Reportage – 2007

Dalai Lama's formula for world peace

SYDNEY, Australia, 16 June 2007 — The past century was a century of bloodshed. We must learn from past mistakes and make the 21st century a century of dialogue for a world free of violence and bloodshed, says the Dalai Lama.

Over 20,000 Sydneysiders attended a public talk given by him at the city's Domain ground, where he said, "War is a out dated method. It only hurts human beings, animals, environment and the economy."

Nuclear war heads must completely go away, military budgets reduced and new approaches such as the Franco-German alliance should be encouraged to demilitarise.

"External disarmament by internal disarmament through education," he says.

"We must have a blueprint now for the next century."

The budget spend on defence should be directed for education and health purposes.

The concept of 'we and they' is no longer practical. A problem somewhere else in the world has repercussions everywhere.

Global warming and environmental issues, inter-religious harmony, terrorism, drugs abuse are other global and social issues that he pointed out.

Developing a sense of care and concern for others can bring true happiness and peace for self and the society. "Compassion not by words but through actions."

A sense of compassion for others is not a religious practice. Whether a believer in a faith or not, this sense for others is the key for happiness for self and the society.

A peaceful world doesn't mean a world free of differences. "There will be differences in views and ideologies as long as human civilisation exists," he said.

The Dalai Lama shared with the audience some personal matters as well. He said he might live up to 103 years. His late physician Dr Tenzin Choedak once reading his pulse told him that he might live upto that age.

The Dalai Lama also had dreams that he would live upto 113 years.

Green party leader Bob Brown, a long time supporter of the Tibetan cause, accompanied the Dalai Lama on stage. Among the questions the audience put for the Dalai Lama, Brown's questions was specifically about how could the Australian help the Tibetan situation.

With a wit the Dalai Lama said that if the Chinese government complained about speaking politics, Brown had to be responsible.

He said that it would be good to visit Tibet to know the reality and educate the Chinese people about the Tibetan situation whenever possible.

The last question was, what have you planned for the next two years?

"I will carry on."