His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Atlanta – Day 2[Monday, 18 October 2010, 8:58 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama takes part in an interfaith conference at Emory University during the second day of his four day visit to Atlanta, Georgia, on October 17th, 2010.

Atlanta: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama began his first of a three-day program at Emory
University this morning by addressing a press meet together with
University President James Wagner.President Wagner first
detailed Emory University’s relationship with the Tibetan people and
gave an update on the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. He presented His
Holiness with new science textbooks translated into Tibetan as an
initial outcome of a three-year-old partnership.His Holiness in
his initial remarks gave a background to this interaction with Emory
University saying for the past 30 years or so he had been in dialogue
with scientists in the four fields: cosmology, neurobiology, quantum
physics, and psychology.  He said he had chosen these four fields
because they were also subjects that are found in Buddhist scriptures. 
He said this dialogue process has been very useful. Buddhists have
benefited in getting an understanding of external matters from
scientific findings. Scientists on their part have started showing
interest in the mind, where Buddhism had something to say.His
Holiness said as part of this dialogue the Emory-Tibet Science
Initiative has been very helpful in introducing modern science to
Tibetan monks and nuns. His Holiness said this is an historic project
that has introduced a new subject of study to Buddhists.His
Holiness referred to the four text books in science that have been
translated into Tibetan as a concrete outcome of this initiative and
said that the introduction of modern science in the curriculum of
Tibetan monastic education was already under consideration. To
a question on whether capitalism can transform China to a democracy,
His Holiness said he did not think it could do that.  His Holiness,
however, said that the world trend was towards more freedom and
democracy. His Holiness talked about the necessity of individual
creativity (without which the society would be stagnant), which was
only possible when the citizens have individual freedom. China has to
go along this world trend, he said. His Holiness said China is
a great nation and is becoming an important economic power and had the
responsibility to play a constructive role in the world. Trust and
respect is very much essential to do this and the same can only be
there when there is transparency. His Holiness felt that the current
attitude of considering everything a state secret was a problem in
China being able to contribute positive towards a better world. He said
the 1.3 billion Chinese people have every right to know reality and the
ability to see what is right and what is wrong. Thus, His Holiness said
censorship is immoral. An open society is very essential, he said.His
Holiness referred to some positive trends in China, including the
recent statements by Premier Wen Jiabao for political liberalization.In
response to a question on his views on the future of the Emory-Tibet
Science Initiative, His Holiness said that he believed that projects
like the one in Emory and the two other universities of Wisconsin in
Madison and Stanford are seeds that have the potential to grow. He said
new forms of academic knowledge will come out of the collaboration.His
Holiness then went to the Woodruff Physical Education Center of the
University, the venue of his talk on “The Nature and Practice of
Compassion,” where around 4000 people gave him a warm welcome. His
Holiness first greeted Ganden Tripa Kyabje Rizong Rinpoche and Choje
Khamba Lama from Mongolia who were present on the stage.Emory
University President Wagner gave a brief introduction. He said it was
auspicious that we were having this program today, which is the third
anniversary of the award of the Congressional Gold Medal to His
Holiness. Talking about the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, President
Wagner recognized Prof. Robert Paul and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi as
the intellectual and spiritual wellspring of the project. In
his talk, His Holiness explained the nature of compassion and the
practices for cultivating it as understood in the Tibetan Buddhist
tradition. He explained the essential role of compassion in the
flourishing of human life and how this needs to be incorporated in
daily life.His Holiness began by looking at the historical
development.  In ancient times faith began after people needed a way
out of difficulties they confronted.  At that people could only pray
and hope. Thereafter, there was scientific and technological
development that showed concrete results. People thus began to place
their trust in science. The 20th century saw much scientific and
technological development (seeing achievement in nuclear physics) but
also was a most violent century, he said. Scientific achievement thus
led to destruction. His Holiness said this also showed the limitation
of material development.His Holiness said the problem was not
with the development in science and technology but lay with the users. 
His Holiness therefore said human intelligence needed to be guided in a
constructive manner to develop a sense of responsibility for the
wellbeing of others. He said in the ancient times when people
led a simple lifestyle and they had less desire, a balance in life was
maintained through reliance on religious faith. In modern times,
population increase, a competitive society and more desire are leading
to problems for which intelligence is help but not a direct counter
force.  Loving kindness was the counterforce, His Holiness said, adding
that the seed of compassion was already in the people.  He talked about
the two types of compassion; one that is biased and limited and the
other unbiased. He said the training of the mind enables the unbiased
compassion to grow.His Holiness said the practice of this type
of compassion can mainly be through education in secular ethics. He
said that secular ethics needs to be practiced based on three
reasoning. He said first is Common Experience. He said when a child is
born the mother provides the maximum affection to it.  He said children
who receive affection when they were young grow up having a calm mind
whereas those who did not receive affection may see abuse and a sense
of insecurity. His Holiness said the second reason for
promoting secular ethics is Common Sense. He said in towns and
villages, homes where there is affection are happier. Similarly, he
said scientists have found that even among monkeys young ones who
receive mother’s care are much happier than those that did not receive
such affection.His Holiness said the third reason for the need
to promote secular ethics is scientific evidence about its positive
impact.  He said scientific research has shown that constant fear and
hatred are eating away our immune system while individuals who are calm
and compassionate sometimes even show an increase in their positive
body elements.Even though a question and answer session was not
scheduled, His Holiness invited members of the audience to pose some
questions. The questions include how to practice compassion to whether
there was any hope of healing for those who may not have seen affection
when they were young. A Ladakhi asked guidance on how to deal with his
situation as a researcher who has to kill many mice in the course of
his work. His Holiness responded that asking for the stopping of such
research was impractical. He said where killing was on the only
alternative people need to do that with care and a sense of feeling. He
said sometimes animals are merely being treated as objects in the
course of research. He suggested that the researcher, since he is a
Buddhist, could recite the Mani while undertaking his work citing the
recitation of prayers that Tibetan nomads would do when they needed to
depend on animals for their food. The talk was co-presented by the
Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc.Following the talk, His
Holiness met with participants of the Annual meeting of University
Chaplains and members of the Religion, Conflict and Peace-Building
Initiative.  He discussed with them briefly about his two commitments
to promote human values and religious harmony. He suggested that
religious leaders take more active role in these.In the
afternoon, His Holiness went back to the Woodruff PE Center to
participate in a Summit on Happiness with The Most Reverend Dr.
Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
Church; Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Hebrew
Congregations of the Commonwealth (from the United Kingdom); and George
Washington University Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a world-renowned
scholar on Islam. Journalist and radio host Krista Tippett, producer of
the award-winning public radio program “Being” (formerly titled
“Speaking of Faith”), served as the moderator.President Wagner
made brief introductory remarks. Thereafter Prof. John Witte Jr.,
director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion Center at
Emory University, made some remarks calling His Holiness the Dalai Lama
as possibly the world’s happiest Nobel laureates.His Holiness
was then invited to make some initial remarks. He talked about
happiness being in two levels, at the physical experience level and at
the mental experience level.  He said the nature of happiness has
changed with the change in human intelligence.Thereafter, each
of the other panelists gave their views. They then discussed the
concept of happiness from the perspective of their respective religious
traditions. In the course of the discussion they felt that the
different religious traditions may use different terminology but had
the common view on how happiness needed to incorporate not just
external material happiness but also internal mental peace.This summit was co-presented by Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion.On
October 18, 2010, His Holiness will participate in an all-day
conference with scientists and educators titled, “Compassion
Meditation: Mapping Current Research and Charting Future Directions.”