Compassion is foundation for human existence, His Holiness tells 1300 people in Japan
Thursday, 2 November 2006, 2:00 p.m.
From left: Prof. Kasuo Murakami, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Betty Williams. 1 Nov 2006 (Photos: Lobsang Wangyal) |
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the Ryuzoin Drepung Gomang Temple in Hiroshima yesterday morning before participating in the peace summit.
In his address to a gathering of about 80 people, mostly sponsors and devotees of the temple, His Holiness the Dalai Lama emphasised the importance of understanding Buddhist teachings in-depth. His Holiness said faith and devotion are meaningless without understanding of the teachings.
His Holiness said he hoped that Ryuzoin would do well under the spiritual guidance of Khensur Tenpa Gyaltsen, the head lama of the Ryuzoin Temple and former abbot of Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India.
The three nobel laureates at the peace summit, 1 Nov 2006 |
The Temple is a branch of Drepung Gomang monastery in South India and is supported by Manjushri Mahayana Buddhist Association, a religious organisation that works to introduce Tibetan Buddhism among Japanese people and promote exchange of ideas between Tibetan and Japanese Mahayana Buddhism.
Founded in July 2004, the Ryuzoin is the hub for learning Tibetan Buddhism in Japan’s Buddhist world.
In the afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the International Hiroshima Peace Summit where he delivered the keynote address on universal responsibility. His Holiness the Dalai Lama said compassion and peace are the very foundation of human existence.
One should not think of individual only. Rather one has to think in broader terms and for the whole mankind. Human being is a kind of social animal and we all are dependent on one another. The fact that the world today is governed by interdependence and the concept of interdependence leaves a little space for the concept of national boundaries. We should consider all human beings from one family, that is the human family. Therefore it is necessary to develop a sense of universal responsibility to love and respect all beings, His Holiness said to about 1300 people at the summit.
The summit is organised by the Junior Chamber International, a youth organisation in Japan.
Fellow Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ms. Betty Williams also spoke at the summit.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu expressed his admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama for not getting carried away by emotions of anger and hatred even after being in exile for over five decades suffering the pain of loss and separation from his motherland. He appreciated His Holiness’ efforts for world peace under such a situation.
Later in the evening, Archbishop Tutu and Ms. Betty Williams led an interfaith prayer ceremony at Hiroshima World Peace Cathedral where a group of Tibetan monks also offered prayers for world peace.
Prof. Kasuo Murakami, a life scientist from Tsukuba University, moderated the summit discussion, participated by the three Nobel peace laureates.