Global Family Responsibility

This week’s passage is from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture in Oslo, Norway. Though more than thirty years have passed since these words were spoken, amidst the ongoing pandemic, worsening climate crisis, and growing awareness of the social and institutional injustices perpetuated against people of the global majority (black, indigenous, and people of color) in our nation, now more than ever, these words hold true for us and our practice today.

Today, we are truly a global family. What happens in one part of the world may affect us all. This, of course, is not only true of the negative things that happen, but is equally valid for the positive developments.

…So really we have no alternative: we must develop a sense of universal responsibility not only in the geographic sense, but also in respect to the different issues that confront our planet.

Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop our inner happiness and peace.

And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness. For some of us, the most effective way to do so it through religious practice. For others it may be non-religious practices. What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take seriously our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment.

As you know, our practices of Innate Wisdom and Compassion are the foundation of the development of loving kindness within and the ability to share that with the world at large.