His Holiness Makes Clarion Call to Promote Human Values and Religious Harmony [Saturday, 19 June 2010, 7:52 p.m.]
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama (2nd R) briefing the media in Tokyo, Japan, on 19 June 2010 |
Tokyo: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama today reiterated his firm conviction in the
“promotion of human values and religious harmony among the world’s
different believers”.
Speaking
to the foreign and Japanese media this morning at Foreign Correspondent
Club in Tokyo, His Holiness said, “many of you have already heard me
speak on these principles, but there are also many new people with whom
I like to share my feelings.”
to the foreign and Japanese media this morning at Foreign Correspondent
Club in Tokyo, His Holiness said, “many of you have already heard me
speak on these principles, but there are also many new people with whom
I like to share my feelings.”
His Holiness said that we
are all same human beings, we all want happiness and avoid suffering.
“Whatever the position or the identity, whether he is a king or a
president, a business man or a beggar, we all have same mental
disposition. Happiness that we derive from money and material goods are
of temporary nature, we should seek for a lasting happiness which comes
from our inner value. This ultimate source of happiness based on
satisfaction and inner value is the basis for a happy life. This
promotion of inner value is of utmost importance in order to be happy,”
he said. “Secondly, although I am not a perfect Buddhist
monk, I try my best to be a good practitioner. All religions including
Buddhism preaches love, compassion and forgiveness. They all have the
same potential to bring inner peace and create a good human society. If
we look only for differences, you will find contradictory philosophy
among the Buddhist schools also. So, religious harmony and Ahimsa is
very important at societal level. India is a model country in this
regard,” His Holiness said. His Holiness said that he
consider media people as very important because they play very
important role in educating the society and in safeguarding freedom and
justice. He joked that the reporters should have long noses to smell
fishy matters and bring out the truth and justice. Responding
to a question on his opinion about a Chinese official’s recent comment
in Japan that China never invaded Tibet, His Holiness replied that the
Chinese, Tibetan and independent international lawyers give their own
versions of the issue. So, it is now up to the media to investigate and
see which one is true and accordingly educate the people, he added.
When asked how he feels about Japanese prime minister not meeting him
as many other world leaders had openly met him, His Holiness clarified
that he is not disappointed as his visits are mostly apolitical except
to Washington and Brussels. He further clarified that since his message
is the promotion of human value and harmony, he considers the general
public as more important than political leaders. Speaking on
the anti-whaling issue in Japan, His Holiness said the group is trying
to protect living beings and environment, but the method should be
non-violent and peaceful.
are all same human beings, we all want happiness and avoid suffering.
“Whatever the position or the identity, whether he is a king or a
president, a business man or a beggar, we all have same mental
disposition. Happiness that we derive from money and material goods are
of temporary nature, we should seek for a lasting happiness which comes
from our inner value. This ultimate source of happiness based on
satisfaction and inner value is the basis for a happy life. This
promotion of inner value is of utmost importance in order to be happy,”
he said. “Secondly, although I am not a perfect Buddhist
monk, I try my best to be a good practitioner. All religions including
Buddhism preaches love, compassion and forgiveness. They all have the
same potential to bring inner peace and create a good human society. If
we look only for differences, you will find contradictory philosophy
among the Buddhist schools also. So, religious harmony and Ahimsa is
very important at societal level. India is a model country in this
regard,” His Holiness said. His Holiness said that he
consider media people as very important because they play very
important role in educating the society and in safeguarding freedom and
justice. He joked that the reporters should have long noses to smell
fishy matters and bring out the truth and justice. Responding
to a question on his opinion about a Chinese official’s recent comment
in Japan that China never invaded Tibet, His Holiness replied that the
Chinese, Tibetan and independent international lawyers give their own
versions of the issue. So, it is now up to the media to investigate and
see which one is true and accordingly educate the people, he added.
When asked how he feels about Japanese prime minister not meeting him
as many other world leaders had openly met him, His Holiness clarified
that he is not disappointed as his visits are mostly apolitical except
to Washington and Brussels. He further clarified that since his message
is the promotion of human value and harmony, he considers the general
public as more important than political leaders. Speaking on
the anti-whaling issue in Japan, His Holiness said the group is trying
to protect living beings and environment, but the method should be
non-violent and peaceful.
Answering to a question about the
growing suicide rates in Japan, His Holiness advised the young Japanese
to come out of Japan and explore the world. The members of Japan
Foreign Correspondent Club and media representatives gave a standing
ovation to His Holiness at the end of the press briefing. – Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan.
growing suicide rates in Japan, His Holiness advised the young Japanese
to come out of Japan and explore the world. The members of Japan
Foreign Correspondent Club and media representatives gave a standing
ovation to His Holiness at the end of the press briefing. – Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan.
