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Dalai Lama says India capable of bringing world peace

The Dalai Lama described India as the only country that has the capability to blend modern education with its ancient knowledge to prevent global conflicts.

Dalai Lama says India capable of bringing world peace

First convocation of Central University of Jammu (Photo: SNS)

Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader Dalai Lama on Sunday stressed that dialogue was imperative to settle disputes and avoid violence that has claimed lives of thousands of innocent people worldover.

The Dalai Lama was addressing the First Convocation of the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) here.  He said violence and conflict are pointless because they do not bring any good but only cause misery. “Peaceful solution to every problem is the right step. Mindless violence has increased
during the 21st century and there was need to overcome anger to avoid destruction,” he said.

The Dalai Lama described India as the only country that has the capability to blend modern education with its ancient knowledge to prevent global conflicts in the 21st century.

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India’s thousands of years of spiritual and secular values include respect not only for believers of different faiths but also for non-believers, he said.

He expressed fear that the race for military power by big countries and even smaller nations like North Korea could make the present century a century of disaster. “If this situation goes on, I fear the present century could be a century of disaster.”

He said scientists had proved that the basic human nature was more compassionate.  “Our own experience shows that constant anger and fear affect our immune system. It is the duty of our educational system to further that basic character of compassion so that the world has hope.”

“Here I have strong criticism against our so-called modern education system which is focused on material values. In the 8th century, a Tibetan emperor invited a scholar from Nalanda which was so highly developed in spiritual values. Nalanda was not a monastery but a complete university.”

He said that the modern education has failed to bring peace and was leading the world towards disaster. India can play a vital role in restoring peace in the world by combining the modern education with the rich treasure of its ancient knowledge that has the potential to control one’s emotions, he said.

Stressing importance for dialogue, he said harmony among different religions is very essential and India has shown the way by adopting a Constitution that preaches secularism and respect to all religions.

He said time has come to recast the education system as the existing system was introduced by the British about 200 years ago before which monasteries and nunneries were the only source of education in India.

The Dalai Lama warned that the race for acquiring atomic weapons would lead the world towards disaster and as such there was need to take lessons from the ancient knowledge. “India should not Westernise too much, but nurture its ancient knowledge.”

He asked the youth to imbibe through Indian scriptures the strength to control emotions and enhance determination and willpower that would help them succeed in the future. Compassion and peace of mind bring a sense of confidence that reduce stress and anxiety, he said.

India that still observes “ahimsa and karuna (non-violence and empathy)” can play a significant contribution for peace in the world. The CUJ awarded Honoris Causa Degree to Jitendra Singh, minister of state in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and retired Army chief, General NC Vij.

Speaking on the occasion, Jitendra Singh stressed the need to overhaul the education system that has been inherited from the British rulers of the pre-1947 era.

Gen. Vij said that the Indian Army was not only defending the country on the borders but also undertaking humanitarian jobs during natural calamities. Vice-Chancellor of the CUJ, Prof. Ashok Aima presented a detailed report about functioning of the university and how it was meeting the challenges.

Prof. Aima also listed the initiatives that the CUJ has taken to carve a niche for itself at the regional as well as at national level. He said a sum of more than Rs. 352 crore has been spent on infrastructural development.

Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, renowned educationist and adviser to J-K Chief Minister was also present on the occasion.

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