Trust is a crucial element in building strong communities, says His HolinessMonday, 7 December 2009, 11:02 a.m.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speaks at the Vector Arena on December 5, 2009 in Auckland,New Zealand. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is visiting New Zealand conducting Publicteachings to New Zealanders. (December 4, 2009 – Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Dharamshala:
Trust is a crucial element in building strong communities, His Holiness
the Dalai Lama told a large audience at Auckland’s Vector Arena on 5
December, The Epoch Times reported.His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk was part of an 11-day visit of Australia and New Zealand.His
Holiness was welcomed by the traditional welcome organised by local
Maori groups and hongi, the rubbing of noses, also a Maori customary
greeting.His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to the audience on the universal need for trust.”…
that inner peace, peace of mind is something very crucial for the
family and for the community and for individuals also,” His Holiness
said.This was not just part of his own beliefs, he said,
medical practitioners have also observed that trust between a patient
and the doctor can lead to a patient’s rapid recovery.“So then trust can come on the basis of love, compassion and affection …”It is an important element to achieving healthy families, long lasting marriages and healthy communities.

Monks stand for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to arrive at the Vector Arena on December 5, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is visiting New Zealand conducting Public teachings to New Zealanders. (December 4, 2009 – Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)

His
Holiness the Dalai Lama explained that compassion is not found through
religion but is biological in nature. It comes through understanding
human values through awareness.His Holiness also talked about
the need for preserving cultural identities and traditions. Religions
have different philosophies but the messages they teach are the same,
he told the audience. “Traditions have the same potential … these
inner values.”“My main interest is promotion of human values,”
His Holiness said. More important is the individual effort on the part
of everyone to promote values and restore religious harmony.Green
Party Member of Parliament, Sue Kedgley who was in the audience,
described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as “an extraordinary, powerful,
joyful, inspiring figure.”Commenting on instructions given to
National Party ministers not to meet with the Tibetan leader, Miss
Kedgley said that the decision on whether or not to meet with the Dalai
Lama was “a test of the principles and the courage of a political
leader.”The New Zealand Government’s principles and integrity
had been put aside for fear of getting “offside” with China and putting
in jeopardy pragmatic issues such as trade.Miss Kedgley was
concerned that New Zealand’s special relationship with China had led to
a loss of it’s once strong and independent voice on world affairs. She
believed that New Zealand had lost it’s ability to speak on behalf of
the world’s oppressed people.“So basically we are really
turning a blind eye to the suffering of millions of people … because
we’re too frightened to get offside with China and that is a huge
concern. Particularly thinking of the Tibetan situation, how are we
ever going to get enough pressure on the Chinese to get them to agree
to a negotiated solution,” she said.(Source: The Epoch Times)