By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, April 26: The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today told graduates of the Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies here that education without a good heart will not lead to a happy and a meaningful life.
Speaking at convocation ceremony of the college on Tuesday, the Tibetan leader said, “Those of you who are graduating today, education alone will not guarantee a good and happy life. If you look at the problem-makers nowadays, they are very well educated. A sound education coupled with a good heart that is compassionate and has warmth for fellow human beings will lead to a happy and meaningful life. Much of the human intelligence is used for personal gain resulting in violence and conflict. The ongoing atrocities in Syria and the Middle East demonstrate such thinking.”
To the scholars who spend years learning the unique Tibetan traditions and studies, the Dalai Lama advised that the wealth of unparalleled knowledge must be shared with others. “The exceptional traditions and teachings that have survived with us must now be shared with the world and for the betterment of the humanity. It seems the time has come for us to spread the message for the benefit of the people from around the world,” the Nobel Laureate said.
The Tibetan leader who came into exile 57 years ago recounted his escape from Tibet on the “night of March 17, 1959 around 10pm Lhasa time” and into India and the following ordeal which he described as an “anxious period” in his life. He also gave an account of a retired Indian diplomat, who revealed to him that in 59, then Indian Defense Minister Krishna Menon objected to his asylum fearing Chinese aggression but Nehru intervened to let him through the Indian border. “I shared a very close relationship with Nehru. We had many discussions and on some occasion he would bang his hands on the table while making an argument,” a nostalgic Dalai Lama recalled.
Among the educational Institute’s passing graduates at today’s convocation was the first batch of the post graduate courses. The Institute offers Bachelors, Masters as well as Doctorate in Tibetan and Buddhist studies.
Topla, one of the Masters graduates who majored in Tibetan History with a thesis on ‘Tibetan History Methodology’ told Phayul, “The need for a Masters course was felt years ago. Having graduated in the first batch which also happens to be first such course in the Tibetan exile history, I am extremely happy and honored. I hope that the precedent continues with more scholars who will eventually go on to contribute to the sphere of Tibetan studies”.
The convocation ceremony was attended by more than 500 former and current students and staff with dignitaries like Education Department Kalon Ngodup Tsering, Minister for Religion and Culture Pema Chhinjor, CTA officials, heads of NGOs and foreign guests.
