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By Phurbu Thinley
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His Holiness the
Dalai Lama spoke on "Message towards the
Younger Generations of 21st Century" to some
1400 students and staff members of Setagaya Guken
High School, Tokyo. (Photo by Tenzin Dasel/Phayul)
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Tokyo, November
22, Phayul: Tibetan spiritual leader today urged young
Japanese to prepare for a more peaceful 21st century.
Describing 20th century as period of immense destructions,
human sufferings and serious and unprecedented environmental
damages; the Tibetan spiritual leader today urged Japanese
youngsters to make 21st century “a Century of dialogue and
reconciliation”.
“This new century still faces the scar of the past
mistakes,” the Dalai Lama said, however, expressing hope
that the new generation could make a more peaceful 21st
century world. Describing terrorism and the rapid global
warming as major concerns facing today’s world, the Nobel
Peace Prize laureate urged people to use human intelligence
to correct them
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Photo by Phurbu
Thinley/Phayul
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“Basically many
of the problems which we are facing are man-made, so human
beings also have ability to make corrections, or at least
minimize the problems we are facing,” the Dalai Lama said.
“As a human being we have quite enough intelligence to
analyse and understand our past mistakes,” he added while
speaking to some 1400 students of the Setagaya Gakuen School
on “Message towards the Younger Generations of 21st
Century”.
Dalai Lama said he was “happy to meet young students”.
“I am very happy because you are new generation actually
shaping this new century. We belong to the old century. You
are responsible for shaping the new generation,” the Dalai
Lama told a hall packed students.
Despising use of violence to solve human problems, the Dalai
Lama said, “Although your purpose is justified, but that
violence method is unpredictable. It will bring more
suffering”. “That method is wrong” he added.
“So, we must use realistic methods. Problems, differences
(and), different views and opinions (are) always there. But,
use realistic methods – spirit of reconciliation and
dialogue,” the Dalai Lama said.
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His Holiness the
Dalai Lama leaves the Gokokuji Buddhist Temple in
Tokyo on Thursday. (Photo by Tenzin Dasel/
Phayul.com)
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The Dalai Lama later visited the Gokokuji
Buddhist Temple in Bunkyō, Tokyo, where he was
received and welcomed by the Shingon Buddhist temple’s
highest Chief Priest Ven. Eishi Okamoto. His Holiness the
Dalai Lama spend some time interacting with the temple’s
Buddhist monks before heading to Gokokuji’s Nichi Dai High
School, where he again addressed some 1300 students on
“Meaningful life and education”.
The Dalai Lama told the high school students students that
Japan has a “very good combination” of “modern
technology, modern knowledge and also rich spiritual
culture, including Buddhism”.
“So you have unique opportunity to have modern education
as well as acquire spiritual values of native Shinto
religion and also Buddhism,” the Dalai Lama told the
school gathering. He, however, insisted young Japanese to
put more attention on warm heartedness, saying “It will
give you more guarantee of a happier and peaceful life”.
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Students of Nichi Dai
High School of Gokokuji wait to welcome His Holiness
the Dalai Lama to their campus on Thursday, Nov. 22,
2007. (Phayul)
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“Technology and infinite human intelligence are wonderful.
However, if these two, guided by negative emotions like
anger, hatred, or, fear, will bring more destruction,” the
Dalai Lama said. “As a result it brought immense suffering
in the 20th century,” he added.
“Genuine, lasting world peace must come from inner
peace,” the Dalai Lama said, adding, “That should come
from inner disarmament.” “With compassion, your act is
always positive ... that will increase our inner strength
and self confidence for a more meaningful life,” he said.
“My century is gone permanently. It will never return. Now
just beginning of the 21st century, so you will spend your
time in this century,” the 1989 Nobel Peace laureate said.
“So you (are) actually making preparation to make a better
world,” the Dalai Lama told the students.
The Dalai Lama has become a source of spiritual comfort for
growing number of Japanese people who are stressed by their
fast paced modern life.
The Tibetan leader will return to India, his home country in
exile, on Friday after completing his nine-day tour of
Japan. |
