The high-fiving monk and his campaign for lasting peace

MCLEOD GANJ: I am ushered into the presence of His Holiness, the XIV Dalai Lama, at his residing and dealing quarters at the Dalai Lama Temple advanced. Outside in the courtyard, scores of Tibetans and others were assembling because the early hours for a public audience with their loved religious chief, who has lived in India, at Dharamsala, ever since he was pressured in 1959 to depart Tibet — of which he was each political and temporal head.

The second I am offered to him, he beams and bowing, says, "When I heard of your desire to interview me on the need to revive and share ancient Indian knowledge, I felt I should really appreciate the media taking interest. I am very much encouraged that an important newspaper such as yours is showing so much interest."

He issues out that regularly, the media offers handiest unfavourable data. "Therefore, the future looks bleak; so information and presentation should be more balanced, to make clear it is not all negative things. You must tell people that basic human nature is positive — so if we use our intelligence realistically, in an unbiased way, then, there is the possibility to create a better and happier world."

THE LAUGHING MONK

I point out to the jovial monk that every one of us in India have nearly grown up in the presence of the Dalai Lama. "You have also taught us the importance of humour," I say and he throws his head back and laughs. "Tell this to him, who is always soooo serious," he says, pointing to Samdhong Rinpoche, former vice chancellor of Central Tibetan University for Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, and former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. "I always tease him about this, remaining so serious, all the time," he says and bursts out guffawing. His mirth is so infectious, everybody in the room bursts into laughter. And then he moves his palm against my upturned palm resting on the arm of the chair - and this modified 'High Five' is repeated a minimum of a part dozen instances right through the interview. If I knew when to await the palm strike, I would possibly have raised my hand to meet his halfway, but I used to be too anxious.

So enthused was he through the interview's topic that he invited all those waiting to meet him to come and pay attention to the dialog because it was going to be "a very important one. Not only would it benefit everyone, it would also save time".

MIND-TRAINING TRADITION

The Dalai Lama issues out that for millennia, Indians have had a very wealthy custom concerning the mind, as a result of even prior to the Buddha, India had follow of vipassana and kshama, connecting and regulating human emotions. "So the Buddha, coming from such a tradition, created a further kind of development, with practice of samadhi and so on. I now realise this knowledge is extremely helpful to keep one's peace of mind," he says.

The Dalai Lama issues out that the Tibetans are genuine followers of historical Indian masters. And so the Tibetan spirit, in comparison to the Chinese spirit, is certainly stronger on account of wisdom and interior power. "We appreciate ancient Indian knowledge — it brings us the real meaning of life. It's because you brought ahimsa to our country, that Tibetans became more compassionate, non violent and peaceful... Before that, Tibetans were warriors who wielded the sword and were fighters. Therefore, if Indians had not brought ahimsa to Tibet, maybe we would have fought the Chinese!" Saying so, he laughs like a kid, (some other high 5) after which turns critical: "But we were following the Indian method — we never took advantage..."

CALL TO HINDUS

Now that he is an octogenarian, the Dalai Lama feels his time is restricted and so he wishes to promote as much as imaginable the commitments he's maximum passionate about: human values, non secular unity and coverage of Tibetan tradition and environment — and an important fourth commitment: to revive and share the dear historical Indian custom of information of which Nalanda was also an element. The Tibetan Buddhist custom comes from the Nalanda custom but does no longer forestall there, "I never say only Nalanda tradition; I say revival of ancient Indian tradition", he clarifies. He laments that Hindus aren't paying attention to study but are more into rituals. He says the information mendacity unused is a treasure trove to be shared and practised, not to be locked up in cabinets.

In his phrases...

We will have to all take a more active position in spreading secular ethics. I'm going to meet a few hundred vice chancellors... The reaction from Indian public is just right, educationists are appearing an pastime. When I see just right reaction, my enthusiasm grows. When I talk and the audience is alert, I believe inspired but when the audience is sleepy, then my enthusiasm gets decreased. (Laughs). To talk with enthusiasm is easy but it's difficult to put it into action — so I do not know the way lengthy this enthusiasm will maintain.

A few more issues... about the concept that of one world, about oneness. We are 7 billion-plus other folks, with such a lot of political demarcations. The governor of California instructed me that, from space, when you glance down, you can not see nationwide barriers, handiest continents, and nor are you able to see human beings. See? Everything is one; there are not any divisions.

In my lifetime we would possibly not do so oneness, but, even in India, you might have north, south, east and west with different languages and scripts but all are in combination in Union of India. Similarly, the European Union and the African Union. India will have issues like sharing of river waters and so forth but discussion can resolve those. Imagine, if shall we extend cooperation to say, the Union of Asia — with India, China and Japan coming in combination! It may sound not possible now but this could occur and the whole world will now not have to use guns after which, genuine peace will come about. I would possibly not see this in my lifetime but it's worthwhile to take into accounts...