His Holiness began the fourth day of his Japanese trip traveling on a cloudless autumn day, through the wooded valleys and hills of Shikoku, to the Funaya ryokan, or traditional inn, a Japanese classic that has been entertaining emperors and their families for 383 years. Meeting a group of local journalists as soon as he arrived, he mentioned how much he had enjoyed his hour-long drive through the unspoiled countryside, with its human-scale buildings and pristine farms.

Asked about his fifty years in exile, he stressed many of the positive developments that had resulted, for all the sadness of displacement, and the fact that Tibetans in exile, for example, enjoy a higher standard of education than Tibetans in Tibet. Most of all, he pointed out how often people describe themselves in terms of secondary characteristics - “I am Buddhist, I am Christian, I am a non-believer, this and that,” instead of concentrating on what we have in common. “We have to respect others’ rights,” he said, “we have to respect others’ views. If there’s too much emphasis on this secondary level, then there’s a feeling of ‘us’ and ‘them.’

And then we are tempted to bully or try to destroy others. In today’s world, economically, environmentally, for our own common benefit, we have to have a common aim. As I always say, ‘The whole world should think in terms of ‘us.’”

As His Holiness stepped out of the press conference room, he was greeted by the mayor of Matsuyama, Tokihiro Nakamura, who passed on his best wishes and expressed his hope that His Holiness’s long struggle would find a happy conclusion.

After a private lunch with Abbot Mastunaga of Koyasan and his hosts from the Shikoku Buddhist Association (or Shikoku Bukkyo Rengokai), His Holiness traveled to the Matsuyama Buddokan, a stunning new auditorium that looked like a huge wooden hall, all black and gold, designed according to 21st century specifications - a harmonious blend of old power and modern ingenuity. There a capacity crowd under the high wooden rafters of the high-tech arena, with high-definition screens on either side, listened to him deliver a talk on “The Essence of Happiness in Life.”

“When you go to the supermarket and ask them if they can sell you happiness or peace of mind,” His Holiness said, “you hear they cannot. If you build a big hospital and ask them to offer an injection of mental peace, you can of course get one that offers some temporary relief, but nothing that addresses the fundamental cause.” We have to work for happiness and peace, through inner transformation and the cultivation of altruism. His Holiness urged his audience to think globally and to think holistically, in terms of the larger picture, if its members wished to develop real warm-heartedness.

A long line of questioners came to the front of the building to pose questions for His Holiness after his talk ended, jumping out of their seats to request a microphone, and many of their queries were deeply personal, about pain and dealing with children and self-dislike. His Holiness addressed each one in a direct and practical way, as a doctor might, stressing the importance of a wider perspective, and of thinking outside the small boundaries of the self. “Love is not something you can introduce with words,” he said. “You have to be consumed by it for life so that it comes out in your every action.”

Tibet House in Japan
3 November 2009