In a world overwhelmed by actions and its consequences, the Dalai Lama backed the ancient Indian value system as the guiding light to all present elucidations. The spiritual leader spoke passionately about the essentiality of the revival of Indian wisdom gained over thousands of years, in a virtual conversation with Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode, facilitated by the Mind Mingle Education, here on Tuesday.
Interacting from his residence in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama, elaborated on the culture of emotions as critical to global education. He said ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) and ‘Karuna’ (compassion) were advocated several thousand years ago by Indian rishis and these ancient Indian values need to be taught to the anxious and fear-prone modern mind. ‘Karuna’, brings inner peace and strength, coupled with the restraining virtue of the concept of ‘Ahimsa’ is what will make knowledge truly complete and thereby help achieve happiness.
The session, ‘Need for Secular Ethics in Modern Education System’, was moderated by Naveen Sharma, co-founder Mind Mingle education.
Freedom the ultimate goal
On being probed about freedom as the ultimate goal of education, by Prof Chatterjee, the Dalai Lama replied, “Parochialism and narrow religious beliefs are not good for the world. Religion should remain strictly a personal pursuit. However, the ancient Indian knowledge of the mind has universal relevance.” He cited the example of global warming, caused by the weaponised mind, that does not make a distinction between north, south, east and west. “Freeing the mind is what will lead to happiness which is the true goal of education,” he said.
Later, Prof Chatterjee added, “IIMK has been steadfast on a fulfilling pursuit to globalise Indian thought over its 25-year old transcending journey. His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message to revive the ancient Indian school of thought remains close to our vision as we have chosen to think in terms of what IIM Kozhikode will be able to contribute to India and the world three decades from now and thereby emerge as a torchbearer of the Indian value system by 2047 – the year IIMK turns fifty and independent India as an country completes a century.”
IIM Kozhikode had also organised the International Conference on ‘Globalising Indian Thought’ ( GIT 2020), inaugurated by the Prime Ministerin January this year, where inquisitive and keen minds across professions and vocations came together to deliberate on the ageless Indian ideas converging into a plethora of creative platforms. IIM K also recently kicked of its year-long silver jubilee celebrations to commemorate its 25th Foundation Day (21 August 2020).