Voice of Justice, Statement from the Dalai Lama for Global Peace Initiative of Women Jaipur Summit

Phnom Penh Post, Issue 17 / 05, March 7 - 20, 2008

It gives me great satisfaction to know that the Global Peace Initiative of Women will be meeting once more in 2008. I believe it is significant that your meeting is taking place here in India, a country which has since ancient times placed great value on ahimsa or nonviolence.

Peace is not something which exists independently of us, any more than does war. Those who are responsible for creating and keeping the peace are members of our own human family, the society that we as individuals participate in and help to create. Peace in the world thus depends on there being peace in the hearts of individuals. Peace based merely on political considerations or prompted by other compulsions will only be temporary and superficial.

I believe that in ancient times the status of men and women was more or less equal, with everyone sharing an equal load of work. Then, with the establishment of settled communities, power became a factor between them. And the basis for power was physical; therefore, because they are generally physically stronger, men came to dominate women.

In modern times, with the introduction of education for all, the basis for power, survival and improvement has been the brain, so the difference between men and women has changed and become less obvious.

The recent era, from the 17th through to the end of the 20th centuries, has been dominated by war and therefore the war hero became an object of admiration. However, now in the 21st century, when the world is so much more interdependent, compassion and warm heartedness are required. women are more of this nature, while men are more brutal – for example I believe almost all butchers are men. In order to create a genuine, peaceful society we need more warm heartedness so the role of women is important.

In recent times humanity has experienced surprising progress as a result of achievements in the fields of technology and science, but at the same time other experiences have been awful. During the 20th century, a greater number of human beings met their deaths through violence than at any other time, and the damage done to the natural environment was very serious. But as a result of these experiences, humanity is becoming more mature, an indication of which is the evident and growing concern for peace, non-violence, and human rights. Even politicians increasingly talk about ‘compassion’ and ‘reconciliation.’ Peace is increasingly a mainstream concern.

Peaceful living is about trusting those on whom we depend and caring for those who depend on us. Even if only a few individuals try to create mental peace and happiness within themselves and act responsibly and kind-heartedly towards others, they will have a positive influence in their community. As well as being equally capable, women have an equal responsibility to do this.n I am convinced that concerned groups and individuals everywhere have a responsibility to work for peace. We have an obligation to promote a new vision of society. One in which war has no place in resolving disputes among states, communities or individuals, but in which non-violence is the pre-eminent value in all human relations. In today’s reality the only way of resolving differences is through dialogue and compromise, through human understanding and humility.

For many years I have tried to promote positive human values and the importance of compassion in human society. It is clear to me that taking steps to ensure the welfare and protection of women and children, improving their prospects for health, education and economic development and encouraging women in leadership roles can only benefit them and society at large. I also fully support the goal of working to bring about a positive transformation in our efforts to secure genuine world peace. I believe that the Global Peace Initiative of Women can make a significant contribution in this direction. I offer my greetings to all who participate in and attend your conference.

Remembering the kind influence of my own mother, I pray that women working for inner peace, and through that peace in the world, may be blessed with success.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama 19 December 2007

I find this statement timely in light of International Women’s Day this March 8; and it is being transmitted from the airport lounge of Bangkok as the Venerables Hiek Sopheap and Vy Sovechea, former Jesuit priest and peace activist Bob Maat and I await our connecting flight to Delhi to join hundreds of other peacemakers and religious and civil society leaders from around the world in Jaipur, India for the GPIW Summit “Making Way for the Feminine for the Benefit of the World Community”. To read past VOJ articles, please visit www.csdcambodia.org “Voice of Justice Program”. – Theary Seng, 5 March 2008.