Dalai Lama:
Quite simple: There was an invitation. I’m always happy to accept an
invitation.

And then of course, this time, some serious discussions about human value. I
feel this information I want to share with you, because you also have the
same responsibility, or same important role in this field.

Number One: my commitment is promotion of “human value.” What is human
value? I think those things, mainly our inner quality, which is supporting
our life, and sustaining our life. That is what I consider human value. What
is that? After birth, our first experience is mother’s affection. Mother’s
care. The child at that time, just after birth, may not have the idea ‘This
is my mother.’ But [will have a connection] because of the biological system
or need, feeding, relying on that person. And on the mother’s side there is
also that sort of tremendous feeling of care — and with that milk, also
comes [the connection]. This is not due to religious faith, but because of
the biological factor. That is the basis of our life breath, how our life
started.

So I think that tremendous sort of affection gives us deep satisfaction.
Actually that, [throughout our entire] life, deep down, that experience is
still the foundation. I am now 71 years old. I feel that, still, deep in my
mind, that my first experience, my mother’s care: I can still feel it there.
So when I think more about human affection, that immediately gives me inner
peace, inner calmness.

And with that feeling, other human beings — and also other sentient beings,
other animals, these things — from that angle, I see that all have the same
potential. But the problem is: when we grow-up, when our brain develops,
then our intelligence causes shortsightedness. And I think also the
influence of the environment: then aggressiveness, fear, jealousy, anger,
frustration. now these things arise. So these [cause our potential to]
become submerged.

So, now the time has come, I feel, that as a result of discussion — of
exchange, different ideas, different views — and as a result of listening
to others’ problems, and noticing the global level problems, including
terrorism, I feel, if we make more effort to sustain our basic value, I
think humanity may become more peaceful. More compassionate. As a result,
differences can be easily solved through dialogue. Through talk. Through
mutual understanding. So that is my number one commitment: the promotion of
human value.

My number two commitment: the promotion of religious harmony. So in these
two fields you media people also have an important role. This is not just
news, this is the basis of our future. So it is in everybody’s interest.

So you media people, I usually say I have admiration [for you]. A free media
is very important and I am often telling — half joke, half serious — that
media people should have a long nose like an elephant’s nose, and [use it
to] smell everywhere. I think, with respect [to Mayor Sullivan], should use
it to smell politicians, mayors, prime ministers, or religious heads,
businessmen, scientists. I think everywhere. I think we should know the
reality. Sometimes there is a gap between appearance and reality. So we
must, the public must know the reality. And that is the media’s
responsibility: to make clear good things, bad things, neutral things.
Providing it is honest, truthful.

So now, the main purpose coming here is. since some time back my friend
Victor Chang, as a result of our discussions, and eventually through him the
University, they are also showing some interest about these ideas, about the
Dalai Lama Centre. Not insofar as giving the name to the centre, but in the nature of [academic] work, more serious research: how to make modern education more complete. Up to now, it seems that modern education is focused mainly on brain development - and it should be about warm-heartedness.

In the past, religious institutions took care of ethics and spirituality. In
modern time, the influence of the church has a little bit declined. And
family value also declining. So now education institution should take full
responsibility, not only for brain development but also for morals and
ethics. Now here, like multi-culture, multi-religions. If your emphasis on
the development of ethics relies on religious teaching - then the further
question is what religion? Mm. Difficulties. And also, frankly speaking,
there is quite a substantial numbers of non-believers. So I think the
mistake is that those people who have not much interest in religion are also
negligent about the value of spiritual qualities, such as love, compassion,
forgiveness, these things.

So we must now find a different way, on the basis of scientific findings and
our common experiences. I think that on this basis we can educate, brain
development very important. Meantime [also] the warm-heartedness, is
extremely important. Otherwise [you will find] a very educated, very
brilliant person, but deep inside a very unhappy person. And also
billionaires, or leaders, big power, big money, good education, big fame.
But as an individual person, very unhappy. Why?

Sufficient money, sufficient power, sufficient affairs, sufficient friends,
but still unhappy. Why? Something wrong here.

These are the main reasons for coming here. . I’m just one contributor. More
people, particularly among the scientists and the educators, we have to
discuss, or carry [out] some serious research work [on the subject] of how
to develop a happy society, a happy family, without touching on religious
faith. So that I usually call secular ethics.

Question:
Are you describing something like a university of warm-heartedness? And will the centre make Vancouver a new home for you.

Dalai Lama:
So that’s why I always emphasize that there are people, there are
institutions who are already showing some interest. But now I think we need
more co-ordination and then make, I hope, some kind of concrete proposal for
future education. How do we develop a better human being, more peaceful
human being, more compassionate human being. Now that is our aim.
So this not a unique centre. Not that way. But [a way] to work together with
those individuals, with those institutions that have some interest. Work
together. More discussion. More research work.

Question:
Do you believe Tibetans in China are still oppressed?

Dalai Lama:
Ohh. I think you must go there yourself, and spend some time, not only in
towns but in the countryside. Go to the countryside, and with a translator,
if possible one who speaks Tibetan, if not, then one who speaks Chinese. Go
there. Study on the spot. Then I think you will get a real answer.

But information which I am receiving, from time to time, from Tibet, from a
variety of Tibetans - some are Chinese officials, party members - several
thousand now I have met in the last 20 years. all expressing sad, sadness,
complaint, resentment. Also some Chinese who know about Tibet are also very
critical about their own government policy.

But best the best answer is that you should go there, and study.