On December 10, 2023, we remember the 34rd anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet (10 December 1989).
When the Nobel Committee chose the Dalai Lama, it emphasized that he based his philosophy of Buddhist peace on respect for all living beings and on the idea of a universal responsibility that embraces both man and nature.
On the same day the World Human Rights Day, an opportunity to reflect on our collective responsibility to promote and protect the rights and dignity of all sentient beings.
The Dalai Lama, a simple Tibetan monk, dedicated his life to promoting values such as altruism, love, compassion and non-violence.
In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he emphasized the importance of freedom and the right to determine one's destiny as individuals and as peoples.
“The awareness that we are all basically the same human beings, seeking happiness and trying to avoid suffering, is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others. This, in turn, is essential if we are to survive in this ever smaller world we live in. Because if each of us selfishly pursues only what he believes is in our best interest, without worrying about the needs of others, we not only end up harming others but also ourselves. This fact has become very clear over the course of this century. We know that conducting a nuclear war today, for example, would be a form of suicide; or that by polluting the air or the oceans, for some short-term benefit, we are destroying the very basis of our survival. As interdependent, therefore, we are truly a global family today. What happens in one part of the world can affect us all. "
These words resonate deeply. As human beings, we have a responsibility to ensure that all sentient beings are free to live their lives without suffering.
The Dalai Lama also spoke of the need for courage, determination and truth in the struggle for freedom. We must have the courage to face and fight cruelty and injustice, the determination to work towards a more compassionate world, and the truth to recognize and respect the dignity of all life.
As we celebrate World Human Rights Day, we reflect on the words of the Dalai Lama and how we can apply his teachings in our daily lives. Let us remember that regardless of where we come from, we are all essentially the same.
tutti noi we seek happiness and try to avoid suffering.
We all have the same basic needs and concerns. We extend this understanding to all living beings, recognizing their rights and working towards a world where all can live free and in peace.
You can read the full speech , promising: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1989/lama/facts/
We dedicate our prayers to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to all those who work for Peace in the world.