Prague, Oct 17 (CTK) – The Tibetan Dalai Lama believes that the ideas of the late Czech president and thinker Vaclav Havel (1936-2011) will survive for centuries and that problems can be solved through a dialogue, he said in an interview with CTK and Czech Radio on Monday.
The 21st century must be the century of compassion and a dialogue that must be established with all, including those who are fighting and killing other people, the Dalai Lama said.
He believes that the next generation will bring a change in the perception of the world since it will accentuate inner human values and respect for one another more than a temporary satisfaction, he added.
He also said he did not mind Western leaders’ refusal to receive him for fear that it might harm their trade with China.
“It is not important to me, the important is to meet the public. The governments, leaders from time to change, their policies from time to time change, but people always remain,” the Dalai Lama said.
“The world belongs to seven billion human beings. Each country belongs to the people, not leaders, not a king or a queen or even spiritual leaders… Our dream is that this world should be more compassionate, more peaceful and that depends on people, the public, not leaders or governments, governments cannot do these things,” the Dalai Lama said.
He arrived in Prague to attend the 20th Forum 2000 international conference, founded by Havel. He also dedicated the first day of his visit to Havel who was his personal friend.
Havel’s sensitive ideas did not disappear with his death, but they will survive for centuries, the Dalai Lama said.
“Now, we have responsibility to keep these deep values. I am quite sure that you Czech people still love your late leader… It is not sufficient to just repeat his name, but his ideas, his concept must be alive,” he added.
The Dalai Lama, who is pushing for his idea of compassion with all human beings and the effort to solve all conflicts in a non-violent way, was criticised in the spring for saying a dialogue as the only path can be applied even in the case of Islamic State, the organisation that is torturing and killing those whom it considers its enemies.
“We cannot think about our next lives, heaven or hell or some other sorts of places. This is our home, this world, we are human beings,” he said MOnday.
Killing out of anger might bring a temporary satisfaction, but without this anger people will find out that this is “a totally wrong method, short-sighted, narrow-minded,” said the Dalai Lama, who is considered a symbol of human rights defence in Western countries.
His words that limiting the number of refugees heading for Germany is a legitimate step since Germany cannot become an Arab country stirred up controversies some time ago.
It is “wonderful” to accept these refugees, to save their lives and prevent a humanitarian disaster, he said yesterday.
Western countries should provide a training for them, mainly educate their children, including the teaching of European languages, so that they would be ready to restore their own countries when they return home, he said.
“I am always dreaming that this spirit of the European Union should expand, that the African Union, Latin American Union, and eventually Asian Union [can be established once] and then the union of all seven billion people,” the Dalai Lam said about his belief in a better future of the mankind.
The Dalai Lama is a great admirer of the European Union. A month ago, he gave a speech in the European Parliament (EP) for the fifth time.
Looking at Havel’s bust in the EP seat, the Dalai Lama said hello to it like to a friend and he put a white scarf, the Buddhist symbol of friendship, on its neck, his aide said on Monday.
The 21st century will not become the “century of compassion and dialogue “at once, or next week or year, but people must develop optimism, have a vision and try hard to achieve it, the Dalai Lama told CTK on Monday, adding that an emphasis must be put on education.
Education must be independent from religion, it must come out from common perception, common experience and highlight inner human values.
After two decades, in 2030 or 2040, a new generation will grow up, educated in this, more holistic way and it will give more attention to inner values, the Dalai Lama said.
