2012_06_02 Indian media delegation meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama

DHARAMSHALA Nearly 50 reporters of Indias major news agency, Press Trust of India, today received a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.Interacting with the reporters at Tsuglagkhang, the main t...

DHARAMSHALA Nearly 50 reporters of Indias major news agency, Press
Trust of India, today received a special audience with His Holiness
the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.Interacting with the reporters at
Tsuglagkhang, the main temple, His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained
his commitments to promote secular ethics and religious harmony in
this world.Even though the world has made tremendous development in
education, science and technology, there is still corruption,
exploitation, bullying, crime, which is a clear indication that the
world lacks moral principle, His Holiness said.He said India is a
living example of secular ethics as it is the only country in this
world where all the major world religious traditions live in
peaceful co-existence.India should pay more attention about the
promotion of secular ethics and moral principles, he said, adding,
these innate values and sense of concern for others well-being and
compassion should be further nurtured and developed. Through this we
can develop compassion, which is universal, irrespective of whether
one is believer or a non-believer, he said.The promotion of secular
ethics is my number one commitment, and where ever I go I always
described myself as a messenger of the ancient Indian traditions of
Ahinsa (non-violence) and respect for all people, he said.He further
said, the India media has the responsibility to educate people about
the countrys millennia-old ethical values as it faces serious
corruption.Recounting his meetings with Indian religious leaders and
former deputy prime minister L K Advani, His Holiness said the
religious leaders should take more active role in promoting ancient
Indian values. They should educate the younger generation about the
thousands of year old traditional values, and its relevance to the
todays world not only in India but through out the world, he
added.He said the media should make clear to the public the
wrongdoings by politicians, economists and religious leaders and
others, and also their positive deeds, in a truthful, honest and
objective manner.On being asked what good things he has learnt from
India which help him in teaching the entire world about
spirituality, His Holiness said he feels pride that his mind is
filled with ancient Indias Nalanda thoughts and his body is built
with Indian rice and dal.His Holiness, however, expressed
disappointment that India degenerates by not giving sufficient
efforts in studying the ancient Indian traditions and philosophies
taught by great Nalanda masters. Now time has come for the Indians,
especially Indian Buddhists, to pay more attention on the study
these teachings rather than just recite these as mantras, he
said.Replying to a query on his views about Anna Hazares crusade
against corruption in India, His Holiness said such movement is
useful in reminding people how much serious corruption is. Such
movement alone can eliminate corruption, I doubt. As a long-term
solution to the problem, he said we must introduce in the education
system to teach our posterity right from their childhood that
honesty and truthful are very very essential to lead a happy
life.Suffering disciple in need of teachers helpHis Holiness the
Dalai Lama said Tibetans are reliable chela (disciple) of Indian
guru (teacher) because we have kept alive the ancient Indias Nalanda
traditions through many millennium. So I may mention here, though it
is little bit politics, that logically when the reliable chela faces
some problem, the guruji should pay more attention to the fate of
the chela, he added.In reality, the Tibetan problem is also Indias
problem. So the India media should inform and educate the public,
especially youths, about the real situation in Tibet, its culture
and the unique Indo-Tibetan relationships, through articles and
discussions, he said.His Holiness recounted that the generation of
Indian leaders, such as Jayaprakash Narayan and Sardar Patel, show
real foresightedness and serious concern about Tibet. The next
generation could not catch up in their spirit, but recently, more
and more people from the younger generation are really showing
genuine concern about the issue of Tibet, he added.The Tibetan
culture, which is actually Indias culture, is facing so much
destruction in Tibet. So our guru, India, should show your concern.
So long the Tibetan culture remain alive, it will act as the first
defence line of India. Once that culture is gone, it poses an
additional problem. So far, even if Tibet is physical controlled by
the communist China, but mentally and spiritually, it is very close
to India, he said.