Dalai Lama Calls to ‘Spread Kindness amid Pandemic
Indonesia, as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, should create harmony among religious adherents. This can be achieved as long as kindness and compassion are always nurtured.
By
NINA SUSILO
·4 minutes read
TANGKAPAN LAYAR
Screenshot of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dalai Lama XIV having a dialogue with thousands of young Indonesians online, Thursday (11/8/2021).
The Covid-19 pandemic that has lasted more than a year and a half has certainly brought boredom, anxiety, and other negative emotions.
“What should I do to help friends who are feeling scared and hopeless during the pandemic?” Langit Jingga, a 17-year-old student at SMAN 1 Ubud senior high school in Bali, asked the 14th Dalai Lama, the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, in Tibetan during a dialogue with around 1,000 Indonesian youths on Wednesday (11/8/2021).
Langit was one of 10 secondary school and university students who addressed their questions to the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism who led his followers into exile in Dharamsala, India, during China\'s annexation of Tibet.
The virtual dialogue, moderated by singer and author Dewi Lestari, was part of the Nusantara Dharma Book Festival (NDBF) 3.0, an online book bazaar held by the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of Lamrim Nusantara (Lamrimnesia).
According to Ricky Suryanto, chairman of the NDBF 3.0 organizer, the event was expected to boost interest in reading to help improve mental health and the immune system in the midst of the pandemic.
Pandemic is only temporary
The Dalai Lama explained that climate change as a result of global warming was happening everywhere. The Covid-19 pandemic is just one of the global problems that were posing difficulties for all nations. However, the situation was only temporary, because the pandemic will end as a result of human efforts.
Whether we have religious beliefs or not, we need to possess kindness.
"When a human being has kindness for others, this will give peace and happiness to the individual and their surroundings. An atmosphere of kindness will be created," he said.
In his introductory speech, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed his continued commitment to encourage sharing the spirit of kindness. All religions, he said, taught kindness. This was what encouraged people to live together. Harmony and tolerance were created among followers of all religions.
"Whether we have religious beliefs or not, we need to possess kindness," he said.
TANGKAPAN LAYAR
The XIV Dalai Lama invites all young people to share kindness and compassion and create harmony between religions. This was conveyed in a virtual dialogue with a thousand young Indonesians, Thursday (11/8/2021).
Besides Langit, Keenan Avalokita, a 17-year-old student at the Cikal School in Jakarta, asked about the negative emotions young people faced today. The Dalai Lama answered that a lot of information could be accessed in this modern age, but this did not always have to influence the spirit and the mind.
As an example, he recalled that when he was forced to leave Tibet and flee to India, he and the Tibetan community faced many difficulties. However, the Tibetans possessed the power of intention. The world now recognized the spirit of nonviolence.
Gracia Natania, a 14-year-old student at SMA Kesatuan Bogor senior high school, asked how to encourage kindness when the habit of reading books was in decline. According to the Dalai Lama, technology, which was growing increasingly widespread and facilitated communication, was a tool to create kindness.
Borobudur Temple
Indivara, a 16-year-old student at SMA Ananda Bogor senior high school, asked about how best to preserve of Borobudur Temple.
"In what ways can Buddhist youths take part in preserving the largest [Buddhist] temple [in the world], Borobudur Temple?" he asked.
The Dalai Lama revealed that he had also visited the temple. The temple was very important and extraordinary. However, what was more important was the "temple" of the human heart and brain. This “temple” was none other than kindness and compassion.
"I would like to see the ‘real’ Borobudur within us. Kindness combined with intelligence. Without it, [Borobudur Temple] will only be an empty temple," he said.
The Dalai Lama also reminded Indonesia, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, to create harmony between followers of all religions. This could be achieved as long as kindness and compassion were always fostered.
