Education needs to focus on compassion: Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama says modern education is falling short on its responsibility to teach compassion.
The 81-year-old Buddhist monk spoke Friday to a crowd of about 25,000 at the University of California, San Diego, one day before he is scheduled to give a commencement speech to graduates.
Some Chinese student organisations objected to his visit. Chinese nationals make up roughly 12% of the student body.
UC San Diego chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla says he invited the Dalai Lama to speak because it was important graduates hear his message.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner says educational institutions should focus more on teaching the value of compassion, tolerance and forgiveness.
China considers the spiritual leader a separatist seeking Tibetan independence. The Dalai Lama says he seeks protection of Tibetan culture.
“Genuine compassion and loving kindness can extend toward your enemy,” he said.
“Their attitude or view is negative, but still they are human brothers and sisters. They deserve our love, kindness. Their negative attitude is due to negative emotion, and emotion is changing. By showing them love and kindness, certainly there’s a possibility of change,” he added.
“I think in the 20th century, whenever people find some sort of obstacle, their first reaction is how to solve this by force. That is totally mistake, wrong.”