By Shyamal Sinha
“Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” ― Dalai Lama
21st century should imbibe peace, dialogue, disarmament and oneness of humanity. In order to create peaceful century, first we need to promote compassionate mind through education, His Holiness the Dalai Lama exhorted 5000 plus teachers of post graduate and undergraduate colleges of all disciplines from India and 1000 teachers of Indian origin serving globally.
Addressing the inauguration of the 2nd National Teachers’ Congress here in Pune, chief guest of the event, His Holiness the Dalai Lama hailed India’s unique potential to combine modern technology and science with its ancient knowledge on the workings of mind and emotions.
“In today’s world we are facing emotional crises, but technological developments alone cannot solve our emotional problems. We can only deal with them by training the mind and this we can learn from the psychology of ancient India. Therefore, only India can combine modern education and technology with ancient Indian knowledge of how to tackle our emotions,” he averred.
Advocating the inclusion of ancient Indian knowledge as academic curriculum, His Holiness argued that education system should take care of inner wellbeing as much as it focusses on phyiscal. “The existing system of modern education is largely oriented towards material growth, but we have to include inner values too. We should include in education both physical and inner wellbeing”.
This is consistent with scientific findings that tell us of evidence that negative emotions undermine our immune system, he said. “They also observe that constant anger, fear and hatred undermine our immune system and so are bad for our health. This is why in addition to physical hygiene we need to cultivate emotional hygiene, a focus on achieving peace of mind. As social animals, we appreciate affection and geniune concern of others’. That is our innate nature; compassionate”.
In his keynote address, His Holiness stressed that the knowledge contained in the ancient Indian tradition is much relevent today when tackling destructive emotions is so urgent.
“I have committed the rest of my life to the revival of these knowledge. I think of myself as student of Nalanda tradition. These are in Buddist text, but these knowledge of human mind, emotions, we should consider academic subject. Teachers are very important roles, you can really make some change. But in order to make some contribution to humanity level, first the ancient Indian knowledge must be revived in India,” he appealed the largest Indian confluence of educators of all disciplines.
While calling himself a messenger of ancient Indian thought, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he also admired India’s 1000-year old Ahimsa and religious tolerance. “Really remarkable. In this country, homegrown different religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism flourish alongside religions that have come from outside, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Judaism together in harmony. India most populated democratic country with rule of law and religious harmony, wonderful!”
The 82-year-old Nobel laureate reiterated his lifelong campaign for peaceful, dimilitarised world. “The next century should be a century of dialogue and discussion rather than one of war and bloodshed. We must embrace oneness of humanity, not nationalistic views. We must strive towards making the later part of this century a dimilitarised world. Use of force is outdated. Then in tackling our differences with others, we should embrace compassionate approach, with the conviction in the onesness of humanity and learn to live on this planet together as human brothers and sisters”.
Ravi V Karad, Vice President, MAEER’s MIT group and founder, MIT school of government, National Women’s Parliament called His Holiness guru of the gurus. “Today your presence, I have no words to express my happiness. You blessed this campus first time in 1996 when you came for world peace conference, second time in 2013 for Indian Students Parliament, then in 2017 for Naational Women’s Parliament. I am grateful from bottom of my heart. I look at him, as he is a guru of various gurus.”
He also thanked President Dr Lobsang Sangay of Central Tibetan Administration.
The second edition of the National Teachers’ Congress is India’s first confluence of eminent teachers worldwide, connecting more than 8000 spirited teaching fraternity of higher education across India and teachers of Indian origin serving globally.
Other speakers at the 2nd NTC were Mayor of Pune, Smt. Mukta Tilak, Shri. Rahul V. Karad – Executive President, MIT World Peace University, Dr. Anil Kakodkar – Padma Vibhushan & Eminent Scientist (Atomic Energy), Dr Vishwanath D Karad, Prof. S. C. Sahasrabudhe among others.
