DHARAMSHALA: Expressing sadness on seeing the plight of street children in Delhi, Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama said people need to make special efforts to provide them with food, health and educational facilities.
Speaking at TN Khoshoo Memorial Award and Lecture in New Delhi last Saturday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: “Yesterday, I noticed two girls on crutches begging on the street, their forlorn face reflecting their desolation. The traffic flows past such people, and it seems no one pays any attention. It’s very sad. We really should make efforts to support such people. For example, here in the city I have seen the extravagance with which weddings are celebrated these days. Instead of such lavish displays of wealth, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to provide a meal for the poor?”
“Not long ago a wealthy Mumbai family came to seek my advice and I recommended they use their money to help the poor by providing them with food, health and educational facilities. Similarly, at a meeting of Nobel laureates in Hiroshima I suggested that peace in the world will come about as a result of action rather than prayer,” he said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama later visited the Care Home for Street Children in Mehrauli. He was met on arrival by writer and social activist, Harsh Mander accompanied by his elderly father, who His Holiness has known since 1959. When he arrived in India from Tibet, Harmander Singh was Political Officer in Bomdila, then part of NEFA, and offered His Holiness hospitality during his first days in exile. Together they made a short tour of the home and its simple facilities, meeting the children in its care and staff on the way.
Harsh Mander said: ““This home’s prayer is that no child should have no home or protection. Who are the children in the Home’s care? Most of them have known immense suffering on the street because of their family’s troubles. They have learned from other children like them how to survive. The idea is to create for them a home that can provide them with protection, love, education and dignity.”
In his address, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: “I’m extremely happy to be here to meet you in this home you have found, where you get food, shelter and education. I was telling some other people earlier today that yesterday I was moved by beggars I saw on the street. Their faces looked poor and weak, their eyes hollow; completely demoralised. So, this home you’ve been provided is very encouraging. Yesterday I saw sadness, today I’ve seen hope.
“It’s struck me before that there is a candour and straightforwardness about poor people I don’t see elsewhere. In a soup kitchen in Los Angeles I’ve participated in, I noticed more joy among those eating than I often see at the formal dinners of the better-off. Perhaps it’s because hardship keeps us in touch with reality.”
He spoke of the need to encourage a sense of the 7 billion human beings being part of one human family.
“If that’s what we stress there’ll be no basis for war, bullying or cheating each other. If we see others as part of ‘us’, there’ll be no room to neglect them.
“Children, don’t feel homeless or helpless. You must study seriously and eventually go on to higher education. Remember, you’re not alone. You can study and work, build up your lives. Develop self-confidence. Feeling demoralised is a source of failure. You must not lose hope. In late March and early April 1959, when I and many Tibetans reached India, we kept up our self-confidence and determination; you must do the same.”
When he turned to the Home’s organisers to appeal to them to extend their work to other cities, he was told that there are already 45 other homes working in six states. His Holiness mentioned that when he visited Barefoot College in Rajasthan he had been happy to make a contribution to its work. He explained that the Dalai Lama Trust had been set up to manage funds that are offered to him as Dalai Lama and royalties he earns from his books. Saying he was happy to make a donation, he presented a cheque for ten lakh rupees, adding that if there were projects that needed support he hoped they would turn to him in future.
“So long as I have money, I’m happy to help; when there is no more money, I’ll have to say no!”
He told the story of a monk in Dharamsala who had come from Tibet. He noticed that labourers come from other parts of the country in search of work and that their children had no opportunities to receive education. Instead they would pick over garbage. He has set up an organisation called Tong Len to provide these children with schooling and educational support, which is an expression of his determination and confidence.
“If you give up, you make no progress. If you work hard, keep up your confidence and determination, you’ll be successful in whatever you do. If others show you affection now, when you grow up and help others, without exploiting, deceiving or bullying them, you’ll find yourself surrounded by friends. Please keep this in mind. I’m with you, please believe me.”
In her concluding words of thanks, one of the members of staff made a promise to take His Holiness’s good wishes and encouragement forward by continuing to help these children. Posing for photographs and shaking hands with children, parents and well-wishers, His Holiness made his way to his car.
He will be taking complete rest from now until 21st December.
