American School Children Thank His Holiness For Peace
New York, 8 October: Speaking to reporters in Mexico City Tuesday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he is optimistic about the future of our world, reasoning that if one looks at the past history, it is easy to see the positive development of the present age.
When Mexico’s Education Minister sought His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice for an education policy in Mexico, His Holiness suggested introducing education on peace and dialogue right from the Kindergarten.
Ancient India stands out as a unique example of religious tolerance, digesting all kinds of thoughts and religious faiths as if they were necessary nutrients for the growth of the society. The secret of this lay in the eclectic pedagogy of Gurukuls, traditional academic institutes run by the gurus and sages.
We now see some American schools adopting the concept of peace and tolerance as part of their curricula. We reproduce here excerpts from two heart-warming letters to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, written by high school students of New York:
September 24, 2004
Your Holiness, the Dalai Lama,
Last year, I had the honor of listening to you speak in Central Park. Even before the event began, it was apparent that the people surrounding me on that long line around the perimeter of the park, all different ages and different walks of life, were there in the spirit of peace and love. I was extremely struck by your words, especially when you referred to someone asking you what you could do to help after terrorism struck our nation.
You responded that your first reaction was, “How could I, one little Tibetan monk, make any difference?” That was such an honest, human statement, and when paired with it being said in frnt of thousands of people who travelled so far to hear your words, it meant so much. If we all do our best to be good, peaceful, loving people, then as a whole, we can make an enormous difference.
I was not the only one who felt the power of your words. Surrounded by your many listeners from all walks of life, whether businessmen, infants, foreigners in traditional dress or high school students like myself, no matter who we were, we were connected under your words of peace and understanding. Your teaching on life, love and world unity are a constant inspiration for me and countless others.
Andrew Lenoir
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Your Holiness, the Dalai Lama,
I am a ninth grade student, attending Friends Academy, ad a Quaker school in suburban New York… I thank you for all you have done. I think it is wonderful that there can be leaders who believe that everyone is equal, and that problems can be solved without violence. Today, more than ever, we need more people like you, who do not do what they do for personal gain or political reasons, but because they know it is the right thing to do.
I think that your beliefs and teachings are something that this world needs. I especially find Buddhism to be appealing to me. It is a religion about your own pursuit to happiness. Buddhists do not have intolerance against other religions, certain races, not do they persecute them.
My school has already taught taught me about peaceful resolution… It does not matter which religion you are, which God you believe in or if you even believe in God at all.
…I have read that you believe the war is unnecessary and that you have called war “out of date” and “obsolete”. I agree. Sticks and stones is no way to truly solve a problem. War has no agreements, whoever sins gets what they want, while the other side holds resentment, which probably would lead to another insurgence.
…I also thank you for examples you have set, especially in dealing with freeing Tibet.
You are not going in there to wage war, or form secret resistance organizations that believe violence is needed in order to have freedom. You have made plans and used words, not weapons in order to try and and solve the problem you are faced with. I thank you for the Five Point Peace Plan and all your work to help your country keep its identity and its wonderful heritage.
Thank you very much for keeping and creating peace. By doing so, you saved lives.
…When people think of peacekeepers, immediately nam,es such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mandela and yours come to mind.
…I chose you because i agree with your teaching and your religion., and I believe you have truly made a difference in the world and the way people think, and that you will continue to do so.
Alexandra Landau
Friends Academy, Locust Valley, New York
Report Courtesy
OoT, New York