[AUDIO] Dalai Lama: Common Religious Aims – UMA Institute for Tibetan Studies

Common Religious Aims

Dalai Lama

Total Play Time

11:43 minutes

Languages

English-Tibetan

Categories

Interreligious Dialogue

Total Play Time: 11:43 minutes

Languages: English-Tibetan

Categories: Interreligious Dialogue

September 5, 1979
New York, New York
Council on Religion and International Affairs, interpreter Tenzin Geyche Tethong:
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Welcome by Cardinal Cooke and Mayor Koch

11:43 minutes

Summary (AI-generated): This recording provides an explanation of how the cultivation of inner peace and compassion is essential for balancing modern technological progress with human values. The speaker discusses the universality of suffering and the necessity of developing a positive mental attitude and karuṇā to achieve lasting happiness and global harmony.

Main Topics:

The Universality of the Human Condition: The recording begins by noting the shared experiences of all human beings. Regardless of wealth, education, or social status, the speaker explains that every person possesses the same fundamental desire to achieve lasting happiness and to avoid suffering.
Attitude and the Confrontation of Suffering: An explanation is provided regarding the importance of one's mental attitude when facing life's inevitable challenges, such as old age. The speaker suggests that developing a specific internal perspective or attitude toward problems provides the necessary courage to overcome suffering.
Balancing External and Internal Progress: The recording addresses the disparity between rapid advancements in science and technology and the slower pace of spiritual growth. It is argued that if external progress is not balanced with internal spiritual development, humanity risks losing its core values and its capacity for inner peace.
Compassion as the Foundation for Peace: The explanation emphasizes that true peace and global disarmament cannot be achieved through anger or hatred, but only through love and karuṇā. Because compassion cannot be purchased or manufactured, it must be cultivated through deep inner development to create a harmonious human family.

MP3 ⬇︎