Force of Peace Growing, Says His Holiness the Dalai Lama[Thursday, 5 November 2009, 20:30 JST]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Heiwa-no-ishiji, the Cornerstone of Peace in Okinawa War Memorial Park on 5 November 2009. The Nobel peace laureate urged the Japanese people to lead the movement for peace in the world.

Naha, Japan:
“We witnessed anti-war rallies from Australia to America before the
Iraq invasion. Popular peaceful movements brought down the Berlin wall.
Indeed, in the 21st century, the force of peace is growing,” His
Holiness the Dalai Lama said, Thursday.His Holiness the Dalai
Lama was speaking next to rows of walls inscribed with names of those
killed in the Battle of Okinawa at Heiwa-no-ishiji, the Cornerstone of
Peace in Okinawa War Memorial Park.Asserting that ‘violence is
always unpredictable and brings only sufferings, not solutions’, His
Holiness urged Japan to lead the movement for non-violence and
reconciliation in the world.“This nation has experienced a lot
of man-made sufferings and disastrous wars. Learning from your past
experiences, you should lead the peace movement further,” said His
Holiness.His Holiness then visited the Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall and offered prayers.“Meeting with the public is my top most priority”Over
5,000 people gave a standing ovation to His Holiness as he entered the
Okinawa Kenritsu Budokan stadium, this afternoon to give a public talk
on ‘Peace and a Compassionate Mind’.His Holiness the Dalai Lama
thanked the organisers for providing the ‘opportunity to share mutual
experiences’ and said that meeting with the public remains his top most
priority.

“Compassion is not pitiness”. His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving a public talk on ‘Peace and a Compassionate Mind’ at the Okinawa Kenritsu Budokan stadium on 5 November 2009. The Tibetan leader is on the last leg of his Japan visit.

Stating
that peace is ‘not the mere absence of violence but the human ability
to restrain from violence’, His Holiness encouraged the audience to
develop respect for each other’s viewpoint by cultivating
compassion.    “Compassion is not pitiness. Compassion is a
genuine sense of concern and respect that can be cultivated by
realising that everyone has the right to overcome suffering,” said His
Holiness.Relating to his personal story, His Holiness the Dalai
Lama said, “At 16, I lost my freedom. At 24, I lost my country. During
the past 50 years I have heard a lot of heart-breaking news from my own
land. Still, comparatively, my mind is quite peaceful because of the
seed of compassion from my mother and Buddhist training and the
experiences of meeting a lot of people”.Responding to a
question from the audience, His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised Tibet
supporters to study and follow the situation of Tibet.“Get more
information on the current situation in Tibet and study the culture and
ecology of Tibet.  The best thing is to go there, [Tibet]spend time and
try to get free access to study the real situation.”Chairman of
the organising committee, Mikio Higa, thanked His Holiness the Dalai
Lama for accepting the invitation and hoped that the ‘waves of peace’
that His Holiness brought will continue to bless Okinawa forever.