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Dalai Lama Message

Today, together with a growing appreciation of the importance of human rights there is a greater awareness worldwide of the need for the protection not only of the environment, but also of animals and their rights. Unfortunately, there continue to be those who feel it is acceptable to hunt, abuse or exploit animal, resulting in their suffering and their painful deaths. This seems to contradict the general spirit of egalitarianism growing in most societies today.

I deeply believe that human beings are basically gentle by nature and I feel that not only should we maintain gentle and peaceful relation with our fellow human being but that it is also very important to extend the same kind of attitude towards the environment and the animal who naturally live in harmony with it. As a boy studying Buddhism in Tibet, I was taught the importance of a caring attitude towards others. Such a practice of non-violence applies to all sentient being -- any living thing that has a mind. Where there is a mind, there are feeling such as pain, pleasure and joy. No sentient beings want pain, stead all want happiness. Since we all share these feelings at some basic level, we a a rational human beings have an obligation to contribute in whatever way we can to the happiness of other species and try our best to relive their fears and sufferings.

The book Nilgiri Elegies: Reflections from the Indian Jungle on People, Animals and Nature contains the poetic reflections of its author, Dr. Michael W. Fox, who with his wife Deanna Krantz, as been instrumental in establishing a refuge for animals in the Nilgiri Hills of South India. It is a place where animals who have worked all their lives can retire, where sick animals can be healed. This work is an inspiring example of compassion in action. I firmly believe that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warn-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove our fears or insecurities and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.

I pray no only that the help being given to animals in the Nilgiris may continue, but also that other people may be inspired to emulate this good work of setting up similar animal refuges elsewhere in the world.

October 31, 2002