His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visited Lady Shri Ram College of Women in New Delhi on 20 March. Talking about morality, ethics and the idea of a healthy inner-self, he spoke on “Success, Ethics and Happiness”.
Initially scheduled to start at 12: 30, the spiritual leader arrived for the inauguration of the new academic complex at around 2 p.m. With the sound of the gong marking his arrival, he first inaugurated the Aung San Suu Kyi Centre for Peace and then the Dr. Bharat Ram Academic Complex. This was followed by the lecture in the auditorium.
Speaking about the present education system, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “Existing education is not enough. There is need to promote love and compassion. The modern education system is geared towards material wealth.” Complimenting India and its secular fabric while being critical of the level of corruption, he said: “I am a messenger of ancient Indian thought and tradition of non-violence and compassion. India is a living example of religious harmony and secular ethics. The Indian Constitution is based on secularism. However, corruption in a religious country like India is a big contradiction.”
Coming to ethics, he spoke of ethics being a necessity for a peaceful and happier world. He says, “Success requires ethics. Ethical life means honesty. Honesty brings trust. Trust brings friendship. Friendship brings unity. Unity leads to a more peaceful world”.
His ideas were followed by a series of questions that members of the audience wanted to bring about in the discussion. Students and faculty raised questions about the definition of success as well as questioned ideas of whether happiness could exist without spiritual belief. The spiritual leader says that even non-believers can be happy as long as there is awareness. On defining success, he stated that when at the end you are at peace and happy, that is success.
The event closed with a Tibetan song and the vote of thanks by the Students Union President of the college, Tanvi Bist. This was followed by Yashaswini Basu, the Cultural Secretary of the college presenting His Holiness a long life prayer with the signature of students.
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