benefit from secular ethics. Otherwise, they are prone to come under the sway of destructive emotions. He stressed that just as it is wise to take care of our physical health, we also need to take care of our emotional well-being and proposed a programme of emotional hygiene.

The discussion came round to the role of the aging in society. His Holiness recollected a programme in Stockholm in which old people were brought in to work in kindergartens. They took part in the care of young children, played with them and told them stories. He said that there is great potential for mutual benefit in such activities. The children liked the presence of the old people, who in turn were re-energised in the presence of children. His Holiness joked:

“When I talk to young people it makes me feel young, but when I’m talking to old people I wonder ‘Who’ll be going first, you or me?’”

His Holiness said that his discussions with scientists, educationists, social workers and other concerned people lead to the conclusion that we need a system of values that contributes to the basic happiness of all members of society. Such a system could include techniques for training the mind. Education is the avenue for change. Education is the way we can change the course of humanity. And he suggested that ancient Indian knowledge about the mind and emotions as preserved in literature belonging to the Nalanda tradition could make a valuable contribution to this.

When pressed to recommend ways that the elderly who have not trained themselves earlier in life could begin to change, His Holiness said he doubted that there was an effective method, pointing out that such methods need to be adopted when we are young.

After a leisurely lunch filled with conversation and discussion the conference resumed. Asked to respond to the statistic that a majority of people die in hospital His Holiness surprised the panel by saying that if you die in hospital it means that all efforts to save your life have been exhausted, so there will be no room for regret. On the other hand he agreed that doctors and nurses need to treat their patients as beings with feelings of pleasure and pain, rather than as inanimate machines brought in for repair.

Commenting on whether warm-heartedness is a natural function, he said:

“Yes, our lives begin in our mother’s womb and her physical touch and expression of affection are essential to our healthy growth. This is the basis for our later development of a warm heart.”

To questions about helping the old or sick to die, he said we have to investigate why they wish to die. We have to use both compassion and wisdom to assess what is the best course of action. He said that in Buddhist practice helping to end someone’s life is permitted if it will benefit them in the long run, but again compassion and wisdom are needed to make the judgement.

He was asked whether it is important to train ourselves to meet death, and if so, how to do it.

“Death will come because it is a part of life,” he said. “People who avoid the very words old age and death will be caught unawares when it comes. In some of our meditation practice we visualize the process of death and the associated dissolution of the elements every day, so that we may be prepared for the actual event. For those who believe in a succession of lives, death is just like changing your body. If you have led a meaningful life, when death takes place there’ll be no need for regret.

“Training depends on the individual’s ability. One approach is to develop awareness of your dreams. If you can train yourself to recognise that you are in the dream state and take control of it, you can have a deeper experience of the dissolution of the elements that take place during the process of death.”

When it came to questions about rituals associated with death, His Holiness was firm in asserting his scepticism about the efficacy of rituals in the process. He conceded that if they were conducted by someone with experience and understanding they may have some benefit, but otherwise he doubted they would be of much help.

Coming back to the meditative practices that in effect rehearse the process of dying, he mentioned that he goes through them himself four of five times a day. In this connection he talked about meditators who remain in posthumous meditative equipoise after death. These are cases in which brain activity and the heart have ceased and yet the body remains fresh for several days. Over the last 50 years he is aware of 30-40 cases like this, including that of his Senior Tutor who stayed in such meditation for 13 days after he died. Science has as yet no explanation of this phenomenon, while the Buddhist explanation is that it involves the existence of subtler levels of consciousness. Although the heart, circulation and the brain have stopped, it is only when the subtle consciousness departs that the dying moment is reached and the decay of the corpse begins.

As the conference came to an end, the Rector offered words of thanks, expressing his gratitude to His Holiness for his understanding, his accessibility and his humour. He said it had been an honour to have his presence on the campus. He thanked both university staff and members of the Tibetan community whose hard work and support had contributed to the success of the event.

Original link + photos: http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/931-conference-on-living-and-dying-in-peace-at-university-of-lausanne

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits Uluru

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, 13 June 2015 - Many other visitors to Uluru were happy to have the chance to greet, shake hands and take photographs with His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning as he walked through the grounds of his hotel.

After a cool night, the sun was bright and beginning to warm the land as he drove out to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. He was met and welcomed by the Chairman of the Traditional Owners’ Board, Sammy, an interpreter, Kathryn Tozer, and Park Staff. They began to walk together towards the Mutitjulu Waterhole, answering his questions on the way. The great red sandstone Uluru rock foundation towering over the surrounding flat desert dominates the place. His Holiness wanted to know about the vegetation, the local wildlife and, once a pair of binoculars was found, spent some time examining the rock-face from below.

Halfway to the Waterhole, the party stopped to rest. His Holiness sat on a bench and was joined by other Traditional Owners, women and children. Sammy took the opportunity to summarize for him the creation story of the region, telling of serpent beings that waged many wars around Uluru, scarring the rock. Walking further up the red sandy path they reached the Mutitjulu Waterhole. The Traditional Owners said they had discussed among themselves how best to welcome His Holiness and decided this would be the place to do so properly. He briefly responded:

“I always express my respect for indigenous peoples whenever I have the opportunity to meet them. I have great admiration for the way they preserve their culture and language. When we Tibetans had to break our isolation it gave us the opportunity to meet and learn from other people. Now, we try to preserve or traditions without that protection.

“On an earlier occasion when I met an indigenous Australian, I remember telling him that I think it’s important for indigenous people to retain and use their own original names. Then when you introduce yourself it presents your identity. I also want to tell you that the colonial dominance that characterised the 18th and 19th centuries is over. Now, the world supports you and your right to keep your culture and identity alive.”

A park buggy drove His Holiness and one of the Traditional Owners back to the parking place. Speaking to waiting journalists he said that as a Buddhist monk he’s trained to take a curious, investigative view of things and that he would also be interested to hear what scientist have discovered about Uluru. He spoke about different indigenous peoples he has met around the world whose values and heritage have been shaped by local environmental conditions. Some prefer to keep their isolation; others like the Sami of Lapland have maintained their heritage while embracing modern education and some technology.

Visiting the Mutitjulu community, which numbers about 300 people, Sammy introduced His Holiness, saying:

“This gentleman travels the world and saw our place from the air. He wanted to see it for himself, and that’s why he’s come here now.”

Another of the Traditional Owners added:

“We’ve been waiting for this visit with anticipation and we’d like to welcome you and the other visitors who’ve come with you.”

His Holiness sat among them and several offered him gifts. He said:

“For many years I’ve had an interest in the indigenous people of different continents, the indigenous Australians and this famous sacred rock. Now, today, I’ve had the opportunity to see it close up for myself and even to touch it. And I’ve heard the stories you tell about it, all of which makes me very happy.

“I’ve met many indigenous peoples in different places, all of them trying to preserve the language and traditions. To succeed, I think you have to be realistic. Some of them like those in South America prefer to maintain their isolation. Others like the Sami of Lapland, your neighbours the Maoris in New Zealand and people of Canada’s First Nation, try to combine their efforts to preserve their heritage with modern knowledge. I think that education is important and that it is necessary to accept some modern facilities and to learn English.”

He wondered if there might be benefit in planting more trees and experimenting with raising crops. If farming were successful, they might later introduce some small scale industry too. He thanked them for receiving him so warmly.

Interviewed by Karla Grant, presenter of Living Black for SBS after lunch, His Holiness told her how happy he was to have come to visit the place and meet the local people. He reported to her what he had told them about the importance of preserving traditions. He mentioned how soon after arriving in India in 1960 Tibetans had set about setting up schools where children could receive a modern education while still being taught their own traditions and values. He said:

“A lot of problems we face in the world today are our own creation. They are not due to a lack of money or education, but to a lack of values. Because modern education is inadequate on this score, I believe we need to find ways of incorporating what I call secular ethics, an approach to values that is respectful of religious and indigenous traditions.”

Ms Grant remarked that indigenous Australian culture is thought to be one of the oldest in the world. His Holiness agreed, commenting that spirituality with a philosophical view really only emerged about 5000 years ago. Before that in many parts of the world were beliefs in spirits and so forth. In Tibet, prior to the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century, every mountain top was believed to be the abode of some spirit or other.

When she asked him his views about potential changes in government policy that may affect indigenous people, he told her it was a matter for experts and he wasn’t sufficiently informed to comment. A question about Tibet prompted him to refer to recent research based on Chinese documents that confirms the historical existence of Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian empires more than one thousand years ago. Nevertheless, he said that since Tibet is a landlocked country and is materially backward it may be in Tibetans’ interest to remain within the People’s Republic of China. However, that should not limit their right to preserve their culture, language and rich traditions of Buddhism.

Ms Grant wanted to know how he responded to the protests that have been taking place in connection with his visit. He told her:

“Now this is becoming routine, wherever I go they turn up. In Norway recently about 1000 Norwegians came to welcome me to Oslo and I thanked them, while also expressing my appreciation that these other people could exercise their freedom of speech. However, when it comes to understanding the history of this controversial, nearly four centuries’ old, spirit, I think I know more about it than they do. I propitiated it too until the ‘70s, but when I discovered how critical the 5th and 13th Dalai Lamas had been about it, the 5th referring to it as harmful, evil spirit, I gave it up. It’s my duty to advise people about it.”

His Holiness made a brief visit to the National Indigenous Training Academy on the way to the Yulara Oval where he was to address a crowd of more than 3000. There was enthusiastic applause as he took the stage. Shortly afterwards members of the Matitjulu community welcomed him onto the land. Firstly a group of women danced while a group sitting on the ground played and sang. They were followed by one man decorated with body paint dancing alone. It was explained that this was an expression of part of their creation stories.

Beginning his talk, His Holiness said again how happy he was to have come to visit this sacred place and meet the local people. However, he confessed how uncomfortable he’d felt in the morning when he was offered two witchetty grubs or moth larvae. He explained that while he’s unaffected by insects like scorpions that scare other people, since childhood, wriggling creatures like caterpillars and these grubs have made him very uneasy. The already chuckling crowd laughed out loud when he exclaimed that Sammy, his guide, just ate one raw.

He commented on indigenous peoples’ right to preserve their culture and traditions.

“Indigenous people also tend to be very close to nature, which is something modern people can learn from. They seem to think they can control nature, but nature is our mother and deserves our protection. After all, this planet is our only home.

“We are all the same as human beings. We are born the same way, and we die the same way. But many of us living in the modern world have materialistic attitudes. They pervade our education systems too. We too often seek happiness outside ourselves and don’t look within. And yet when we are very young we bask in our mother’s affection. It sets our mind at ease and even provides for our physical well-being. Such warm-heartedness is a real source of happiness. It leads to trust, and trust becomes grounds for friendship.”

Several times during this talk, His Holiness appealed to his listeners to pay more attention to inner values, humane values, like warm-heartedness. Indeed, when he was asked what gift he would like for his imminent 80th birthday, he replied:

“Nothing. Although if you think about and find something useful in what I have been saying, that would be the greatest gift to me. Thank you.”

Following his exceptional stay in Uluru, His Holiness will tomorrow travel early on to Perth where he has several engagements that will conclude this year’s Ocean of Wisdom visit to Australia.

Original link with photos http://dalailama.com/news/post/1283-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-visits-uluru

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives in Australia

Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, 4 June 2015 - The Delhi roads were wet with rain and the air was clearer and cooler than in recent days as His Holiness the Dalai Lama left for the airport yesterday morning to travel to Australia. After a smooth flight to Singapore, he was met on arrival by representatives of the Indian High Commission.

After a short stopover he flew on through the night to Sydney, arriving just before dawn. Again representatives of the Indian High Commission and his hosts ‘Dalai Lama in Australia’ were on hand to receive him as he left the plane. Members of the public greeted him with evident joy as he walked through the airport.

His Holiness gave a brief interview to Waleed Aly, co-host of Network Ten's news and current affairs television program ‘The Project’. Aly congratulated him on completing his 80th year and asked what he does on his birthday.

“Last month I had a party with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala.” His Holiness told him. “They’d made a cake and he taught me how to blow out the candles. But generally for a Buddhist your birthday isn’t that significant. Using your time in a meaningful way is more important.”

When Aly expressed an assumption that His Holiness has already achieved nirvana, he exclaimed:

“No, no, there are higher bodhisattvas who no longer suffer due to their own karma, but I haven’t reached that yet. For instance, I still lose my temper.”

And when Aly pressed him to explain when that happens, His Holiness jokingly replied:

“If you ask a silly question.”

Aly wanted to know what the point of religion is in today’s world and His Holiness told him that religion is an instrument for training our minds and bringing about inner peace. He pointed out that all the major religious traditions talk about love, compassion and forgiveness. He remarked that contrary to some people’s preconceptions, anger and hatred are signs of weakness, whereas inner peace is a sign of strength. He added that belief in God can be a powerful source of inner peace. However, when 1 billion of the 7 billion human beings alive today have no religious belief, the important thing to remember is our common goal is to be good human beings. As social animals we need to express love and affection for each other.

Asked how this applied to those who don’t deserve respect, to extremely violent groups like ISIS or ISIL, His Holiness agreed that the situation is very difficult to handle because such people are already in the grip of extremely negative emotions. But he stressed that we need to accept the need to train future generations in secular ethics and humane values based on our common experiences and scientific findings to prevent the eruption of such emotions in the future. When pressed about whether this meant adopting a course of inaction, His Holiness explained that the trouble with using violence is that it inevitably leads to more violence. He stressed that somehow we need to talk to these people, to ask them why they have such strong anger and fear.

When Aly asked if he would consider giving advice to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, His Holiness laughed and said one of the Prime Minister’s main concerns would be with the economy and that’s something he knows nothing about. But he stressed the urgent need to for economic development to help the poor everywhere, citing the sad news that 2000 people have recently died in the heat wave sweeping India.

“These were poor people; people with no facilities. We have to develop the economy in order to improve the situation for people like that.”

About 200 Tibetans had gathered in the airport lobby to greet His Holiness as emerged. He was given a traditional welcome and offered the ‘Chema Changpu’. He exchanged words and shook hands with many old friends as he made his way to the door. Under a brilliant blue sky he climbed into a car for the hour and a half journey to the Blue Mountains. On arrival in Leura, about 150 Tibetans, many in traditional costume, carrying flags and banners, and others who have come to attend the teachings he is due to give, were gathered to give him a warm welcome.

Tomorrow will see the start of five days of teachings related to Guhyasamaja, beginning with a Vajrabhairava empowerment.