During the arduous escape to India across the Himalayas, Tibetan refugees carried hundreds of manuscripts, often sacrificing their own lives to preserve them. Many of these precious texts were handed over to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who established the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India, with the aim of preserving and promoting Tibetan heritage. Today, this library is internationally recognized as a prominent educational center specializing in language, philosophy, culture, translation, and science. Its museum houses countless manuscripts, hundreds of thangka scrolls, and numerous artworks.
Yaron Barzilay: Could you tell us something about your life journey so far? Geshe Lhakdor: I was born in Tibet and in my younger days, I escaped to India and attended a regular school. After completing the eleventh grade, I came to the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala to study philosophy. I studied there for thirteen years. Then I went to southern India for a doctorate in theology. I worked at the Tibetan House in New Delhi, and after two and a half years, I was invited to join the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I worked as His translator for sixteen years and traveled a lot. In 2005, I became the director of this Institute.
Yaron Barzilay: As far as I know, you are also the director of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. How do you see the current situation in the world from that perspective?
Geshe Lhakdor: According to Buddhist teachings, it is very simple. One of the fundamental teachings says, “May all sentient beings be happy.” Therefore, not just human beings, but all sentient beings. That is a Buddhist prayer. It greatly emphasizes the importance of compassion and the well-being of all beings. is above globalization and is a universal principle that encompasses birds, animals, everything. But the most important principle in that is interdependence: nations need to cooperate, people need to cooperate, and we need to live in harmony with nature.
Yaron Barzilay: Would you consider the current situation in the world positive?
Geshe Lhakdor: Essentially, I would say the situation is positive. However, there are many who are resistant to change and who say, “My religion is the best.” And not only that, but also: “We should destroy all other religions.” It’s truly terrible, but it’s reality. However, today at least we are talking about globalization, environmental protection, human rights, and women’s rights. You see, we didn’t talk about these things before because there was no need or no awareness, whatever the reason may be. Today, we are forced to pay attention to these issues.
Yaron Barzilay: Certainly, it is more necessary today, but the question arises of how world leaders react to this need. Are we living in a world that nurtures spiritual needs? Or Is it a more materialistic world?
Geshe Lhakdor: I don’t want to give you a pessimistic view of the situation…
Yaron Barzilay: No, your realistic view…
Geshe Lhakdor: What world leaders are doing is far from sufficient. As you can see, most world leaders are concerned about business because their staying in power depends on the business world. Because of their money, the voice of the business world is very important. Once the world was ruled by military generals… Now the world is ruled by wealthy people. So, all leaders adapt to the wealthy, and whenever there is a possibility of making a deal, they turn a blind eye to human rights. That’s what’s happening, and it’s very sad. As long as there is economic benefit, such things are not discussed. It’s only when needs are threatened that people speak up and protest. That is definitely not good, and ordinary people can’t do much about it.
But pessimism is not the solution, and we must hope for the best. Future presidents and prime ministers will be ordinary people. i. As you correctly mentioned, we need to develop a philosophy on which we will base the upbringing of young people who care about these values, so that we can hope for good leaders who consider not only money, but also the quality of human life.
Yaron Barzilay: We previously talked about the importance of preserving the past. How do you find the balance between preserving the past and the ability to adapt to a constantly changing world?
Geshe Lhakdor: When we talk about preservation, we mean preserving what already exists. When we talk about adaptation, it is a completely new way of looking at things. It is an entirely new concept. All texts have their source that comes from Buddha. You can’t just isolate one text. Philosophical discussions are carefully written and many of these texts are based on personal experience and meditation. That is change and adaptation. Many Buddhist teachings, of course, are long-lasting, we could actually say eternal. So even when there is change, they still Things don’t change. Learning about impermanence, for example. Impermanence itself implies change. The concept is already present there.
Yaron Barzilay: Do you think there are eternal principles?
Geshe Lhakdor: Yes, and they cannot change.
Yaron Barzilay: Do the forms through which eternal principles can manifest themselves change?
Geshe Lhakdor: The way we interpret them to people, the examples we give them, can change. If you can explain Buddhist teachings using recent scientific discoveries, it will help people develop belief. The ultimate goal is to help them improve their physical and mental health. Everyone needs good mental health.
Yaron Barzilay: Is it more important than physical health?
Geshe Lhakdor: Much more important. And the mental health of people in the world is not really the best.
Yaron Barzilay: For many, Tibet is synonymous with wisdom. From a purely philosophical point of view, do you have any advice for those interested in the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism? irani sa sobom i prirodom oko nas, i tako ćemo postići zdravlje, napredak i opstanak. Buddha je ponudio mudrost koju većina ljudi ignorira, ali ako je prihvatimo i usvojimo je kao svoju filozofiju života, možemo postići pravu sreću. ethnicity. If we say one thing and do something completely different, that is not harmony. That is how we create problems. Let us try to understand the Law of Nature, nurture an impartial mental perspective, and then we will be happy.
We all want happiness. But how do we achieve it? Buddha says that happiness doesn’t come from external sources, such as parents, relatives, expensive cars, or money; all those things may provide us with some comfort and temporary happiness, but not lasting happiness. Ultimately, if we truly want long-lasting peace, it must come from within ourselves. Therefore, we need to nurture a correct mental perspective that will not be disturbed or disrupted by changing situations and events. If we don’t have that perspective, if we only chase after changing situations and events, then our happiness depends on external circumstances and we will never be happy.
What is even more important, what makes us limited, exclusive, and biased, are the negative emotions within us. Anger, jealousy, hatred… These negative emotions narrow and restrict our lives. They suffocate us. So, we need to let go of We can fight and we will be free. Buddha says that the real enemy is not somewhere outside of us, but within us. Let’s try to understand that.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama sums this up by saying that according to Buddhist philosophy, we should understand the interconnectedness of everything. The reason we should love and have compassion for others is because we are all connected. How can you be cruel and negative towards someone you depend on? If we destroy the environment, we will suffer. That is very clear.
Yaron Barzilay: That is the belief of Stoic philosophers, Aristotle and Plato. It is a simple truth. Today, we live in a seemingly educated world and most people would agree with you. And yet, people do not behave accordingly. Why is that? If they did, the world we live in would be different.
Geshe Lhakdor: That is because we are like little children. We think we are grown up. As you say, we are educated, yes, but to a certain extent: we are professors, scientists… But on the other hand, we are like Small children who only want to play with their toys as if that’s all there is. To those who are enlightened like Buddha, we are like little children who argue with each other and are distracted by trivial, unimportant things. We don’t have time to think about more important matters. And people who have time and some knowledge can’t practice it because they are accustomed to something else their whole lives. It is difficult to get rid of old, ingrained habits that are often addictions.
Yaron Barzilay: So, the challenge is to live in accordance with what we believe is right?
Geshe Lhakdor: Exactly. It is a process. Buddhist texts clearly state that we are like mirrors. If we look into a mirror and see a dark spot, we must remove it. If we look into a mirror and see that dark spot and do nothing, what’s the point of looking into the mirror? Similarly, if the text says that compassion is good, we must ask ourselves, “Am I compassionate?” If I’m not, I need to cultivate compassion. Anger is bad. Am I angry? Yes, there is anger present in me and I must remove it, like removing a dark stain. That’s what the process consists of. However, we usually look in the mirror and do nothing. We’re all sailing on the same boat. Most of us lack knowledge. Those who have knowledge, don’t apply it. That’s the problem.
Yaron Barzilay: I have read many stories about Western explorers embarking on arduous journeys in search of the mystical land of Tibet…
Geshe Lhakdor: Shangri-La.
Yaron Barzilay: And for centuries, foreigners were even forbidden to enter Tibet?
Geshe Lhakdor: Yes, yes. Every government has its own rules and regulations.
Yaron Barzilay: And, if I may notice, Tibet today is completely different from what it was a hundred years ago. Does that have any significance?
Geshe Lhakdor: That’s what I was talking about. If you go against nature, sooner or later you will lose. The isolation of Tibetans from the world is almost like going against nature because the rest of the world is interconnected and interdependent. progressed, in terms of science and technology. However, Tibetans believed they had enough. They lived peacefully and contentedly. However, due to a lack of contact with the outside world, there was no modernization, science, and technology. China could easily enter and overrun them. You cannot be happy in your own bubble without seeing what is happening outside. That is Buddhist teaching. Look at nature, at reality, that is essential.
Some people say that Buddhism is pessimistic. I tell them that Buddhism is realistic, but the people who practice it are not. That is the problem. There is a conflict between the teachings and those who practice them.
Yaron Barzilay: Realistic would, by definition, mean positive?
Geshe Lhakdor: Certainly, it is positive. Reality is something we must accept. That is why Buddha spoke of illness, suffering, and death. That is reality. Not only in the lecture hall but also in life, a person needs to have an open mind that is ready to accept reality and not limit itself to one small segment. Words: “This is the best.” How can you claim that your religion is the best if you know nothing about any other religion? We should learn even from those philosophies whose arguments are not convincing to us, because Buddhist teachings say that lower philosophical thoughts are like stairs that we must climb to reach higher thoughts. If we don’t know where we’re making mistakes, how will we reach a place where there are no mistakes? It is necessary to open up, listen, and talk to other people. That didn’t happen.
Yaron Barzilay: Can the philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism have a role in today’s world?
Geshe Lhakdor: The most important key is to develop compassion towards everyone. But people are people. How many of them can truly practice it? It’s not easy because as humans, we have weaknesses and flaws. You say something, I get angry, and my compassion disappears. The desired goal should be to see everything in the same light, even the tiniest insects, and that’s not simple.
It is insane to hurt others because of negative emotions. we are harming each other, setting up obstacles for one another, and not living in peace. Just look at the so-called Great Powers that have become powerful and mighty due to the weapons they have amassed. The military and weaponry are used to kill people, and yet we still claim to be intelligent human beings? We find ourselves in a phase where no one can stop us. You are familiar with what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and today the weaponry is even more powerful. That is why we need wisdom.
With just a little common sense, the world would be governed by goodness, even if we don’t understand the fine structure of the atomic nucleus. In ancient times, people didn’t have that knowledge, yet they lived in harmony. That’s why Buddha didn’t answer some very important questions like, “Does the Universe have a beginning?” or “Is there life after death?”
You see, you don’t need to have an answer to every question. A person who is starving doesn’t need a lavish feast; they need something to eat. That’s the situation today. If you are deeply knowledgeable in philosophy, that’s good, but Even if you’re not, there should at least be common sense. Are we ready to practice that? That is the problem.
Yaron Barzilay: I agree. That is a reasonable way of life.
Geshe Lhakdor: Yes. And the most important teaching of Buddhism says that even if the whole world is in turmoil, we must maintain our inner peace.
Yaron Barzilay: Do you mean the teaching of the Stoics who say, “Be like a rock against which waves break”?
Geshe Lhakdor: Exactly. That’s it.