The 14th Dalai Lama Speaks at UCSD

University of California San Diego welcomed the 14th Dalai Lama as their commencement speaker in June at the RIMAC Field. The Dalai Lama spoke to over 25,000 people at both the graduation and the public discussion the day prior.

Both speeches focused on the need for compassion and the importance of working together for a common goal: peace. One way the Dalai Lama believes people can come together? Through their education, which he eagerly pointed out to the new graduates. "Knowledge should be a source of peace," he said during his commencement speech, "Peace in oneself as a peaceful, happy individual." As the Dalai Lama stated during his public address, humans are a social animal––simply being good friends and building cooperation can lead to personal happiness and peace. It’s an optimistic message, one that bolsters the recent graduates and encourages them to approach the world with love and kindness as opposed to strife, something that is more relevant than ever in today’s divided political and cultural climate.

It’s apparent from the Dalai Lama’s speech that he believes––more accurately, knows––that recent graduates are the future of this world, and it’s more important than ever they use their voices and move towards acceptance, compassion and, most importantly, a future filled with peace.

The Dalai Lama is traditionally a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism who is reincarnated upon death. The 14th Dalai Lama began his current reign in 1940, and he champions nonviolence, women’s rights and animal welfare. The first Dalai Lama was established in the early fifteenth century; it is a tradition that has continued for the last six hundred years.

While there was originally controversy (through protests from Chinese students) surrounding UCSD’s announcement that the Dalai Lama would be speaking on campus, those in attendance were respectful, listening with open minds to the Dalai Lama’s message––a message of hope, compassion and a need for a better world.

A lot of that hope stems from the Dalai Lama’s personal hope that the 21st century could be the generation of communication and peace, that change and the betterment of the world will come, "not through just prayer, but through action." As the Dalai Lama told the UCSD graduates about to embark on their next adventure in life, "You have the opportunity––and also the responsibility––to create a better world, a happier world. No longer violence. No longer this huge division. You can do that." 

For Related Articles Try:

It's Training Day with Actress Katrina Law

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless

Comedy, Impersonations, and More with Jonathan Kite