by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; UPLIFT
Fostering a Sense of Oneness
I suspect many individuals are equally troubled by the current worldwide ethical decline and will support my request to all those who champion humanitarian causes and engage in spiritual practice—who likewise feel this concern—to work toward building societies that are kinder, fairer, and more balanced. I do not present myself as a Buddhist or even as a Tibetan.
Nor do I claim expertise in international politics (though I inevitably touch on these subjects). Instead, I speak purely as a human being, as someone who upholds the humanitarian principles that form the foundation not only of Mahayana Buddhism but of every major global faith. From that standpoint, I offer you my personal view:
- A universal humanitarian outlook is indispensable for addressing worldwide issues; 2. Compassion serves as the cornerstone of global peace; 3. All major religions already contribute to world peace in this manner, as do humanitarians of any belief system; 4. Every person bears a global duty to shape institutions so they meet human needs.
Resolving Human Challenges by Changing Human Perspectives
Among the numerous difficulties we currently encounter, some are natural disasters that must be accepted and faced calmly. Others, however, stem from our own actions, born of misunderstanding, and can be remedied. One such category emerges from clashes between ideologies—political or religious—when people battle over trivial objectives, forgetting the shared humanity that connects us all as one family.
We must recall that the world’s various religions, ideologies, and political structures exist to help human beings find happiness. This fundamental aim must never be overlooked, and we should never prioritize means over ends; the primacy of humanity over both matter and ideology must always be upheld.
Humanity’s authority over material concerns and ideological frameworks must always remain supreme.
The most severe threat confronting humankind—indeed, all living creatures on Earth—is the possibility of nuclear annihilation. I do not need to expand on this peril, but I earnestly urge all leaders of nuclear states who literally hold the planet’s future in their grasp, the scientists and engineers who keep developing these terrifying weapons of destruction, and the general public who can influence their leaders: I urge them to apply their reason and start the process of dismantling and eliminating every nuclear weapon.
We understand that in a nuclear conflict there would be no winners because no one would survive! Is it not alarming merely to imagine such inhumane and merciless devastation? And is it not logical to eliminate the source of our own destruction when we recognize that source and possess both the time and the capacity to remove it? Often we cannot resolve our problems because we either lack knowledge of the cause or, if we understand it, lack the means to eliminate it. That is not the case with the nuclear threat.
Whether they belong to advanced species like humans or simpler ones like animals, all beings primarily seek peace, comfort, and security. Life is as precious to a mute animal as it is to any human; even the tiniest insect strives to protect itself from dangers that threaten its existence. Just as each of us wants to live and does not wish to die, so it is with every other creature in the universe, though their ability to achieve this differs.
Generally, there are two categories of happiness and suffering—mental and physical—and of these, I consider mental pain and joy to be more intense. Therefore, I emphasize training the mind to endure hardship and attain a more enduring state of contentment.
Yet I also hold a broader, more concrete notion of happiness: a blend of inner tranquility, economic progress, and, most importantly, global peace. To realize such goals, I believe it is essential to cultivate a sense of universal responsibility—a deep concern for everyone regardless of creed, color, gender, or nationality.
Genuine happiness arises from inner calm, but also from economic advancement and worldwide peace.
Striving for Shared Happiness
The foundation of this concept of universal responsibility is the straightforward truth that, broadly speaking, the desires of all others mirror my own. Every being seeks happiness and avoids suffering. If we, as intelligent humans, refuse to acknowledge this fact, the planet will experience ever-increasing suffering. If we adopt a self-centered approach to life and constantly try to exploit others for our own benefit, we may gain short-term advantages, but over time we will not achieve even personal contentment, and global peace will be utterly unattainable.
In their pursuit of happiness, humans have employed various methods, which all too often have been cruel and repulsive. Acting in ways entirely unbefitting their human status, they inflict pain on fellow humans and other living beings for selfish gains. Ultimately, such shortsighted actions bring suffering to themselves as well as to others.
Being born as a human is a rare occurrence, and it is wise to use this opportunity as effectively and skillfully as possible. We must maintain the right perspective on the universal life process, so that the happiness or glory of one person or group is not sought at the expense of others.
All of this demands a fresh approach to global issues. The world is growing smaller—and increasingly interdependent—due to rapid technological progress, international trade, and expanding transnational relations. We now rely heavily on one another. In ancient times, problems were mostly family-sized and naturally handled at the family level, but the situation has transformed.
Today we are so interdependent, so tightly linked with each other, that without a sense of universal responsibility, a feeling of global brotherhood and sisterhood, and an understanding and conviction that we truly belong to one large human family, we cannot hope to overcome the threats to our very existence—let alone bring about peace and happiness.
We must always remember: we are in this together.
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What Steps Can Lead to Global Peace?
No single nation can satisfactorily resolve its problems alone any longer; too much depends on the interests, attitudes, and cooperation of other countries. A universal humanitarian approach to world issues appears to be the only solid foundation for global peace. What does this entail? It begins with the previously mentioned recognition that all beings cherish happiness and avoid suffering.
It then becomes both morally wrong and practically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness while ignoring the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser path is to consider others as well when seeking our own happiness. This will lead to what I call ‘enlightened self-interest’, which hopefully will evolve into ‘accommodating self-interest’, or even better, ‘shared interest’.
Although the growing interdependence among nations might be expected to foster more sympathetic cooperation, achieving a spirit of genuine collaboration is difficult as long as people remain indifferent to the feelings and happiness of others. When greed and jealousy primarily motivate people, living in harmony becomes impossible. A spiritual approach may not resolve all the political problems caused by the existing self-centered mindset, but over the long term, it will address the very root of the challenges we currently face.
On the other hand, if humanity continues to tackle its problems with only short-term expediency in mind, future generations will encounter enormous difficulties. The global population is rising, and our resources are being rapidly exhausted. Consider the trees, for instance. No one knows exactly what negative effects massive deforestation will have on climate, soil, and the entire global ecosystem.
We face problems because people focus solely on their immediate, selfish interests, without considering the whole human family. They are not thinking about the earth and the long-term consequences for universal life as a whole. If we of the present generation do not reflect on these matters now, future generations may be unable to cope with them.
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