It is reported here The Dalai Lama engages students and faculty in academic debates at Emory University. Could we respectfully request also a debate session with The Dalai Lama on Dorje Shugden?
ATLANTA, Georgia – The Dalai Lama’s feel-good teachings about grounding a secular ethics in the innate goodness of human beings was subjected to respectful but rigorous conversations with Emory University students and with professors of religion, theology, psychology and ethics today, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.
The conversation comes mid-week of the Dalai Lama’s once-every-three year lecture visit at the university as a Presidential Distinguished Professor and co-founder of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. The Dalai Lama, considered the reincarnated form of a line of enlightened Tibetan Buddhist teachers, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is the spiritual leader for Tibetan Buddhists and recognized globally as a leader for peace and compassion among all groups.
The Dalai Lama, in his brief remarks before responding to questions from faculty members, repeated his disclaimer about his position as a professor.
“I am a disgrace of a hopeless professor,” the Dalai Lama said, adding one of his characteristic chuckles – which never failed to stir an answering breeze of laughter from the students, faculty and friends of the university gathered in the concert hall. “I’ve never done the homework.”
But what the Dalai Lama has done, which includes updating science curriculum in his monastery’s schools and studying himself, is to live out the Buddha’s teaching to which he alluded several times: Not to accept even religious teaching on faith alone, but to use examination and facts.
“Religious people should be realistic,” the Dalai Lama said.
Dalai Lama Emory Univ 10.9.13
Lama Tenzin Deshek, of the Losel Maitri Center in Birmingham, Ala., and, as far as he knows, the only Tibetan Buddhist monk in Alabama, was among the Buddhist monks who came to Emory for the three-day lecture series on secular ethics this week, Oct. 8-10, 2013. (Kay Campbell /
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Healthy values, healthy world
This year’s discussions and presentations at Emory centered on the Dalai Lama’s 2011 book, “Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World.” The book’s thesis is that human values such as compassion, honesty, love and connectedness are the natural bedrock on which the world’s religions have built their religious teachings, and that one way to create world peace is to teach these values in a secular way, that is, without using the language of theology or good and evil.
Following these values, the Dalai Lama teaches, naturally results in good results for the health of the individual, groups and the world itself.
But those are not the only “natural” attitudes that human beings value, noted Professor Philippe Rochat, who teaches in the Emory University Department of Psychology. Rochat summarized his findings that motivation based on positive values, such as compassion and empathy, seem to develop in human children alongside less positive values, such as selfishness and dishonesty.
“Are we born good, or are we fundamentally torn between positive and negative tendencies?” Rochat asked. “My research over the last 30 years shows the latter is closer to the truth, and that we respond to contradictory motivations.”
The Dalai Lama asked about his methodology, querying whether he had controlled for environmental factors such as poverty, wealth, rural and urban. Rochat said his findings were fairly consistent across those groups.
“There is a natural tendency for both positive and negative,” the Dalai Lama said, then referred to research that was summarized on Tuesday showing that people who give things away increase their happiness more than people who horde things. “This is where we need education, because science shows us that positive motivation seems better with the human body and negative is more destructive.”
“What about those who reject the idea of common humanity,” Rochat probed, to the obvious delight of the Dalai Lama, who seemed to love the give-and-take.
“At least at one level, even those people can’t deny the common experience of shared desire to achieve happiness and avoid suffering,” the Dalai Lama said.
“I don’t know,” Rochat replied.
“You don’t know?” the Dalai Lama teased, striking another rumble of laughter from the audience.
The Dalai Lama looked up as the laughter rippled around the room.
“Hopefully, everybody here is ignorant,” he said, alluding to an earlier conversation about the necessity of intellectual humility to make learning possible.
Dalai Lama Emory Univ 10.9.13
The Dalai Lama presents Emory University psychology Professor Philippe Rochat with a ceremonial scarf of appreciation following Wednesday's panel with Emory professors. The Dalai and Rochat shared a lively debate over what consitutes "natural" human motivations.
Q & A
Other interesting questions from the morning panel with students and the afternoon faculty panel, with the Dalai Lama’s often ambiguous responses, were:
Religion professor: If we learn to open our hearts to human suffering, how do we bear it?
Dalai Lama: First, develop courage to do something about it. Second, find strength by going to the deep roots of your own religious tradition. If you are not a believer, then you must find hope.
“And hope is better than no hope, right?” the Dalai Lama asked, directing his question at Rochat, who had identified himself as a non-believer. “Hope is what puts a smile on your face.”
Economics student: What constitutes an ethical economic system?
Dalai Lama: “I think I am the wrong person to ask. If I were involved in serious decisions about a company, I think within week would collapse. But no matter what system, it is the individual motivation that makes difference.
Religion professor: What about those who think it is in love that they attempt to convert others to their religion?
Dalai Lama: “In modern times, there are no boundaries between religions – everybody all together” (referring to modern diverse societies). So you have to accept several teachings in your society. In individual case, yes: You must make one choice, one religion, in order to keep one’s center of faith. But it is an old way of thinking to impose your own faith on others. The principle of non-interference is good.”
Ethics professor: Why do you avoid the discussion of “good” and “evil” in your book?
Dalai Lama: Discernment is less about good and evil than about what is beneficial and what is harmful. A fundamental human desire is to seek happiness and avoid pain. Education can help people see that some initially painful choices, say to quit taking drugs, can lead to long-term happiness.
“If you find purpose in suffering, then the physical pain is no problem,” the Dalai Lama said.
Student: What does it mean to be useful?
Dalai Lama: “To give some help. If that not possible, at least harm not. If harm another, sooner or later you feel a little uncomfortable. If you help someone, the other gets satisfaction and you get inside satisfaction of happiness.”
Ethics professor: How do you counter the American idealization of individualism?
“If you really push individualism too far, do you really want to be alone? How would you eat? Find clothes?
“We are a social animal. Our happiness depends on other – this is reality. But precisely? I don’t know.”
