By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, June 22: The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama currently on a 19 day tour of the United States yesterday visited the University of Utah in Salt lake City, Utah where he was awarded the ‘President’s Medal’ for his advocacy of peace and non violence for the last few decades.
The University’s President David Pershing awarded the medal before a congregation of more than 12,000 devotees and well wishers at the Hunstman Center. Speaking in his usual connotations to rid barriers, the Dalai Lama questioned, “We’ve prayed for peace for 1000 years without much success. We need to ask who it is who breaches the peace and creates violent conflict?” adding, “The answer is we do.”
Reiterating what he has repeated a few times throughout his current US trip, the leader who considers himself retired from political sphere said, “It’s important to understand that unless we change our behavior, the 21st century risks being a period of pain and bloodshed like the 20th century, an era in which 200 million died in violent conflict.” However expressing optimistically that an increasing number of global youth view themselves as primarily global citizens and that the developments are cause for hope of a better future.
Speaking to the Tibetans in the audience, the soon to be 81 year old said, “This (since 1959) has been one of the most difficult periods in Tibet’s long history. It has also been a period of opportunity (for Tibetans to rise to the occasion and to walk abreast with global community) for those in exile, while in Tibet the spirit of Tibetans remains strong.” He added that he remains “optimistic” that one day there will be a “reunion of Tibetans in exile and our brothers and sisters in Tibet.”
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama attended a luncheon hosted by the Utah Governor Gary Herbert and also visited the Huntsman Cancer Institute under the University of Utah meeting with physicians, care-givers and patients. When asked for blessings, he suggested that physicians and care – givers living a meaningful life and doing their work sincerely is the real source of blessing. “It also brings a real sense of personal satisfaction and inner peace,” said the Tibetan leader.
