Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • (applause)

  • Good afternoon

  • My name is Christina Paxson,

  • I'm the president of Brown University

  • and it is my very great plesaure

  • to welcome you

  • to the Stephen A. Ogden Jr.

  • Memorial lecture on international affairs.

  • For almost half a century

  • the Ogden lecture series

  • has brought presidents,

  • prime ministers, ambassadors, senators,

  • and at least one king

  • to Providence for presentations

  • that have been among the most distinguished

  • guest lectures Brown has offered,

  • all of them open to the public.

  • Stephen Ogden was a member

  • of the Brown Class of 1960,

  • a student of foreign affairs

  • who dreamed of promoting international peace

  • through a career in international relations,

  • a dream that is shared today

  • by so many college and university students.

  • Stephen did not live to realize his dreams.

  • Sadly, he died in 1963

  • of injuries sustained in an auto accident

  • during his junior year.

  • The Ogden family established this lecture series

  • as a memorial to Stephen

  • and as an encouragement

  • to everyone who shares his dream

  • of international peace.

  • The university is deeply grateful

  • to the Ogden family for its creative vision

  • and generosity,

  • and we are pleased that Stephen's sister Peggy

  • has joined us for this afternoon's presentation.

  • I can't see you, but thank you, Peg.

  • I know you're there.

  • (applause)]]>

  • Today, we have a rare opportunity.

  • We have with us a world leader

  • who commands neither an army or a navy,

  • who does not seek to tip the balance of trade

  • or gain an economic advantage,

  • who works to resolve, not to exploit,

  • the ideological, cultural, religious, and political

  • differences that keep people and nations apart.

  • He has described himself

  • as a simple Buddhist monk,

  • yet his message of peace

  • is the product of a profound

  • and continuing life's work.

  • Born to a farming family

  • in a small village in north-eastern Tibet

  • and recognized as the reincarnation

  • of the thirteenth Dalai Lama

  • when he was only two years old,

  • His Holiness followed a different path:

  • of study, reflection,

  • of compassion, and of learning.

  • He began a rigorous monastic

  • education when he was six years old,

  • emerging seventeen years later

  • at the highest level of achievement

  • in Buddhist philosophy.

  • He studied art, culture,

  • music, poetry, history, logic,

  • and Buddhist philosohpy.

  • His interests, however are much more extensive,

  • including his sustained dialogue

  • with scientists and theorists

  • in astrophysics, behavioral science,

  • neurobiology, and quantum mechanics.

  • In his 2005 book,

  • The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality]]>

  • he wrote,

  • "The great benefit of science

  • is that it can contribute tremendously

  • to the alleviation of suffering at the physical level,

  • but it is only through the cultivation

  • of the qualities of the human heart

  • and the transformation of our attitudes

  • that we can begin to address

  • and overcome our mental suffering.

  • We need both

  • since the alleviation of suffering

  • must take place at both the physical

  • and psychological levels.

  • Although his training was monastic,

  • His Holiness was called to public life

  • in the spiritual leadership of the Tibetan people

  • in 1950, when he was in his mid teens.

  • He has carried his message

  • of nonviolence to more than sixty nations

  • on six continents.

  • He's addressed United Nations,

  • Parliament, members of the U.S. Congress,

  • and the governments of many nations.

  • He has reached out to

  • worldwide religious leaders,

  • always advocating for nonviolent solutions

  • even in the face

  • of unspeakable aggression and oppression.

  • The world,

  • not always attentive and sometimes dismissive

  • of peacemakers, has hurt him.

  • He's the 1989 Nobel Laureate for Peace,

  • and in March of this year,

  • he was awarded the Templeton prize,

  • perhaps the highest honor for a religious leader.

  • His tireless travels,

  • his seventy-two books,

  • and his presentations have invited the public to stop,

  • to listen,

  • and to consider the vast potential of a peaceful approach.

  • And so he comes to us today,

  • here in Providence, Rhode Island,

  • and it is my great delight to welcome to Providence

  • and to present to you

  • His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.

  • (applause)]]>

  • (laughter, applause)]]>

  • Brothers

  • and sisters,

  • and certainly

  • respected

  • president

  • of the famous university,

  • so indeed I am very

  • happy, and it's a great honor

  • to speak

  • to such a big gathering,

  • and also I think most of you

  • seem, I think,

  • younger generation. Students, a younger generation.

  • Firstly,

  • I want to show you

  • my real face, like that.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • With this hat,

  • you cannot see this baldness.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • And actually,

  • from here,

  • two sides,

  • more white hair,

  • see, growing.

  • This hair, on this side,

  • hair itself, less and less and less.

  • So, sometimes,

  • something like competition. This side say,

  • (audience laughs)]]>

  • "Oh, no longer need hair."

  • And these two sides say,

  • "Oh, need hair,

  • but white."

  • (laughter, applause)]]>

  • So now,

  • in order to see

  • the audience face

  • more clearly,

  • this kind of hat is very helpful.

  • Very helpful, thank you.

  • Although this visit

  • seems like the first time,

  • but,

  • whenever I meet people,

  • I always feel

  • we know each other

  • because

  • we are same human being.

  • Mentally,

  • emotionally,

  • physically,

  • we are the same.

  • So from my own experience,

  • from my own sort of feeling,

  • I easily understand

  • what kind of

  • sort of emotions, what kind of mind

  • what kind of desire

  • in these people in the room, in their mind.

  • And the most important

  • everyone wants-

  • everyone want

  • happy life.

  • No one

  • loves suffering.

  • No one loves problems.

  • Even animals

  • want

  • happy life.

  • And because of that sort of desire,

  • by nature,

  • we all

  • have desire to achieve happy life.

  • Therefore,

  • everyone,

  • including animals,

  • have a right

  • to achieve

  • happy life.

  • And everyone has the right to overcome

  • problems, or disturbances.

  • So that,

  • very much live with peace,

  • even animals,

  • peaceful atmosphere,

  • they feel

  • relaxed.

  • Happy.

  • Some disturbances come,

  • then they become tense.

  • More stress. Human beings also!

  • So peace itself,

  • not something secret.

  • But we want, we need that peace,

  • because we want happy life.

  • Do not want suffering.

  • So violence

  • always brings fear.

  • Fear

  • increases tension,

  • stress,

  • frustration.

  • Then that

  • usually, you see, creates violence.

  • So violence

  • often creates more violence.

  • So therefore,

  • reality- the reality is,

  • we want happy life.

  • Happiness

  • very much lived with peace.

  • So our emotional

  • [...] narrow-minded views

  • when we face some sort of problems.

  • We feel,

  • "Oh, use force

  • and destroy that.

  • That

  • gains

  • victory,

  • our long-lasting happiness."

  • This is wrong.

  • That kind of attitude is wrong.

  • So then,

  • I think

  • I am

  • a person

  • whose age

  • now over seventy-seven

  • yeas old.

  • Almost

  • my whole life

  • living in

  • some kind of

  • violent world.

  • I was born

  • 1935.

  • Then soon after-

  • then already, I think, some violence, some sort of invasion

  • in China,

  • some problems, violence,

  • already started.

  • Then, soon- and then, Nazi power, also,

  • growing.

  • So then,

  • soon after,

  • Second World War.

  • Then,

  • Korean War.

  • Vietnam War.

  • And also including

  • a lot of, sort of-

  • civil wars, or some disturbances.

  • translator: Regional wars.]]>

  • Regional wars.

  • So when

  • I look back

  • to a major portion of my life

  • -- that means

  • the 20th century,

  • since 19- 960- no, no, 1935.

  • That century,

  • sadly, become central bloodshed.

  • I saw immense violence,

  • and some of great achievement from scientific research work

  • also done for violence.

  • The atomic bomb.

  • So actually,

  • two

  • atom bombs

  • dropped

  • in Japan.

  • One

  • Hiroshima, one Nagasaki.

  • I had

  • some opportunity to visit these two places.

  • And my first- I think, first or second visit,

  • at Japan,

  • one occassion, actually I met

  • some sort of victims-

  • translator: Survivors.]]>

  • survivors

  • of nuclear bomb.

  • Really terrible.

  • Saw the

  • immense violence.

  • If

  • create better world,

  • then you may say, "Oh, that immense violence

  • produced some good thing.

  • So,

  • can justify that."

  • That's not the case.

  • Beginning of this 21st century,

  • some sort of location,

  • some violence here and there,

  • these also

  • I think, symptom

  • of the 20th century's mistake

  • or negligence.

  • And including this

  • now-

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • Terrorism, yes, terrorism.

  • This is also a symptom

  • of the last century's

  • negligence or some mistakes.

  • So therefore,

  • now, we have to think

  • seriously

  • how to build

  • more peaceful world.

  • This 21st century

  • should be

  • peaceful century

  • and peace means-

  • does not mean

  • no longer

  • any problem.

  • Problem?

  • Always going to be there.

  • I think, frankly speaking,

  • so long we human beings

  • remain on this planet,

  • some kind of problems always happen.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Because the problems start

  • from here,

  • too much-

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • expectation, too much sort of ambition,

  • like that.

  • And

  • this

  • too much sort of expectation,

  • ambition,

  • combined with

  • extreme self-centered

  • blindness, blindness --

  • these two things combined, they're trouble.

  • Bound to happen.

  • So therefore,

  • I think-

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • Oh. Mayan-

  • Mayan civilization,

  • some my friends told me

  • according to their civilization,

  • translator: Their calendar. According to their calendar.]]>

  • 2012 is the end of the world.

  • Now already,

  • October.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • And world still remains here.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • If world

  • end,

  • anyway, very sad.

  • Frightened.

  • Anyway, good! No longer problems now!

  • (laughter)]]>

  • So therefore,

  • so long we human beings

  • with different interests,

  • different concepts, different views,

  • the source of

  • problem

  • remain.

  • So then what to do?

  • Consider

  • others' view,

  • this view of

  • human being.

  • Others' interest,

  • also interest of the human being.

  • We are part of humanity.

  • So yeah,

  • once we accept,

  • their problem is my problem,

  • their happiness is my happiness,

  • several human beings happy.

  • Particularly, I get maximum benefit.

  • Several human beings

  • some trouble.

  • How I can escape from that?

  • Because we are socially intimate.

  • Secondly, today's world,

  • heavily interdependent--

  • economies, environment, and many others--

  • heavily interdependent.

  • Therefore, something happened there.

  • Repurcussion reached your own side.

  • So therefore, for our own interests,

  • for our own individual interests,

  • we have to look

  • at the interests of others.

  • So,

  • so that is the

  • basis of development of

  • proper, meaningful dialogue.

  • One should respect others' view,

  • others' right, others' interest.

  • Then, about conflict,

  • about danger,

  • and danger will start,

  • talk.

  • If something happens,

  • you will suffer,

  • I will suffer--

  • no benefit.

  • So we have to find

  • a way to solve this

  • miserable solution. That's the only way.

  • That's the dialogue.

  • So therefore,

  • I usually describe, this twenty-first century

  • should be century of dialogue.

  • So now,

  • here, I want to

  • to address mainly the youth.

  • Now, I often ask age.

  • Out here,

  • those people

  • whose age below 30

  • please raise hand.

  • Good.

  • Now, below 20.

  • And below 15?

  • So anyway,

  • those people--I usually describe

  • those people whose age

  • below 30, 20, 15--

  • these people are

  • generation of twenty-first century.

  • Those people

  • are more the same age,

  • my age

  • 70,

  • 60,

  • 50,

  • we are generation of twentieth century.

  • So our century: gone.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Now, we are ready to say bye-bye.

  • So now this twenty-first century,

  • only twelve years,

  • almost twelve years passed.

  • Over

  • 80 years yet to come.

  • So,

  • past, present, future.

  • Past is past.

  • Only memory.

  • Of course, we can learn

  • some experience from the past,

  • but otherwise, already gone.

  • Nothing--we cannot change that.

  • Some totalitarian regions

  • change past history.

  • That is,

  • I think,

  • a regional problem.

  • Past is past, whether good or bad,

  • already happened.

  • Now important is future.

  • Future still in our hand,

  • whether we see future

  • more

  • happier one

  • or troubled one,

  • still in our hand,

  • mainly the hand of twenty-first century--

  • generation of twenty-first century.

  • So now,

  • I always urging, or request,

  • the generation

  • who belongs

  • to the twenty-first century.

  • Now please think

  • more seriously

  • and try to look

  • different angle

  • different sort of way.

  • Should not take for granted

  • how, up to now,

  • we lead this kind of sort of thinking

  • that will, sort of, a problem,

  • that will go on like that.

  • That, I think, a mistake.

  • The reality:

  • changed, much changed

  • and year by year still changing.

  • So, in order to carry

  • realistic sort of approach,

  • our perception

  • must be realistic,

  • and in order to carry realistic approach,

  • we must have full knowledge about reality.

  • We have to act according new reality.

  • Reality, change.

  • Our perception remains still always.

  • Then, this gap--

  • reality and our perception--

  • become bigger, bigger, bigger.

  • Then, all our, sort of, effort

  • will not achieve satisfactory result

  • because our efforts become unrealistic.

  • Therefore, younger generation,

  • think more seriously,

  • and should not, sort of, concentrate

  • your own, sort of, family, your own community,

  • your own city, or even your own nation.

  • You must look beyond.

  • You must look entire--

  • entire world.

  • Some scientists very busy

  • to study about Mars--

  • moons, Mars.

  • Of course, very interesting.

  • But firstly, we should look at our troubled world.

  • So, let them investigate

  • what is the age of these things.

  • From there,

  • we may learn

  • how began this world, this planet,

  • and how it will change.

  • How it will end, this world.

  • These also interesting,

  • but we are, sort of, immediate

  • life dependent on this blue planet.

  • So you have to look seriously

  • world as one entity

  • including environment.

  • You must pay serious attention

  • about environmental issue.

  • This is the question of our survival.

  • Then, also,

  • on a global, even national level,

  • this gap, rich and poor,

  • this also source of problem.

  • Not only morally wrong

  • but practically also a source of problem.

  • We have to think seriously.

  • This gap, rich and poor.

  • One time, in Washington,

  • when I give some sort of talk,

  • I mentioned

  • that Washington,

  • the richest, sort of, nation's capital,

  • consumption level very high.

  • Capital of the entire nation,

  • but suburbs of Washington

  • there are many poor people

  • in these area,

  • sometimes, people say, unsafe area.

  • Who created that unsafe?

  • From birth? No.

  • Their economic condition,

  • their life:

  • poor, difficult.

  • Therefore, some frustration,

  • as I mentioned earlier, frustration

  • then creates violence.

  • So therefore,

  • I say we have to look seriously,

  • how to reduce this gap, rich and the poor?

  • So these two things,

  • I really feel very, very important

  • in order to build

  • happy century--

  • twenty-first century.

  • So main responsibility

  • on younger peoples' shoulder,

  • not my shoulder

  • (laughter)]]>

  • We, a generation who belongs to the twentieth century

  • now, we--I say, the time come--relax

  • and watching these young people

  • whether they really care seriously or not,

  • we are just watching you.

  • So main responsibility lying on your shoulder,

  • so think.

  • Now here, some people say,

  • some people may feel

  • a problem. Immense.

  • So, one individual cannot do much,

  • just something like big wave--

  • one person,

  • So as if you are being swept away

  • by a huge wave,

  • one individual cannot really rise

  • above that tide.

  • Should not feel that kind of thing.

  • I think firstly,

  • judging events in twentieth century,

  • it seems quite clear.

  • Early part of twentieth century,

  • later part of twentieth century,

  • I think, among the changes,

  • many of them very positive,

  • very hopeful.

  • I think firstly,

  • up to 1960-70,

  • the threat of nuclear holocaust

  • really there

  • because two blocks

  • ready to use nuclear weapons.

  • But that, gone.

  • And I think the very factor

  • which is remove Berlin Wall

  • not by force,

  • but by popular movement,

  • and Soviet Union,

  • East Block, changed,

  • mainly

  • their own people's

  • peaceful movement.

  • Saw many ideas, in the Philippines,

  • one time, Marco, totalitarian dictator

  • that also disappear

  • because of their own popular movement

  • and Chile, also like that.

  • So therefore,

  • within the same century,

  • you see the big change,

  • now later part of twentieth century,

  • I think peace,

  • genuine peace on, at least,

  • European continent.

  • I think Kosovo or something,

  • otherwise I think, comparatively, peace.

  • During Cold War,

  • surface, some peace there,

  • but that peace

  • not genuine peace.

  • That kind of peace out of fear.

  • That is not genuine peace.

  • After Berlin Wall collapsed,

  • the Soviet sort of empire changed.

  • Then,

  • we see genuine peace,

  • eventually, now, come.

  • I think in 1950-60s,

  • nobody expected that kind of change,

  • one thing.

  • Second, another thing:

  • environment issue.

  • In early part of twentieth century,

  • I think nobody

  • have some kind of sort of

  • sense of concern or awareness,

  • the importance of ecology.

  • Nobody feel we also have the responsibility

  • to take care of our planet.

  • Later part of twentieth century,

  • even political party,

  • so-called Green Party,

  • in many countries,

  • originally,

  • they were very much concerned about ecology,

  • so, on the basis of ecological concern,

  • they established a new political party.

  • Nowadays, I don't know.

  • Some of these parties,

  • now, they also now involve

  • their own sort of interests

  • or party politics like that, I don't know.

  • But originally like that.

  • So sometimes,

  • I sort of jokingly,

  • when I meet some of the

  • Green Party's

  • sort of members or politicians,

  • so sometimes I jokingly tell them--

  • these people, very supportive of our cause--

  • so sometimes I tell them,

  • If I join

  • any political party,

  • I will join Green Party.

  • These are, I think, a sign of progress

  • in our human mind or knowledge.

  • One thing.

  • Then, another thing:

  • science and spirituality--

  • in the past, completely something separate.

  • Now, like in quantum physics,

  • we see these

  • shows, importance of our subject--

  • subjects of perception or subject sight.

  • So meantime,

  • some job scientists,

  • now they

  • feel, begin to feel.

  • We cannot treat human being

  • as a mission,

  • but we must pay more attention

  • about human emotions,

  • human mind,

  • particularly in the medical science.

  • Now they really are now talking

  • much about human emotions.

  • For preventive measure,

  • illness, peaceful mind,

  • also, sort of positivity, optimism,

  • mental attitude is very essential.

  • Then,

  • even you get some illness,

  • the recover:

  • again, optimistic attitude,

  • the strong sort of mental attitude,

  • very important

  • for recover.

  • So, for these reasons,

  • now, some scientists really showing interest,

  • cultivate

  • human mind,

  • compassion,

  • love, these things.

  • So actually some universities,

  • mainly in this country,

  • and also some

  • some, I think, other countries also,

  • like Europe and also India

  • you see carrying some kind of

  • experimental project.

  • For example,

  • some Emory University,

  • I think mainly Emory University

  • and so on, some university,

  • in the last few years,

  • they carry some sort of experiment,

  • some sort of project,

  • and some people

  • change

  • two weeks, three weeks,

  • certain kind of mindfulness,

  • and also

  • learn about compassion

  • or practice of compassion.

  • Before they start,

  • they carry

  • examination, their physical condition--

  • blood pressure,

  • amount of stress,

  • all these things they examine.

  • Then after

  • two, three weeks,

  • again check--

  • blood pressure: reduced.

  • Amount of stress: also reduced.

  • As a result, person become much happier,

  • and their attitude

  • towards other sort of friends

  • much more healthy.

  • So these things now

  • in scientific research field

  • now study about emotion,

  • how to deal with these emotions.

  • That, I think,

  • one sort of big change, I feel.

  • So, one time,

  • in 1996,

  • I had a sort of priviledge.

  • The Queen Mother of England,

  • her own age 96,

  • So I--

  • since my childhood,

  • as a result of seeing her picture

  • and her husband,

  • King George VI.

  • So I had some sort of admiration.

  • So I had the audience

  • with the Queen Mother.

  • A very nice--

  • very nice lady.

  • So when I--

  • when we sat down,

  • then, I asked,

  • Since you observed

  • almost whole twentieth century,

  • so, according to your experience,

  • is the world becoming

  • better or worse or same?

  • Without hesitation,

  • immediately,

  • she responded me, Better.

  • Then, she put some reasons.

  • When she was young,

  • nobody talks about human right

  • or right of self-determination.

  • Nowadays,

  • human right and right of self-determination,

  • these are universal concept

  • or universal values.

  • So she mentioned that.

  • So therefore,

  • there are a lot of sort of

  • example,

  • human thinking, human behavior

  • through our own difficult experiences,

  • and eventually, our mind become more mature.

  • Then,

  • I think one sort of, another important thing is,

  • early part of twentieth century,

  • when nation declare war

  • on their so-called enemy,

  • every citizen of the country,

  • without any question,

  • they proudly joined war effort.

  • Since the Vietnam War,

  • that kind of situation changed.

  • Look

  • at early part of this century,

  • Iraq War about to start--

  • millions of people

  • against war,

  • from Australia

  • and up to Europe and the United States,

  • up to the United States.

  • So these are clear signs

  • of desire for peace,

  • now really--

  • not just a slogan,

  • but real desire.

  • Strong like that.

  • So then, another thing:

  • I think including scientists,

  • they also now showing interest

  • about our inner value

  • in order to build

  • happy person, happy family,

  • happy society, or healthy body.

  • Other hand,

  • among the fringe, materially,

  • the fringe of society,

  • now people begin to feel

  • limitation of material value.

  • In the past,

  • material superficiality,

  • material value,

  • is the ultimate source of happiness,

  • so all our hopes put on that.

  • Actually, the very education system

  • oriented about material value.

  • Now, many educationists,

  • many sort of rich people,

  • now they begin to feel

  • material values, there is a limitation.

  • More material, sort of success,

  • more greed,

  • that brings

  • too much, sort of extreme competition,

  • and that brings suspicion,

  • that brings distrust,

  • and, though some of these sort of

  • very successful sort of people,

  • deep inside, lonely feeling

  • because

  • too much

  • self-centered attitude,

  • so they cannot trust people,

  • so finally, lonely feeling.

  • So that also, I think, big change:

  • now, more and more people,

  • including scientists,

  • now showing

  • deeper sort of human reality

  • that is human mind, human emotion.

  • So where does spirituality

  • deal with emotions, these things?

  • So, modern science

  • and spirituality

  • also seem to come closer and closer.

  • These are,

  • I think,

  • these events I think really

  • shows

  • our hope.

  • We are becoming more mature.

  • So now, make attempt,

  • use our intelligence

  • a more holistic way,

  • try to find

  • new way for approach

  • certainly

  • this century can be

  • more peaceful,

  • more pleasant,

  • I think actually

  • we can

  • develop this century

  • a century of compassion.

  • Compassionate century.

  • We can do that.

  • Now, compassion,

  • love,

  • affection.

  • Sometimes the people consider these are religious practices.

  • Now here we must make distinction.

  • All religious tradition,

  • their main message, main practice,

  • yes, practice love, compassion

  • forgiveness, tolerance,

  • certain discipline, contentment, all these things.

  • They are

  • irrespective of what philosophical differences.

  • But at the same time,

  • I think

  • there are a large number of people

  • out of seven billion human beings

  • who have not much interest about

  • religious faith.

  • So then these people usually-

  • "Oh, practice of love, compassion, forgiveness, these are religious practices."

  • So since they have no interest about religion,

  • they also completely ignore about these values.

  • That's a mistake.

  • Whether it's a religion or not, that's up to the individual.

  • You can remain

  • good human being

  • without religious faith.

  • It's possible!

  • We've noticed,

  • however,

  • these people,

  • if you examine

  • like some of the scientists,

  • athiests,

  • no religious belief,

  • but through their own investigation,

  • now they realize

  • more warmheartedness is immense

  • helpful

  • for health,

  • for happy family,

  • like that. So therefore,

  • we must find

  • a way

  • to promote these

  • values,

  • not relying on religion.

  • That, I usually call

  • secular way

  • approach.

  • These values

  • basically biological factor,

  • not religious belief.

  • Even animal --

  • dogs, cats,

  • some birds -- they also have this

  • some ability

  • of limited

  • altruism

  • through their own surrounding

  • friend, like that.

  • So these are biological factor

  • because it need

  • for their own survival,

  • and particularly social animals,

  • for their

  • survival, cooperation is very essential.

  • Cooperation

  • based on

  • sense of community like that,

  • and love

  • like that.

  • So therefore

  • those people

  • who have not much interest about religion,

  • they should not neglect about these inner values.

  • So,

  • the approach to promote these things

  • should be secular way,

  • and then I must sort of make clear:

  • in the West,

  • when the word secularism comes-

  • you know, some people feel

  • that the secularism means

  • a little sort of negative towards religion.

  • That's

  • one sort of understanding.

  • According India,

  • secularism-

  • they understand,

  • they respect all religions,

  • no preference,

  • this religion or that religion,

  • equally respect.

  • And then also

  • respect

  • non-believer.

  • I think that's very wise.

  • India,

  • when independent country-

  • translator: Became independent.]]>

  • came to independent nation,

  • their constitution

  • based on secularism

  • because the reality

  • already that country

  • multi-religious nation.

  • Multi-culture,

  • multi-linguistic,

  • so mainly, multi-religious society. Therefore,

  • their constitution

  • developed

  • on the basis of secularism.

  • So all those

  • Indian sort of father- nation's father

  • translator: The founding fathers.]]>

  • founding fathers

  • is who created this

  • secularism

  • or India's duteous constitution, based on secularism.

  • These people, individually very very religious-minded people,

  • like Mahatma Gandhi,

  • the first president of India,

  • Rajendra Prasad,

  • and also the Dr. Ambedkar,

  • all these

  • lawyers,

  • and the

  • members of the committee

  • who make this constitution,

  • like that. So therefore,

  • the secularism,

  • when I use 'secularism',

  • means, according to that understanding,

  • respect all religions,

  • and including non-believer.

  • So,

  • I usually make an effort

  • to promote human value

  • through secular approach.

  • So these are-

  • So then,

  • the challenge

  • in our world:

  • population increasing,

  • lifestyle increasing.

  • Now, as I mentioned earlier,

  • this huge gap rich and the poor,

  • the poorer section of people,

  • global level or national level,

  • we have to

  • lift

  • their living standard.

  • So,

  • their consumsery

  • translator: Consumers, consumption.]]>

  • or their lifestyle

  • will change.

  • So that also usually

  • create

  • more challenges.

  • So the other day,

  • in- was it, M.I.-

  • translator: MIT.]]>

  • MIT,

  • this is

  • a discussion, a panel discussion,

  • with some scientists

  • in particular field.

  • Really expert

  • in their presentation.

  • The different fields: ecology, economy,

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • food, and many many fields.

  • Their presentation really

  • truly shows their expertise in this field.

  • So, every field,

  • they create- I mean, they mentioned

  • the challenges.

  • Immense challenges!

  • Also, you see, they

  • mentioned,

  • There is possibility to work.

  • All this related ultimately

  • to human will.

  • That will also is a human-

  • sort of central concern of well-being of the world.

  • Of other. Of other?

  • translator: Of others.]]>

  • So,

  • after all, all human activities,

  • you see,

  • whether

  • constructive or destructive

  • ultimately lead with motivation.

  • Every action

  • movtivated by

  • sense of concern of others' well-being,

  • then all action

  • can really become

  • constructive action.

  • Every action,

  • any action,

  • motivated by extreme self-centered selfish motivation

  • don't care about others.

  • Worse, exploit others.

  • Bully others,

  • cheating others,

  • telling lies others,

  • or killing others.

  • So,

  • these-

  • any actions

  • out of

  • negative motivation,

  • then,

  • every action become

  • destructive action.

  • So we have to think more about motivation here.

  • Now here,

  • how can

  • how can sort of train

  • these

  • moral principle

  • secular way?

  • Not from teaching,

  • not from church,

  • not from temple,

  • but from

  • educational field.

  • From kindergarten,

  • up to university level.

  • We must pay more attention

  • educate people or make awareness:

  • the ultimate source of happiness,

  • ultimate source of successful life,

  • is deep in here

  • so that

  • existing education

  • sort of institution,

  • please pay more attention.

  • The president,

  • and teachers,

  • professors,

  • please think more

  • and you, yourself, also is worthwhile to carry some

  • translator: Experiment.]]>

  • further sort of experiment

  • or investigation.

  • That I think

  • very important.

  • Then those,

  • the generation who belongs to the first century,

  • you all, you also, you see,

  • still think more, not only 'Money, money,'

  • or successful in the terms of money

  • not sufficient.

  • Successful

  • very much related with

  • inner peace.

  • Also, you see, very important

  • so think

  • both

  • material successful, material values,

  • translator: Material success.]]>

  • material success,

  • and also, inner peace.

  • These two things

  • should keep in your mind.

  • So that's for my talk,

  • now some questions.

  • Oh, sorry.

  • (applause)]]>

  • Thank you, Your Holiness,

  • for sharing so much of your time

  • and wisdom with us today.

  • It's just been a great honor to have you here

  • in Providence, and your words are inspirational.

  • We do have some time for questions,

  • and to help facilitate this,

  • we have actually videotaped some questions

  • in advance from members from our audience,

  • and they will appear on screens around the room.

  • These are from students and faculty

  • from Brown and students from local high schools.

  • And so while we may not have time

  • to get to all of the questions we videotaped,

  • many thanks to those of you

  • who provided us with questions.

  • And I actually have the questions written down

  • in case it doesn't work.

  • Are we good?

  • Okay?

  • Okay. What? New one.

  • Now two.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Okay.

  • So let's give this a shot.

  • Our first question is from

  • Tibetan student Lobsang Lama.

  • Lobsang is studying electrical engineering

  • and economics at Brown.

  • So, let's see if it plays.

  • Tashi delek, and greetings, Your Holiness.]]>

  • My name is Lobsang Lama,

  • and I'm a member of the Class of 2014.

  • My question is,

  • How should the younger generations of today

  • contribute and participate

  • towards building global peace?

  • I think I already answered that.

  • (laughter and applause)]]>

  • So,

  • no use to repeat.

  • Too much repetition.

  • Audience may feel boring.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Next.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Next? Okay.

  • Our next question is

  • from Aoua Coumbassa,

  • a senior at Pawtucket's Tolman High School.

  • Aoua has a 4.0 GPA,

  • plays various sports,

  • and juggles two jobs outside of school.

  • Hello, Your Holiness.

  • My name is Aoua Coumbassa,

  • and I am a senior at Tolman High School

  • in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

  • If our purpose in life is to be happy,

  • then why is it that certain individuals' happiness

  • causes pain for others?

  • Oh, I think, firstly,

  • I always believe,

  • very purpose of our life, our existence,

  • for happiness,

  • reason.

  • Our life--

  • no guarantee,

  • happy life.

  • But,

  • our life depend on hope.

  • Hope means

  • something good.

  • Once

  • individual

  • completely lost hope,

  • then, that mental attitude itself

  • shorten our life.

  • Then, worst case:

  • suicide, also happen.

  • And also less hope.

  • And then,

  • rely on drugs.

  • Alcohol.

  • These almost have

  • something like suicide.

  • Ruin your own body,

  • ruin your own sharp intelligence, like that.

  • So, very purpose of our life

  • is happy life.

  • There is no question.

  • Then,

  • as I mentioned earlier,

  • usually,

  • self-centered attitude,

  • with that motivation,

  • seeking your own, sort of, joyful

  • or happy life,

  • regardless consequence on other.

  • That sometimes causing

  • some problem, other.

  • But actually,

  • that kind of, sort of, self-charishing

  • is foolish.

  • I usually is telling,

  • We are selfish.

  • That means, take care oneself.

  • That is very important.

  • Without sort of feeling,

  • taking care oneself,

  • how can extend

  • that feeling of care of other?

  • Some people, self-hatred there.

  • Such people,

  • impossible to extend

  • love and compassion to others.

  • So therefore,

  • the taking care oneself

  • is very right and very, sort of, important.

  • But,

  • sort of anyway,

  • selfish sort of attitude--

  • that should be

  • combined with

  • awareness,

  • combined with wisdom.

  • So, that, I should call, that kind of selfish is

  • wise selfish.

  • Just think oneself,

  • concern oneself,

  • don't care about other,

  • even exploit other, harming other,

  • that kind of selfish is

  • foolish selfish.

  • Long run, self-destruction.

  • So therefore,

  • the positive,

  • wise sort of selfish

  • is--

  • should never create problem other,

  • but rather bring some

  • some happiness,

  • some benefit to other.

  • So there is my answer.

  • Do you agree, that?

  • (laughter and applause)]]>

  • Next question.

  • Thank you very much.

  • The next question is from Elizabeth Hoover,

  • assistant professor at Brown,

  • where she teaches Native American studies courses.

  • Greetings, Your Holiness.

  • I'm Professor Elizabeth Hoover.

  • I'm a descendent of the Mohawk and Micmac

  • tribes of upstate New York and Eastern Canada.

  • I traveled to Tibet in 2010,

  • and I witnessed your people there

  • being treated by the Chinese

  • much in the same way that

  • our indigenous people here in the Americas

  • have been treated.

  • I was wondering, from the perspective

  • of an indigenous person

  • who has been separated from your homeland,

  • what advice do you give to your own people,

  • who are currently suffering

  • from the forced changes to their culture,

  • and how would you advise native people here,

  • who are working to recover

  • from the same experiences?

  • Right from the beginning,

  • when we become

  • refugee,

  • and I think even further,

  • 1949, '50,

  • the new situation develop,

  • we urging Tibetan unity

  • and importance of our own

  • culture, heritage.

  • We have our own language,

  • our own script.

  • It is completely independent

  • from Chinese script

  • and Indian script,

  • although originally,

  • Tibetan script

  • copied, based on

  • some of the Indian, sort of, writing system.

  • But itself, completely, sort of, independence.

  • Then, after '59,

  • we become refugees.

  • Our first priority is

  • education,

  • modern education,

  • and that modern education

  • also is not just one-sided modern education,

  • but including Tibetan traditional education,

  • including language and Buddhist philosophy,

  • these things.

  • So therefore,

  • '59, we came to India,

  • become refugee.

  • Within the year,

  • we start school

  • for education.

  • That school,

  • since we want to

  • develop or produce Tibetan student,

  • so both fields,

  • traditional education

  • and modern education.

  • So, we asked Indian government,

  • We want separate Tibetan school.

  • Then, President Neruda, he--

  • the Indian Prime Minister--

  • he fully supported that,

  • so we establish separate Tibetan school,

  • and government of India settled

  • a society for Tibetan school,

  • like that.

  • So we always say,

  • Importance of preservation of our own--

  • our own identity.

  • The most important part of identity

  • is our language,

  • our script,

  • and our culture.

  • So, our, sort of, main criticism

  • to the Chinese communist authorities in Tibet:

  • That sometimes, sadly,

  • they deliberately,

  • to suppress

  • Tibetan unique sort of culture,

  • including sometimes, including

  • our language, also they

  • suppress, like that.

  • Now,

  • the outside world--

  • I had number of occasions

  • meeting with

  • indigenous people

  • in New Zealand, Australia,

  • Taiwan,

  • Okinawa,

  • Hawaii,

  • and then

  • here, America, and Europe,

  • South America.

  • So whenever I

  • meet these people,

  • firstly I told them,

  • nowadays, unlike past,

  • the world

  • starting to recognize

  • each individual--

  • each individual communities,

  • their own language, their own culture,

  • there's something really worthwhile to preserve.

  • So new opportunity comes.

  • So people

  • have every right

  • to carry all sorts of

  • work for preservation of their own

  • culture, their own language,

  • their own identity.

  • Meantime, I always ask them,

  • do you have some, your own,

  • writing system?

  • Many of them say,

  • No writing system.

  • Then, I urging them,

  • You should invent

  • one sort of writing.

  • Preservation--effective preservation--

  • long run, rely on oral--

  • tradition,

  • not sufficient,

  • not secure.

  • And then, I notice,

  • some native people,

  • particularly in Latin America,

  • in order to preserve their own culture,

  • their own identity,

  • they prefer remain isolated.

  • That, I feel, is a mistake.

  • Like the Maori

  • in New Zealand:

  • they thoroughly educated,

  • with the rest of New Zealand people.

  • Meantime,

  • they speak their own language, their own--

  • they practice their own traditions.

  • And also,

  • northern part of Scandinavian countries,

  • the local,

  • through modern education,

  • like Norway,

  • the northern part of Norway,

  • the sunny land.

  • They thoroughly educated,

  • with normal Norwegian people,

  • and meantime, they preserve

  • their own identity,

  • their own dress,

  • their own songs, like that.

  • So that is the proper way.

  • Through that way--

  • through modern education,

  • preserve their own culture,

  • their own language or identity,

  • then, more effective.

  • Isolate, almost like suicide.

  • No use.

  • So now, American

  • Native, sort of, Indians.

  • Many occasion--

  • many places I met--

  • again, sometimes I ask the population.

  • They say--

  • some cases, they say,

  • 2,000, 3,000.

  • That, I think,

  • too small, difficult.

  • So I think,

  • The more similar, sort of,

  • translator: the tribes that share greater similarities ]]>

  • should create some sort of writing system

  • then more cooperative way

  • and preservation of their own identity,

  • their own language.

  • One thing in Australian indigenous people,

  • on one occasion, as I met some,

  • and I told and asked when they introduced themselves,

  • they said their Christian names or English names,

  • and I suggested at least an individual name

  • should be in a native language,

  • so that the individual can be himself or herself

  • mentioned name is, reminds you,

  • you are tribes or community.

  • So some occasion I suggested like that.

  • So that also I think can be helpful

  • to remind the individual,

  • I belong to this tribe or that tribe.

  • So that's my view.

  • Then perhaps I think a little funny thing.

  • I think at least 15-20 years ago,

  • one occasion in Frankfurt in Germany,

  • there was one meeting of different people,

  • indigenous people,

  • also some Germans there, some organization,

  • so one representative

  • from one American indigenous community

  • one representative.

  • He read one long speech or written speech,

  • message from his own, I think,

  • religious chief (leader).

  • So that letter is mentioned, he wished

  • all white people should expel from American continent.

  • I think that is a little bit extreme.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • I think if white people

  • if you expel them, then these big cities

  • (laughter)]]>

  • No use.

  • I think we'll suffer global economy immensely.

  • So there's a little bit too extreme, like that.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • Next question?

  • Thank you. We have time for one more question.

  • And this question is from medical student

  • Terra Schaetzel-Hill, and let's hear it.

  • Good afternoon, your Holiness.

  • My name is Terra Schaetzel-Hill

  • and I'm a medical student at the

  • Warren Alpert Medical School.

  • In light of the recent events in the Middle East,

  • hearing news of the violent protests as well as

  • the anti-American sentiments that have been

  • sweeping that part of the world,

  • sometimes feels frightening and alarming.

  • So my question is, how can we

  • view and process these events from

  • a peace-centered perspective?

  • And how can we cultivate

  • a peaceful response to the circumstances that seem scary

  • and threatening?

  • (translator speaks)]]>

  • (audience laughs)]]>

  • This quite-

  • firstly, I think, quite serious

  • and also complicated.

  • Complicated question.

  • After

  • September 11th

  • event

  • happened,

  • then,

  • after one year,

  • one-

  • translator: Commemoration.]]>

  • commemoration

  • take place in Washington

  • National Cathedral.

  • So, somewa- somehow I was there,

  • at that time,

  • so they invited me

  • to participate

  • in the spiritual sort of ceremony.

  • Then I expressed

  • that

  • due to such mischievous

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • translator: Actions.]]>

  • actions,

  • their background

  • was Muslim,

  • so some mischievous

  • Muslims' behavior

  • and, with that, generalize

  • whole Islam

  • or Muslim community.

  • That's unfair.

  • Some mischievous people

  • in every religious community.

  • Among the Buddhists, among the Christians,

  • among the Jews, among the Hindus...

  • Everywhere!

  • So this

  • handful mischievous people's

  • activities

  • will not represent

  • the whole community

  • or whole, the sort of concept of tradition.

  • So since then,

  • I always, you see, defending

  • Islam. Also it's one of the important world religions!

  • So- so, you see,

  • I- because I feel

  • isolated them.

  • Then,

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • translator: Distrust, suspicion.]]>

  • distrust, or suspicion.

  • And recently, sometimes, even books

  • mentioned

  • clash

  • Islam

  • (turns to translator)]]>

  • translator: Western civilization.]]>

  • Western civilization.

  • And these are, I think,

  • not

  • I think not based on reality.

  • In reality,

  • the Islam world need West.

  • West need

  • those

  • Middle East

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • Firstly oil, these things,

  • so, heavily interdependent,

  • so therefore, firstly,

  • if you

  • develop

  • more

  • contact,

  • then people

  • you see-

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • Then you see this kind of distrust

  • will not come or diminish,

  • so creation somewhat wrong impression.

  • Is, I think, a mistake.

  • So I personally also knows

  • among the Muslim

  • there are

  • genuine practitioner- among the genuine Islam practitioner,

  • wonderful people there,

  • I know.

  • So one Muslim, my friend,

  • you see, he stated,

  • he say,

  • the genuine Islam practitioner

  • must extend love

  • towards entire creation of Allah.

  • Any Muslim

  • who create bloodshed

  • is reality

  • no longer

  • Islam

  • practitioner.

  • They say like that.

  • So there are

  • many good Muslims there.

  • So,

  • we should not generalize,

  • so we must extend,

  • reach out,

  • Muslim world. That's, I think, important.

  • Then, secondly,

  • I think further that-

  • that also, I think-

  • their side also is much depend on the education.

  • And environment.

  • I notice

  • Muslims

  • in India,

  • Muslims in Malaysia,

  • Muslims in Indonesia,

  • different!

  • Same Koran,

  • same Muslim,

  • five times prayer,

  • same!

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • Ramadan practice is the same! But,

  • the environment-

  • because of, due to, different environment,

  • the Indian Muslims

  • from their childhood,

  • they accept

  • their multireligions

  • already there.

  • Recently,

  • I met one Romanian

  • who carry some

  • investigation

  • or research work

  • India's religious harmony.

  • I met in one

  • Indian state, Rajasthan,

  • many Muslims there,

  • so,

  • one occasion I visit there,

  • I met that Romanian,

  • researchers.

  • He told me

  • he is surprised

  • he found

  • one Muslim village.

  • Village means at least

  • few thousand

  • Muslim population must be there.

  • So then he found

  • in that village,

  • three Hindu families.

  • Three.

  • Three Hindu families.

  • No fear.

  • Completely safe

  • among the

  • bigger Muslim sort of community.

  • Very friendly.

  • So therefore,

  • these Indian Muslim,

  • they develop that way

  • so their attitude

  • very much the harmonious sort of-

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • translator: Spirit.]]>

  • spirit.

  • So like that-

  • so these

  • environment makes

  • differences.

  • So we,

  • Muslim world,

  • traditionally

  • not much contact with outside world

  • or Western world.

  • I think it is not sufficient

  • in some

  • (speaks to translator)]]>

  • technology,

  • taking oil

  • on particular area

  • and not much contact with

  • rest of the community.

  • That's not sufficient.

  • Or,

  • meeting with some leaders, some kings,

  • or their families,

  • that's not sufficient.

  • I think, educate the field

  • more..

  • translator: Interaction, contact.]]>

  • more interaction, more contact.

  • I think

  • that's very very important.

  • If possible, like

  • your university,

  • you should invite some student from

  • these different Arab countries

  • and give them education

  • and training.

  • I think very very important.

  • So that's my view.

  • Then eventually,

  • otherwise as it is

  • now with help of modern technology,

  • sometimes it's unexpected some explosions or

  • some expected sort of self-

  • terrorist actions.

  • That really, you see,

  • creates some kind of

  • fear, or uncomfortable sort of things.

  • So that also quite true.

  • So but we have to-

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • make effort

  • long-term.

  • So this, after ten-

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • September 11th event,

  • as I mentioned,

  • I expressed many occasion

  • if you handle

  • not properly

  • these problems,

  • then-

  • you see, today-

  • oh, at that time I mentioned, 'Today,

  • one Bin Laden,

  • then,

  • next,

  • ten Bin Laden,

  • then hundred Bin Laden,

  • possible.

  • So we must

  • find

  • non-violent way

  • approach

  • and based on

  • strong,

  • genuine

  • spirit of brotherhood, sisterhood,

  • oneness

  • of the humanity

  • on the same planet.

  • I think we can-

  • we can reach out

  • through this way.

  • So Tibetan and Chinese

  • after

  • (speaks with translator)]]>

  • 2008 crisis,

  • the Chinese government

  • their hardliners

  • deliberately created some kind of impression

  • entire Tibetans are anti-Chinese. Actually not!

  • So then

  • immediate after that year,

  • whenever I visit Europe,

  • America,

  • Australia,

  • some Chinese demonstrations-

  • demonstrators

  • always sort of follow.

  • (laughter)]]>

  • We always try to reach out

  • with Chinese community,

  • whenever I have oppor- we have opportunity

  • meeting them,

  • telling them

  • about truth.

  • So then,

  • gradually,

  • year by year,

  • these

  • reduce,

  • out of sort of understanding

  • out of sort of

  • (speaks with translator)

  • contact like that.

  • So that-

  • That much I know.

  • And beyond that, I don't know

  • like that.

  • I'd like everybody to join me in

  • thanking His Holiness for coming to talk to us today.

  • (applause)]]>

  • (applause)]]>

  • Oh yes.

  • So I really-

  • I really enjoy

  • having this opportunity,

  • so please think

  • some of these- my points.

  • If you feel

  • some interest,

  • then think more.

  • And you yourself,

  • investigate these things.

  • And then,

  • try to share

  • with more people.

  • If you feel

  • these points

  • not much relevant,

  • not much interest,

  • then forget.

  • (audience laughter)]]>

  • No problem.

  • (applause)]]>

(applause)

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it