A B His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on Environment Collected Statements 1987-2017 C D Dedication This book is dedicated to millions of people across the world striving for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for our planet. - Environment & Development Desk TIBET POLICY INSTITUTE E Copyright @Environment and Development Desk,TPI First Edition March 1994 Second Edition 1995 Third Edition December 2004 Fourth and Updated Edition January 2007 Fifth and Updated Edition April 2015 Sixth and Updated Edition June 2017 No. of Copies: 1000 ISBN: 81-86627-39-1 Published by: Environment and Development Desk The Tibet Policy Institute Central Tibetan Administration Dharamsala - 176215 H.P. INDIA Tel: +91-1892-223556, 222403 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.tibet.net and www.tibetpolicy.net F The three main commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama are: * Promotion of human values, * Promotion of religious harmony, * Preservation of Tibet’s spiritual heritage and protection of its environment. G H Foreword Since 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has worked tirelessly to resolve the Tibet issue with Beijing through non-violence and has been recognised the world over as one of the most revered and respected spiritual teachers, an indefatigable champion of Tibetan freedom, and a committed spokesperson for the environmental movement. His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in recognition of his non- violent struggle to resolve the Tibet issue with China, his teachings on peace, compassion and environmental conservation. According to Buddhist teachings, there is a close interdependence between the natural environment and sentient beings. In keeping with Buddhist teachings and the Tibetan way of life, His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his Five-Point Peace Plan for Tibet proposed the creation of Tibet into a zone of nonviolence and a sanctuary of environmental protection. This book is a collection of statements and speeches His Holiness the Dalai Lama made on the environment on different occasions from 1986 through 2017. We hope that this collection of speeches would be of benefit and a source of inspiration to all those who are interested in environmental issues and global ecological solutions. We hope this will provide a basis for a better understanding of our own individual’s and humanity’s collective responsibility, and be an inspiration for people to think globally and act locally. This compilation of excerpts from speeches and teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the importance of environmental protection is dedicated to all those who continuously work for the ecological conservation of Mother Earth. Environment and Development Desk The Tibet Policy Institute I J CONTENT Foreword ..................................................................................G 1. An Ethical Approach to Environmental Protection ..........1 2. Five-Point Peace Plan for Tibet ........................................3 3. Ecology and the Human Heart .........................................13 4. Universal Responsibility and the Environment ................17 5. The Importance of Tree Planting and its Protection .........22 6. A Clean Environment is a Human Right ..........................24 7. A Green Environment for Now and the Future ................28 8. Spirituality and Nature .....................................................30 9. Thinking Globally: A Universal Task ...............................32 10. Caring for the Earth ..........................................................36 11. A Buddhist Concept of Nature .........................................38 12. Universal Responsibility and the Inner Environment ......45 13. Address at the Rio Earth Summit .....................................52 14. An Essay on Mountains ....................................................59 15. The Sheltering Tree of Interdependence: A Buddhist Monk’s Reflections on Ecological Responsibility ............61 16. Environment Awareness: A Part of Daily Life .................71 17. Practical Steps Towards Protection of the Environment ..72 18. Hope for Tibet’s Environment ..........................................75 K 19. Politics and Environment: An Interview ..........................82 20. The Natural World ............................................................87 21. Wildlife: A Symbol of Freedom .......................................94 22. Put Education above Wealth .............................................96 23. Mother Sentient Beings ....................................................100 24. Be a Vegetarian .................................................................107 25. Stop Wearing Animal Skins ..............................................111 26. True Wealth is Having a Peaceful and Calm Mind ..........113 PART-II 1. Science, Spirituality and Environment ..............................119 2. Importance of Tibet’s Environment ...................................121 3. Speech by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony .............................122 4. Earth Day Reflections ........................................................123 5. The Buddha in the Green Party! ........................................132 6. Ethics and Enlightened Leadership ...................................133 7. Talk during the River Ganges cleanup project ..................134 8. Talks to new arrivals ..........................................................136 9. Non-violence and Spiritual Values in Secular India ..........139 10. Panel Discussion: The Global Impact of Climate Change 141 11. Mind and Life XXIII: Ecology, Ethics and Interdependence .................................................................146 L 12. Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Receiving the Templeton Prize .................................................................147 13. Global Systems 2.0: Ethics, Economy and Environment ..149 14. Address of H.H the Dalai Lama at Special International TSG meeting ..............................................................................151 15. Caring for the Environment above Political Differences ..160 16. Spirituality & the Environment .........................................162 17. Universal Responsibility & the Global Environment: An Environmental Summit ......................................................166 18. Conversation on Science, Happiness, and Well-Being......172 19. His Holiness’s Speech at the Tulane Universtiy. ...............173 20. World Environment Day ....................................................174 21. Visiting the Lithuanian Parliament ...................................175 22. Compassion & Respect in Today’s Society .......................175 23. His Holiness Addresses the Global Spa and .....................176 24. His Holiness Addresses an All Party Parliamentary Group in Japan ..................................................................................176 25. His Holiness’s Interviews for Mongolian Television ........177 26. His Holiness on Environment and Climate Change ..........178 27. His Holiness addresses School Principals .........................179 28. Bounds of Ethics in a Globalised World ..........................180 29. Talk on a Human Approach to Peace ...............................180 M 30. Time Magazine Interview ..................................................181 31. Public Address in Berkeley ...............................................182 32. Non-violence and the Effects of Compassion in the 21st Century ..............................................................................183 33. His Holiness at Macalester College ...................................183 34. His Holiness at the Capitol Hill .........................................184 35. His Holiness’s Teachings in the Indian Capital .................184 36. Public Talk in Koyasan .....................................................185 37. His Holiness’s teaching in Tokyo ......................................186 38. His Holiness’s Visits to Norwegian Parliament ................186 39. Teaching on Secular Ethics ..............................................188 40. Meeting with Tibet Supporters in Holand ........................188 41. His Holiness in Italy ..........................................................189 42. His Holiness Visits Museum of ethnology ........................190 43. His Holiness addressing Tibet Support Group in Germany ............................................................................190 44. His Holiness addresses Indian Merchants .........................191 45. A Meeting of Diverse Spiritual Traditions in India ..........191 46. One World, One Vision, One People .................................192 47. Education of the Heart .......................................................192 48. Meeting with the Canadian Parliamentary Friends N of Tibet ..............................................................................193 49. Educating the Heart & Mind .............................................194 50. Addressing the Tibetan Community in New York. ...........194 51. Meeting Italian Parliamentarians .......................................195 52. One Day in Pune ................................................................195 53. His Holiness Addresses the International Luncheon .........196 54. Interview for the TV2 television channel ..........................197 55. Meeting Danish Parliamentarians .....................................197 56. His Holiness at the 20th Shotön