Melbourne: On 27 September 2025, as part of the “Ghoton Year of Compassion”, the Tibetan Community of Australia (Victoria) Inc., in collaboration with the Quang Minh  Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, hosted a special live interaction with Ven. Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, on the contemporary issues of Youth, mental health, artificial intelligence, and social media.

The programme was held in a hybrid format, enabling participation both online and in person at the Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook, Melbourne. It was graced by the presence of Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Abbot of Quang Minh Temple, along with members of the Executive Committee of the Tibetan Community of Victoria.

In his address, Ven. Geshe Lhakdor emphasised the irreplaceable value of human intelligence—our unique capacity for language, reasoning, and compassion—which, unlike artificial intelligence, enables us to create a meaningful and fulfilling life. He cautioned against excessive reliance on materialistic development and technology, drawing attention to their environmental and social consequences. Instead, he urged participants to exercise human intelligence responsibly, to protect the planet and to cultivate genuine happiness through living in harmony with the laws of nature.

Geshe Lhakdor further highlighted the risks associated with excessive dependence on social media and artificial intelligence, noting how such reliance can hinder language development, weaken attention spans, and compromise mental well-being. He reminded the audience that nurturing wisdom and mindfulness is essential to building resilience in the face of these modern challenges.

The talk concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, where Geshe Lhakdor responded to a range of inquiries on topics such as the practice of concentration (samadhi), global conflicts and the importance of harmony, mental health and dementia, as well as the role of secular education in today’s world.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra