London: Dalai Lama speaks on unity

On Sunday, 17th September His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama gave the final speech of his latest UK tour. Speaking to a full house at the London Coliseum, His Holiness emphasised our shared humanity and the shared goal of different religions.

His Holiness explained that human beings are mentally, physically and emotionally the same. We are social animals, born from affection and are basically compassionate. There is too much emphasis, His Holiness stated, on "secondary level differences," - ie, differences of colour, state, race, country, and divisions of rich and poor.

We need to consider our basic similarities: "We all want a happy life. If someone hurts me then I feel uncomfortable, and if I hurt someone they feel uncomfortable. So if possible, serve and help them. At least, do not hurt them."

In today's world to destroy your neighbour is to destroy yourself, His Holiness warned. The global economy depends on interdependence, east depends on west and vice versa: "We must make an effort to promote the oneness of seven million human beings."

His Holiness emphasised the importance of dialogue, explaining that throughout the 20th century the method used to solve problems was war. His Holiness called for the 21st century to be a century of peace.

"As long as we're on the planet we'll have differences," His Holiness explained. "So how to have a peaceful planet? By not using violence or force, but dialogue. For this to be a peaceful century we have to make it a century of dialogue."

His Holiness spoke of religions as different philosophies, stating that the end goal of different religions is the same: to practise love and compassion. Therefore there ought to be respect and admiration for all traditions: "Religious harmony must come one day."

His Holiness called for an education system that teaches "moral issues," on the basis that "If moral ethics are included in education then religious harmony will come."

Declaring himself a messenger of Indian tradition, His Holiness praised the Indian doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence) as a tradition of more than two thousand years' duration. Asked how to implement ahimsa in everyday life, His Holiness explained that it is a combination of warm-heartedness and intelligence that starts with the individual, sharing with their family, their neighbours and then society.

Speaking of the wider world, His Holiness spoke of society as having been formerly based around leadership in terms of physical strength, hence its male dominance. Laughing that some call him a "feminist Dalai Lama," His Holiness said that in the 21st century we need a special effort for the promotion of love and compassion, indicating that women should take more active roles in societal leadership.

His Holiness also spoke of the importance of preserving Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan culture and the Tibetan environment, citing a Chinese ecologist who considers the effect of global warning to have made the Tibetan Plateau a "Third Pole" after the North and South Poles. His Holiness asked visitors to Tibet to consider the ecological impact of their visits.

In closing, His Holiness declared joyfulness to be the purpose of life.

The event at London's Coliseum was organised by Tibet House.