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Last month, amidst violence in countries across the globe, a meeting took place in Dharamsala, India featuring 28 young peace leaders from countries facing violence and extremism. This week, two of these young leaders accompanied the Dalai Lama to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to address the role of youth in ending violence in the 21st century.
The Dalai Lama’s gentle exterior and jovial sense of humor mask a razor-sharp wit and iron will. His Holiness has dedicated his life to the promotion of human ethics, religious harmony, and the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture. The talk began with a solemn moment of silence for the tragedy in Orlando. However, His Holiness emphasized that prayer alone is not enough – real change happens through courage, determination, and action.
His Holiness believes that we have to tap into the basic human instinct of compassion. By cultivating a strong and peaceful mind, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Although His Holiness said that putting someone else’s needs before your own can be seen as detrimental to oneself, he argued that compassion is an action that first and foremost benefits the actor.
Along with the Dalai Lama, Michael Gerson of the Washington Post, youth leaders Sakaino of Morocco, and Victoria of Nigeria made remarks about the summit in Dharamsala and the global status quo. Although all three individuals have experienced drastically different lives, each emphasized the same basic concepts: hope, community, love, and identity. They all agreed: being brought up in a war-torn or vulnerable area has made today’s generation intimately familiar with the needs of their communities.
After their remarks, the question and answer session touched on issues of feminism, religious hostility, and the future of youth in peacemaking. The Dalai Lama believes women to be biologically more sensitive and empathetic, and that they should take a more active role in the peace-resolution arena.
Several audience members expressed concern that a peaceful resolution would not be possible due to many extremist members of various religions being in conflict. “If [someone] creates bloodshed, then [they are] no longer genuine practitioner[s] of Islam. The very meaning of jihad is not harming others, but combat[ting] your own destructive emotion,” countered His Holiness. He urged political dignitaries and religious leaders alike to focus not on the consequences of violent extremists, but the many practitioners of all different religions working to spread love and forgiveness – the basis of almost every religion. He also encouraged spiritual leaders in particular to not stay in their temples praying, but to come out and educate the masses.
Focusing on young leaders in particular, His Holiness said religious and political leaders should continue to facilitate discussions such as the one that took place in Dharamsala. By bringing together hopeful youths from around the globe, he strives to create a narrative of actionable results and motivation.
Photo courtesy of the US Institute of Peace.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Prayer Is Not Enough
June 18, 2016
Last month, amidst violence in countries across the globe, a meeting took place in Dharamsala, India featuring 28 young peace leaders from countries facing violence and extremism. This week, two of these young leaders accompanied the Dalai Lama to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to address the role of youth in ending violence in the 21st century.
The Dalai Lama’s gentle exterior and jovial sense of humor mask a razor-sharp wit and iron will. His Holiness has dedicated his life to the promotion of human ethics, religious harmony, and the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture. The talk began with a solemn moment of silence for the tragedy in Orlando. However, His Holiness emphasized that prayer alone is not enough – real change happens through courage, determination, and action.
His Holiness believes that we have to tap into the basic human instinct of compassion. By cultivating a strong and peaceful mind, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Although His Holiness said that putting someone else’s needs before your own can be seen as detrimental to oneself, he argued that compassion is an action that first and foremost benefits the actor.
Along with the Dalai Lama, Michael Gerson of the Washington Post, youth leaders Sakaino of Morocco, and Victoria of Nigeria made remarks about the summit in Dharamsala and the global status quo. Although all three individuals have experienced drastically different lives, each emphasized the same basic concepts: hope, community, love, and identity. They all agreed: being brought up in a war-torn or vulnerable area has made today’s generation intimately familiar with the needs of their communities.
After their remarks, the question and answer session touched on issues of feminism, religious hostility, and the future of youth in peacemaking. The Dalai Lama believes women to be biologically more sensitive and empathetic, and that they should take a more active role in the peace-resolution arena.
Several audience members expressed concern that a peaceful resolution would not be possible due to many extremist members of various religions being in conflict. “If [someone] creates bloodshed, then [they are] no longer genuine practitioner[s] of Islam. The very meaning of jihad is not harming others, but combat[ting] your own destructive emotion,” countered His Holiness. He urged political dignitaries and religious leaders alike to focus not on the consequences of violent extremists, but the many practitioners of all different religions working to spread love and forgiveness – the basis of almost every religion. He also encouraged spiritual leaders in particular to not stay in their temples praying, but to come out and educate the masses.
Focusing on young leaders in particular, His Holiness said religious and political leaders should continue to facilitate discussions such as the one that took place in Dharamsala. By bringing together hopeful youths from around the globe, he strives to create a narrative of actionable results and motivation.
Photo courtesy of the US Institute of Peace.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
