SAN DIEGO: His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a public address to 25,000 people gathered at the RIMAC field of UC San Diego on 16 June.
His Holiness spoke about diverse topics particularly dwelling on the importance of peace and compassion. He noted that modern education is falling short on its responsibility to teach compassion and urged educational institutions like UC San Diego to teach emotional intelligence as they would science or literature.
“Once we have fuller knowledge of the full system of emotion, then it’s much easier to tackle the destructive emotions such as anger, hatred,” His Holiness said.
His Holiness further emphasised compassion as a powerful tool of countering divisiveness in the world and called for the need to abandon violence, anger and hatred, and instead approach people of all creeds and nations with respect.
“Genuine compassion and loving kindness can be extended even toward your enemy,” he said.
“Their attitude or view could be negative, but still they are human brothers and sisters. They deserve our love, our kindness. Their negative attitude is due to negative emotion, and emotion is always changing. By showing them love and kindness, certainly there’s a possibility of change,” His Holiness remarked.
His Holiness also extolled the power of dialogue and reconciliation and how these ideas are crucial to make the 21st century a more peaceful one.
“This century should be a century of dialogue in order to create a century of peace,” he said.
“And you, the younger generation, have the responsibility to solve this, not through prayers but through action,” His Holiness said, encouraging people to work towards putting a stop to division and violence throughout the world.
Prior to the public talk, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer introduced His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the pubic. The mayor said he was proud to welcome the world’s greatest champion of peace His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the city of San Diego.
“As a city that celebrates its diversity, spirit of collaboration and environmental leadership, we are proud to welcome one of the world’s great champions for peace and understanding to San Diego,” Faulconer said after the meeting.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to people across the globe and we are honored to have him return to our city,” Falconer added.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also met a group of about 110 reporters and members of the media before his public talk. His Holiness spoke about his three main commitments in life following the complete devolution of political authority in 2011.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will tomorrow deliver the keynote address at the commencement ceremony of UC San Diego. The address is titled “The Value of Education, Ethics and Compassion for the Well-Being of Self and Others.”
Some of the more than 25000 people attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public address at UC San Diego, 16 June 2017.
Mayor of San Diego Kevin Faulconer presenting His Holiness the Dalai Lama the key to the city at the start of the public address, 16 June 2017.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting members of the media before his public address at UC Sa Diego on 16 June 2017.