His Holiness the Dalai Lama graced and addressed the 2018 Convocation of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in Dwarka, New Delhi on Monday.
His Holiness said that he had a very special connection with Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and that the late PM would have inspired great change had he lived longer.
Shri Anil Shastri, son of late Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Union Minister and Chairman of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute flanked His Holiness on the dais, along with the board of governors of the Institute.
His Holiness expressed admiration at the greatness of India’s ancient tradition which he said was reflected in its profound scholarship on the workings of human mind and emotions and its very secular approach.
“India is the world’s most populous democracy, with vibrant religious co-existence and harmony. It is wonderful and an example to the rest of the world. Ancient India paid great emphasis on inner well being. For over 3000 years, the great masters have studied and produced fuller knowledge of mind, emotion and how to tackle the emotions,” he said.
His Holiness averred that Buddha is a product of the Indian tradition. “One of the unique discovery of Buddha is Anatman. In ancient India, there were study and investigation of what is self and where is self. Such thoughts show the greatness of ancient India”.
“The crisis we are facing today is an emotional one. The real troublemaker is our destructive emotions; we are facing this problem at the global level, national, community and individual level. And this is where India can play a huge role,” he stressed.
He alerted the students to pay attention to their own ancient knowledge and not be content with existing education. “Modern Indian students, you should not be content with existing education. Even if you become a doctor or attain a Ph.D., you are still a being with emotions so you have to know how to deal with it”.
He further argued that modern education is not adequate to bring inner peace.
“Modern knowledge of science and technology combined with ancient Indian knowledge on workings of mind and emotions can guarantee a happier and more peaceful world”.
“You, the younger generation of India, have the responsibility to combine modern education including science, technology with ancient India’s own knowledge about mind, emotion and most importantly, how to tackle these emotions strictly the secular way,” he told the crowd of graduates.
“Ancient Indian knowledge is not only ancient but relevant to today’s world. The time has come to think of how to utilise your education more effectively for happier India, and a happier world”.
In between, His Holiness asked the students, “What do you like better, angry face or smiling face?” The students replied in unison that they liked smiling faces.
He explained to them how scientists had proved that the basic human nature was more compassionate.
“Young children, six months, four months old, smile at each other. Compassion comes to a child from his mother. Our very life starts with mother’s love and care. Warmheartedness has a positive influence on our physical health. Constant anger is eating our immune system,” he continued.
“If its possible, we should put anger in trash-bin. But realistically, through training of the mind, we can really get control of our emotions and create loving kind human beings”.
“Our own experience shows that we appreciate love and kindness. Constant anger and fear are eating our immune system. It is the duty of our educational system to further that basic nature of compassion so that the world has hope,” he concluded.
In his address, Anil Shastri, son of late Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Union Minister and Chairman of the Institute recalled the numerous occasions where he received His Holiness’ blessings.
“His Holiness talks about compassion as he believes it is through compassion that the world can be transformed into a better place. The whole world is talking about peace today, but there doesn’t seem to be peace anywhere. But, it is through compassion, as His Holiness puts it that there could be everlasting peace only through compassion,” he said.
Tomorrow, His Holiness will give a public talk on Need to Revive and Regain the Lost Spiritual and Cultural Heritage that Originated in This Nation in the morning organised by Velocity 48 at the IIT Delhi Auditorium.
