Dhamramshala, India — Spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met and conversed with the students of Woodstock School at his residence in Dharamshala on 11 October.
The students visited Dharamshala as a part of their school’s academic tour. Likewise, the students took an excursion around Central Tibetan Administration yesterday.
Speaking to the students, His Holiness the Dalai Lama talked about the importance of religious harmony to co-exist in a community. Citing India as the perfect example of one such place where different religious traditions coexist in harmony; His Holiness was optimistic that the rest of the world could adopt India’s model.
However, His Holiness expressed his sadness over the violence and conflicts erupting in the name of religion while also referring to the religious dispute between the two major denominations of Islam’s Shias and Sunnis.
“Therefore, Indian Muslims should make some effort to reduce conflict between Shias and Sunnis and then show to the world that religious harmony is possible” advised His Holiness.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a pragmatic suggestion when he said that Indian Muslims should organise a national level Muslim conference to address religious disputes among the community itself.
Following His Holiness’ brief lecture to the students, an interactive Question and Answer session ensued between His Holiness and the students. One student from Afghanistan asked His Holiness about how one should continue to hope when the endlessness of the struggles makes life to seem pointless. His Holiness coherently answered that one’s struggle is a part and parcel of one’s karma and god has no control over it. His Holiness further attributed that one’s action dictates the circumstances of one’s karma.
“Emphasise not on god but emphasise on one’s own way of life” suggested His Holiness.
Another student from South Korea asked His Holiness how today’s youth should find a purpose in life, to which His Holiness affirmed that hygiene of emotions should be prioritised vis a vis physical hygiene in the education system today. His Holiness asserted that within the whirlpool of emotions exists the counter-force tackling negative emotions which must be channelized through secular education.
The interactive session with His Holiness concluded with His Holiness advising the students to become the best version of 21st-century people and create a better and peaceful world to live.
