Team Herald
PANJIM: He entered the jam-packed Kala Academy auditorium amidst cheer. He was given a standing ovation by Goans and the others gathered. Yes, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, who received the Nobel Peace prize about 30 years ago, is now 84 years young. And, why not? When he was greeted by a basket of fruits on the stage, he opened the gift like an excited child and relished an apple right in front of the crowd.
Relaxed, after his helpers changed his maroon coloured stole, he concentrated on Goa University’s beautiful orchestra, which played reverberating compositions led by violin, piano and gong. The choir conductor Dr Santiago Lusardi Girelli premiered a special composition titled ‘Big Ocean’ for the occasion.
While addressing the crowd, the Dalai Lama clarified why he says ‘Brothers and Sisters’, at the beginning. “I always use this ‘brothers and sisters’ as I believe that we are are all born the same way and die the same way. The most precious thing is inner strength and peace, which creates peaceful community. I try to educate people to share this among people as much as possible. The ultimate source of happiness is within ourselves… not by money or fame. Therefore, we need a sense of oneness of all human beings,” he explained.
He added that different faiths, different nationalities, different colours and regional identities, are secondary. “My commitment to the society is to promote basic good human values on the basis of scientific findings. I interacted once with India’s great scientist Dr Raja Ramanna, who was explaining to me about quantum physics. I heard patiently but in my mind, I was thinking that I knew better in that subject,” said the Dalai Lama.
He mentioned that the Buddhists consider meditation to be more important. “Of course it is important but what’s equally important are the studies. I had suggested to some of the Japanese monasteries that your monastery should become a learning centre. You must have more of discussion, not just meditation,” he added.
He also added that the Nalanda tradition of studies, do serious kind of studies and use logical approach. “We have established a major monastery institution in Karnataka and there are several scholars who are doing serious work in Karnataka and Aurangabad in Maharashtra too. In Aurangabad, I suggested to them that they use the human mind and to use it as an academic subject and not as a Buddhist subject,” the Dalai Lama added.
On Indo-Sino relations, he said that it’s very important for the peace of the world as both countries roughly have a population of about 2.5 billion, which is a big part of the world’s total 7-billion-strong population. “Today, China, which is a communist country, has over 300 million Buddhists and the Buddhist population is increasing. Almost every week, some Chinese Buddhists come to see me. We have also arranged teaching classes for them,” he said.
“In fact, India is the land of Buddha as mentioned by Prime Minister Modi in the United Nations. To have good relations in economic terms is also very important. Something like Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai can revive. Both have big population and their culture is very close to Buddhist tradition and Sanskrit,” the Dalai Lama added.
When quizzed about how is he able to control his emotions and anger, he replied saying, “I realised, that the ultimate source of unhappiness is anger. My mother was very compassionate and I never saw her angry during my days as a child. I was brought up like that. I use my brain in a maximum way on how to bring in peace. Anger is the most powerful destroyer of inner peace and it happens only because of selfishness.”
