Steve Jobs Speech to Stanford Graduates
Three stories
This is a copy of a speech that Steve Jobs delivered to the graduates of Stanford University.
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"I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal.
Three stories:
1) The first story is about connecting the dots.
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?
It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.
And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the
ones that looked interesting.
It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5 cent deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:
Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do.
Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.
Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
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2) My second story is about love and loss.
I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life.
Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started?
Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.
I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me - I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.
I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being
successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.
During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I retuned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.
I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.
And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.
So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.
===============================================
3) My third story is about death.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like:
"If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."
It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself:
"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"
And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means totry to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.
This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words:
"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."
It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much." - Steve Jobs - June 2005
SOURCES: www.gakusen.ac.jp
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Tuesday 11 May 2010
Walking for fun and fitness Walking for good health
Walking for fun and fitness Walking for good health
How many times we have made resolutions to engage in some sort of physical activity to keep us fit and failed to keep our promises. Yes, Gyms are expensive, we do not have time, I am too old to go to a gym.
Today, I am going to recommend you a simple fitness solution. Which is walking.
Walking is an excellent exercise to improve and maintain our health. Just 30 minutes of regular walk can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power and endurance. Walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training.
You can get out and walk without worrying about some of the risks associated with other more vigorous forms of exercise. It’s also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly or those who haven’t exercised in a long time.
Walking pose little health risk but, if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you begin.
To get the health benefits, try to walk for at least 30 minutes as briskly as you can most days of the week. ‘Brisk’ means that you can still talk but not sing, and you may be puffing slightly.
Wear a pedometer
A pedometer measures the number of steps you take. You can use it to measure your movement throughout a day and compare it to other days or to recommended steps. This may motivate you to move more. The recommended number of steps accumulated per day to achieve health benefits is 10,000 steps or more.
Walking alone
There are various ways to make sure that your daily walk doesn’t become boring.
If you want to stick close to home and limit your walking to neighbourhood streets, pick different routes so you don’t get tired of seeing the same sights.
If you feel unsafe walking alone, find one or more friends or family members to walk with.
Walk at various times of the day. The sights you see early morning are bound to be different to those of the afternoon or early evening.
Drive to different reserves, park the car and enjoy the views while you walk.
A dog that needs regular exercise gives you the motivation to walk every day. You might like the companionship too. If you don’t have a dog, and aren’t planning on getting one, consider offering to walk a neighbour’s dog from time to time.
Walking with others
Walking with others can turn a bout of exercise into an enjoyable social occasion.
Schedule a regular family walk - this is a great way to pass on healthy habits to your children and spend time together, while getting fit at the same time
If walking with children, make sure the route and length of time spent walking is appropriate to their age.
Babies and young toddlers enjoy long walks in the pram. Take the opportunity to point out items of interest to them, such as vehicles, flowers and other pedestrians.
Look for the self-guided nature walks, which have been set up in many parks. Younger children enjoy looking for the next numbered post; older ones can learn about the plants and animals of the park, and perhaps take photos or record their experience in other ways.
Ask neighbours or friends if they would like to join you on your walks. You could have a regular ‘beat’ around the neighbourhood, or meet at various reserves.
Safety suggestions
Walking is generally a safe way to exercise, but look out for unexpected hazards.
Remember to warm up and cool down to reduce the risk of injuries.
Wear sunglasses, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat to avoid sunburn.
Carry a walking stick or umbrella to fend off unleashed, unfriendly dogs.
Wear appropriate footwear to reduce the risk of blisters.
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your walk.
Benefits of walking
To conclude, walking is an excellent exercise to maintain our health. Walking improves cardiovascular, heart and lung fitness, reduces risk of heart disease and stroke, improves management of hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes. It reduces body fat and increases muscle strength and endurance. Let us not have any more reasons not to keep our resolution of becoming fit.
Regards,
Pradeep John Farias
CPA Australia, ACMA (CIMA,UK)
Melbourne, Australia
How many times we have made resolutions to engage in some sort of physical activity to keep us fit and failed to keep our promises. Yes, Gyms are expensive, we do not have time, I am too old to go to a gym.
Today, I am going to recommend you a simple fitness solution. Which is walking.
Walking is an excellent exercise to improve and maintain our health. Just 30 minutes of regular walk can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power and endurance. Walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training.
You can get out and walk without worrying about some of the risks associated with other more vigorous forms of exercise. It’s also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly or those who haven’t exercised in a long time.
Walking pose little health risk but, if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you begin.
To get the health benefits, try to walk for at least 30 minutes as briskly as you can most days of the week. ‘Brisk’ means that you can still talk but not sing, and you may be puffing slightly.
Wear a pedometer
A pedometer measures the number of steps you take. You can use it to measure your movement throughout a day and compare it to other days or to recommended steps. This may motivate you to move more. The recommended number of steps accumulated per day to achieve health benefits is 10,000 steps or more.
Walking alone
There are various ways to make sure that your daily walk doesn’t become boring.
If you want to stick close to home and limit your walking to neighbourhood streets, pick different routes so you don’t get tired of seeing the same sights.
If you feel unsafe walking alone, find one or more friends or family members to walk with.
Walk at various times of the day. The sights you see early morning are bound to be different to those of the afternoon or early evening.
Drive to different reserves, park the car and enjoy the views while you walk.
A dog that needs regular exercise gives you the motivation to walk every day. You might like the companionship too. If you don’t have a dog, and aren’t planning on getting one, consider offering to walk a neighbour’s dog from time to time.
Walking with others
Walking with others can turn a bout of exercise into an enjoyable social occasion.
Schedule a regular family walk - this is a great way to pass on healthy habits to your children and spend time together, while getting fit at the same time
If walking with children, make sure the route and length of time spent walking is appropriate to their age.
Babies and young toddlers enjoy long walks in the pram. Take the opportunity to point out items of interest to them, such as vehicles, flowers and other pedestrians.
Look for the self-guided nature walks, which have been set up in many parks. Younger children enjoy looking for the next numbered post; older ones can learn about the plants and animals of the park, and perhaps take photos or record their experience in other ways.
Ask neighbours or friends if they would like to join you on your walks. You could have a regular ‘beat’ around the neighbourhood, or meet at various reserves.
Safety suggestions
Walking is generally a safe way to exercise, but look out for unexpected hazards.
Remember to warm up and cool down to reduce the risk of injuries.
Wear sunglasses, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat to avoid sunburn.
Carry a walking stick or umbrella to fend off unleashed, unfriendly dogs.
Wear appropriate footwear to reduce the risk of blisters.
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your walk.
Benefits of walking
To conclude, walking is an excellent exercise to maintain our health. Walking improves cardiovascular, heart and lung fitness, reduces risk of heart disease and stroke, improves management of hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes. It reduces body fat and increases muscle strength and endurance. Let us not have any more reasons not to keep our resolution of becoming fit.
Regards,
Pradeep John Farias
CPA Australia, ACMA (CIMA,UK)
Melbourne, Australia
Make happiness a habit
Make happiness a habit
JEMIMA MARGARET ELIOT Times New Network , May 11, 2010, 10.20am IST
For your heart’s sake, make happiness a habit.
They don’t call it a hearty laugh without reason. Substituting a fang-baring, expletive-spewing expression with a pleasant smile does a lot of good to your heart, says a recent research.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston reported that positive moods and attitudes protected people, especially the elderly, against heart disease. Even incremental increases in happiness helped: For every step up on the researchers’ happiness scale, male participants’ stroke risk dropped 41 per cent and women’s risk dropped 18 per cent.
“It’s old hat that emotions do affect the heart,” says cardiologist Manoj Agarwal and adds that heart-related problems are “common in people who are prone to depression and are impatient, get angry easily, have difficulty expressing emotions, are too competitive, perfectionists and those who place an unhealthy dependence on external rewards such as wealth, status, or power.”
Also rage seems to be the new age disease — attitude sporting, multi-tasking Gen Y is clearly flirting with heart disease as psychologist Sujatha Raman points out that “with the emergence of MNCs there’s been a rise in referrals from cardiologists for anger management for the city’s young work force.”
Provoked
All of us are familiar with the pounding of the heart, when one’s angry. Rage results in hormonal secretions that cause a rise in the heart rate and can cause “a spasm in the arteries in normal people. Imagine the effect that it has on people already with a block in their arteries,” says Agarwal. Anger is an impulsive reaction over which the perpetuator has little control, but today there are techniques that help people deal with their outbursts.
Raman talks of a fun game where the patient is provoked to elicit an angry response and he wins points at every instance he does not succumb to the provocation. “We also ask patients to list anger-provoking incidents in the month, ask them to identify the trigger factor and give them a back-up plan on how to deal with a similar situation when it arises,” she explains.
Psychiatrist Dr Prabhakar Korada suggests deep-breathing techniques to avert a rage attack — “When we get angry our heart rate increases and a patient is taught to divert attention to the heartbeat and reduce it consciously with the help of breathing techniques.”
Even faking helps
Getting out of the vice-hold of anger and irritability is of course the first step and the second step is to “make happiness a habit,” says Korada, adding that “even faking it has its benefits as the prolonged practice is habit forming and you start eliciting positive vibes from people”. Though not many take kindly to the benefit of laughter groups, terming it as forced laughter, Korada says that “social grouping and sharing at these clubs reduces stress and laughter has its benefits — it’s infectious, has all the benefits of pranayama, is a good workout for the chest muscles and increases the venous and lymphatic circulation in the body.” Yoga therapist Rita Khanna reveals that laughter yoga is about “self-triggered laughter and is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict”.
Get hitched
A Tel Aviv University study done on more than 10,000 Israeli men found that those who were married at midlife were 64 per cent less likely to die of a stroke during the next 34 years than single men. Agarwal agrees that “happy family relations with spouse and kids go a long way in de-stressing a person and shielding them from stress-related heart diseases.” Raman points out that “partners who have occasional squabbles are better off heart-wise that a single person.”
Don’t worry, be happy
The ‘no worries’ motto of Timon and Pumba in The Lion King is something Korada advises. “Learn to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake instead of whipping yourself emotionally. Humour is good for you, it reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline like-substances and increases endorphins in the bloodstream which are responsible for the feel-good experience.”
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to laugh your heart out.
SOURCES : THE TIMES OF INDIA jemima.margaret@timesgroup.com
JEMIMA MARGARET ELIOT Times New Network , May 11, 2010, 10.20am IST
For your heart’s sake, make happiness a habit.
They don’t call it a hearty laugh without reason. Substituting a fang-baring, expletive-spewing expression with a pleasant smile does a lot of good to your heart, says a recent research.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston reported that positive moods and attitudes protected people, especially the elderly, against heart disease. Even incremental increases in happiness helped: For every step up on the researchers’ happiness scale, male participants’ stroke risk dropped 41 per cent and women’s risk dropped 18 per cent.
“It’s old hat that emotions do affect the heart,” says cardiologist Manoj Agarwal and adds that heart-related problems are “common in people who are prone to depression and are impatient, get angry easily, have difficulty expressing emotions, are too competitive, perfectionists and those who place an unhealthy dependence on external rewards such as wealth, status, or power.”
Also rage seems to be the new age disease — attitude sporting, multi-tasking Gen Y is clearly flirting with heart disease as psychologist Sujatha Raman points out that “with the emergence of MNCs there’s been a rise in referrals from cardiologists for anger management for the city’s young work force.”
Provoked
All of us are familiar with the pounding of the heart, when one’s angry. Rage results in hormonal secretions that cause a rise in the heart rate and can cause “a spasm in the arteries in normal people. Imagine the effect that it has on people already with a block in their arteries,” says Agarwal. Anger is an impulsive reaction over which the perpetuator has little control, but today there are techniques that help people deal with their outbursts.
Raman talks of a fun game where the patient is provoked to elicit an angry response and he wins points at every instance he does not succumb to the provocation. “We also ask patients to list anger-provoking incidents in the month, ask them to identify the trigger factor and give them a back-up plan on how to deal with a similar situation when it arises,” she explains.
Psychiatrist Dr Prabhakar Korada suggests deep-breathing techniques to avert a rage attack — “When we get angry our heart rate increases and a patient is taught to divert attention to the heartbeat and reduce it consciously with the help of breathing techniques.”
Even faking helps
Getting out of the vice-hold of anger and irritability is of course the first step and the second step is to “make happiness a habit,” says Korada, adding that “even faking it has its benefits as the prolonged practice is habit forming and you start eliciting positive vibes from people”. Though not many take kindly to the benefit of laughter groups, terming it as forced laughter, Korada says that “social grouping and sharing at these clubs reduces stress and laughter has its benefits — it’s infectious, has all the benefits of pranayama, is a good workout for the chest muscles and increases the venous and lymphatic circulation in the body.” Yoga therapist Rita Khanna reveals that laughter yoga is about “self-triggered laughter and is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict”.
Get hitched
A Tel Aviv University study done on more than 10,000 Israeli men found that those who were married at midlife were 64 per cent less likely to die of a stroke during the next 34 years than single men. Agarwal agrees that “happy family relations with spouse and kids go a long way in de-stressing a person and shielding them from stress-related heart diseases.” Raman points out that “partners who have occasional squabbles are better off heart-wise that a single person.”
Don’t worry, be happy
The ‘no worries’ motto of Timon and Pumba in The Lion King is something Korada advises. “Learn to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake instead of whipping yourself emotionally. Humour is good for you, it reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline like-substances and increases endorphins in the bloodstream which are responsible for the feel-good experience.”
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to laugh your heart out.
SOURCES : THE TIMES OF INDIA jemima.margaret@timesgroup.com
Monday 22 March 2010
"The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved thr
The 14th Dalai Lama
The Nobel Peace Prize 1989
Nobel Lecture
Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1989
Brothers and Sisters:
It is an honour and pleasure to be among you today. I am really happy to see so many old friends who have come from different corners of the world, and to make new friends, whom I hope to meet again in the future. When I meet people in different parts of the world, I am always reminded that we are all basically alike: we are all human beings. Maybe we have different clothes, our skin is of a different colour, or we speak different languages. That is on the surface. But basically, we are the same human beings. That is what binds us to each other. That is what makes it possible for us to understand each other and to develop friendship and closeness.
Thinking over what I might say today, I decided to share with you some of my thoughts concerning the common problems all of us face as members of the human family. Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We are dependent on each other in so many ways, that we can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what is happening outside those communities, and we must share the good fortune that we enjoy. I speak to you as just another human being; as a simple monk. If you find what I say useful, then I hope you will try to practise it.
I also wish to share with you today my feelings concerning the plight and aspirations of the people of Tibet. The Nobel Prize is a prize they well deserve for their courage and unfailing determination during the past forty years of foreign occupation. As a free spokesman for my captive countrymen and -women, I feel it is my duty to speak out on their behalf. I speak not with a feeling of anger or hatred towards those who are responsible for the immense suffering of our people and the destruction of our land, homes and culture. They too are human beings who struggle to find happiness and deserve our compassion. I speak to inform you of the sad situation in my country today and of the aspirations of my people, because in our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.
The realisation that we are all basically the same human beings, who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering, is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others. This, in turn, is essential if we are to survive in this ever shrinking world we live in. For if we each selfishly pursue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without caring about the needs of others, we not only may end up harming others but also ourselves. This fact has become very clear during the course of this century. We know that to wage a nuclear war today, for example, would be a form of suicide; or that by polluting the air or the oceans, in order to achieve some short-term benefit, we are destroying the very basis for our survival. As interdependents, therefore, we have no other choice than to develop what I call a sense of universal responsibility.
Today, we are truly a global family. What happens in one part of the world may affect us all. This, of course, is not only true of the negative things that happen, but is equally valid for the positive developments. We not only know what happens elsewhere, thanks to the extraordinary modern communications technology. We are also directly affected by events that occur far away. We feel a sense of sadness when children are starving in Eastern Africa. Similarly, we feel a sense of joy when a family is reunited after decades of separation by the Berlin Wall. Our crops and livestock are contaminated and our health and livelihood threatened when a nuclear accident happens miles away in another country. Our own security is enhanced when peace breaks out between warring parties in other continents.
But war or peace; the destruction or the protection of nature; the violation or promotion of human rights and democratic freedoms; poverty or material well-being; the lack of moral and spiritual values or their existence and development; and the breakdown or development of human understanding, are not isolated phenomena that can be analysed and tackled independently of one another. In fact, they are very much interrelated at all levels and need to be approached with that understanding.
Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighbouring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. The other phenomena mentioned above are similarly interrelated. Thus, for example, we see that a clean environment, wealth or democracy mean little in the face of war, especially nuclear war, and that material development is not sufficient to ensure human happiness.
Material progress is of course important for human advancement. In Tibet, we paid much too little attention to technological and economic development, and today we realise that this was a mistake. At the same time, material development without spiritual development can also cause serious problems, In some countries too much attention is paid to external things and very little importance is given to inner development. I believe both are important and must be developed side by side so as to achieve a good balance between them. Tibetans are always described by foreign visitors as being a happy, jovial people. This is part of our national character, formed by cultural and religious values that stress the importance of mental peace through the generation of love and kindness to all other living sentient beings, both human and animal. Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. That is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.
Clearly, it is of great importance, therefore, to understand the interrelationship among these and other phenomena, and to approach and attempt to solve problems in a balanced way that takes these different aspects into consideration. Of course it is not easy. But it is of little benefit to try to solve one problem if doing so creates an equally serious new one. So really we have no alternative: we must develop a sense of universal responsibility not only in the geographic sense, but also in respect to the different issues that confront our planet.
Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each one of us individually. Peace, for example, starts with each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighbouring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness. For some of us, the most effective way to do so is through religious practice. For others it may be non-religious practices. What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment we live in seriously.
I am very encouraged by the developments which are taking place around us. After the young people of many countries, particularly in northern Europe, have repeatedly called for an end to the dangerous destruction of the environment which was being conducted in the name of economic development, the world's political leaders are now starting to take meaningful steps to address this problem. The report to the United Nations Secretary-General by the World Commission on the Environment and Development (the Brundtland Report) was an important step in educating governments on the urgency of the issue. Serious efforts to bring peace to war-torn zones and to implement the right to self-determination of some people have resulted in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and the establishment of independent Namibia. Through persistent nonviolent popular efforts dramatic changes, bringing many countries closer to real democracy, have occurred in many places, from Manila in the Philippines to Berlin in East Germany. With the Cold War era apparently drawing to a close, people everywhere live with renewed hope. Sadly, the courageous efforts of the Chinese people to bring similar change to their country was brutally crushed last June. But their efforts too are a source of hope. The military might has not extinguished the desire for freedom and the determination of the Chinese people to achieve it. I particularly admire the fact that these young people who have been taught that "power grows from the barrel of the gun", chose, instead, to use nonviolence as their weapon.
What these positive changes indicate, is that reason, courage, determination, and the inextinguishable desire for freedom can ultimately win. In the struggle between forces of war, violence and oppression on the one hand, and peace, reason and freedom on the other, the latter are gaining the upper hand. This realisation fills us Tibetans with hope that some day we too will once again be free.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize to me, a simple monk from faraway Tibet, here in Norway, also fills us Tibetans with hope. It means, despite the fact that we have not drawn attention to our plight by means of violence, we have not been forgotten. It also means that the values we cherish, in particular our respect for all forms of life and the belief in the power of truth, are today recognised and encouraged. It is also a tribute to my mentor, Mahatma Gandhi, whose example is an inspiration to so many of us. This year's award is an indication that this sense of universal responsibility is developing. I am deeply touched by the sincere concern shown by so many people in this part of the world for the suffering of the people of Tibet. That is a source of hope not only for us Tibetans, but for all oppressed people.
As you know, Tibet has, for forty years, been under foreign occupation. Today, more than a quarter of a million Chinese troops are stationed in Tibet. Some sources estimate the occupation army to be twice this strength. During this time, Tibetans have been deprived of their most basic human rights, including the right to life, movement, speech, worship, only to mention a few. More than one sixth of Tibet's population of six million died as a direct result of the Chinese invasion and occupation. Even before the Cultural Revolution started, many of Tibet's monasteries, temples and historic buildings were destroyed. Almost everything that remained was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. I do not wish to dwell on this point, which is well documented. What is important to realise, however, is that despite the limited freedom granted after 1979, to rebuild parts of some monasteries and other such tokens of liberalisation, the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people are still today being systematically violated. In recent months this bad situation has become even worse.
If it were not for our community in exile, so generously sheltered and supported by the government and people of India and helped by organisations and individuals from many parts of the world, our nation would today be little more than a shattered remnant of a people. Our culture, religion and national identity would have been effectively eliminated. As it is, we have built schools and monasteries in exile and have created democratic institutions to serve our people and preserve the seeds of our civilisation. With this experience, we intend to implement full democracy in a future free Tibet. Thus, as we develop our community in exile on modern lines, we also cherish and preserve our own identity and culture and bring hope to millions of our countrymen and -women in Tibet.
The issue of most urgent concern at this time, is the massive influx of Chinese settlers into Tibet. Although in the first decades of occupation a considerable number of Chinese were transferred into the eastern parts of Tibet - in the Tibetan provinces of Amdo (Chinghai) and Kham (most of which has been annexed by neighboring Chinese provinces) - since 1983 an unprecedented number of Chinese have been encouraged by their government to migrate to all parts of Tibet, including central and western Tibet (which the People's Republic of China refers to as the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region). Tibetans are rapidly being reduced to an insignificant minority in their own country. This development, which threatens the very survival of the Tibetan nation, its culture and spiritual heritage, can still be stopped and reversed. But this must be done now, before it is too late.
The new cycle of protest and violent repression, which started in Tibet in September of 1987 and culminated in the imposition of martial law in the capital, Lhasa, in March of this year, was in large part a reaction to this tremendous Chinese influx. Information reaching us in exile indicates that the protest marches and other peaceful forms of protest are continuing in Lhasa and a number of other places in Tibet, despite the severe punishment and inhumane treatment given to Tibetans detained for expressing their grievances. The number of Tibetans killed by security forces during the protest in March and of those who died in detention afterwards is not known but is believed to be more than two hundred. Thousands have been detained or arrested and imprisoned, and torture is commonplace.
It was against the background of this worsening situation and in order to prevent further bloodshed, that I proposed what is generally referred to as the Five-Point Peace Plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. I elaborated on the plan in a speech in Strasbourg last year. I believe the plan provides a reasonable and realistic framework for negotiations with the People's Republic of China. So far, however, China's leaders have been unwilling to respond constructively. The brutal suppression of the Chinese democracy movement in June of this year, however, reinforced my view that any settlement of the Tibetan question will only be meaningful if it is supported by adequate international guarantees.
The Five-Point Peace Plan addresses the principal and interrelated issues, which I referred to in the first part of this lecture. It calls for (1) Transformation of the whole of Tibet, including the eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo, into a zone of Ahimsa (nonviolence); (2) Abandonment of China's population transfer policy; (3) Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental rights and democratic freedoms; (4) Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment; and (5) Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people. In the Strasbourg address I proposed that Tibet become a fully self-governing democratic political entity.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain the Zone of Ahimsa or peace sanctuary concept, which is the central element of the Five-Point Peace Plan. I am convinced that it is of great importance not only for Tibet, but for peace and stability in Asia.
It is my dream that the entire Tibetan plateau should become a free refuge where humanity and nature can live in peace and in harmonious balance. It would be a place where people from all over the world could come to seek the true meaning of peace within themselves, away from the tensions and pressures of much of the rest of the world. Tibet could indeed become a creative center for the promotion and development of peace.
The following are key elements of the proposed Zone of Ahimsa:
- the entire Tibetan plateau would be demilitarised;
- the manufacture, testing, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and other armaments on the Tibetan plateau would be prohibited;
- the Tibetan plateau would be transformed into the world's largest natural park or biosphere. Strict laws would be enforced to protect wildlife and plant life; the exploitation of natural resources would be carefully regulated so as not to damage relevant ecosystems; and a policy of sustainable development would be adopted in populated areas;
- the manufacture and use of nuclear power and other technologies which produce hazardous waste would be prohibited;
- national resources and policy would be directed towards the active promotion of peace and environmental protection. Organisations dedicated to the furtherance of peace and to the protection of all forms of life would find a hospitable home in Tibet;
- the establishment of international and regional organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights would be encouraged in Tibet.
Tibet's height and size (the size of the European Community), as well as its unique history and profound spiritual heritage makes it ideally suited to fulfill the role of a sanctuary of peace in the strategic heart of Asia. It would also be in keeping with Tibet's historical role as a peaceful Buddhist nation and buffer region separating the Asian continent's great and often rival powers.
In order to reduce existing tensions in Asia, the President of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev, proposed the demilitarisation of Soviet-Chinese borders and their transformation into "a frontier of peace and good-neighborliness". The Nepal government had earlier proposed that the Himalayan country of Nepal, bordering on Tibet, should become a zone of peace, although that proposal did not include demilitarisation of the country.
For the stability and peace of Asia, it is essential to create peace zones to separate the continent's biggest powers and potential adversaries. President Gorbachev's proposal, which also included a complete Soviet troop withdrawal from Mongolia, would help to reduce tension and the potential for confrontation between the Soviet Union and China. A true peace zone must, clearly, also be created to separate the world's two most populous states, China and India.
The establishment of the Zone of Ahimsa would require the withdrawal of troops and military installations from Tibet, which would enable India and Nepal also to withdraw troops and military installations from the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet. This would have to be achieved by international agreements. It would be in the best interest of all states in Asia, particularly China and India, as it would enhance their security, while reducing the economic burden of maintaining high troop concentrations in remote areas.
Tibet would not be the first strategic area to be demilitarised. Parts of the Sinai peninsula, the Egyptian territory separating Israel and Egypt, have been demilitarised for some time. Of course, Costa Rica is the best example of an entirely demilitarised country. Tibet would also not be the first area to be turned into a natural preserve or biosphere. Many parks have been created throughout the world. Some very strategic areas have been turned into natural "peace parks". Two examples are the La Amistad Park, on the Costa Rica-Panama border and the Si A Paz project on the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border.
When I visited Costa Rica earlier this year, I saw how a country can develop successfully without an army, to become a stable democracy committed to peace and the protection of the natural environment. This confirmed my belief that my vision of Tibet in the future is a realistic plan, not merely a dream.
Let me end with a personal note of thanks to all of you and our friends who are not here today. The concern and support which you have expressed for the plight of the Tibetans have touched us all greatly, and continue to give us courage to struggle for freedom and justice: not through the use of arms, but with the powerful weapons of truth and determination. I know that I speak on behalf of all the people of Tibet when I thank you and ask you not to forget Tibet at this critical time in our country's history. We too hope to contribute to the development of a more peaceful, more humane and more beautiful world. A future free Tibet will seek to help those in need throughout the world, to protect nature, and to promote peace. I believe that our Tibetan ability to combine spiritual qualities with a realistic and practical attitude enables us to make a special contribution, in however modest a way. This is my hope and prayer.
In conclusion, let me share with you a short prayer which gives me great inspiration and determination:
For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
Thank you.
From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1981-1990, Editor-in-Charge Tore Frängsmyr, Editor Irwin Abrams, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1997
Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 1989
The Nobel Peace Prize 1989
Nobel Lecture
Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1989
Brothers and Sisters:
It is an honour and pleasure to be among you today. I am really happy to see so many old friends who have come from different corners of the world, and to make new friends, whom I hope to meet again in the future. When I meet people in different parts of the world, I am always reminded that we are all basically alike: we are all human beings. Maybe we have different clothes, our skin is of a different colour, or we speak different languages. That is on the surface. But basically, we are the same human beings. That is what binds us to each other. That is what makes it possible for us to understand each other and to develop friendship and closeness.
Thinking over what I might say today, I decided to share with you some of my thoughts concerning the common problems all of us face as members of the human family. Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We are dependent on each other in so many ways, that we can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what is happening outside those communities, and we must share the good fortune that we enjoy. I speak to you as just another human being; as a simple monk. If you find what I say useful, then I hope you will try to practise it.
I also wish to share with you today my feelings concerning the plight and aspirations of the people of Tibet. The Nobel Prize is a prize they well deserve for their courage and unfailing determination during the past forty years of foreign occupation. As a free spokesman for my captive countrymen and -women, I feel it is my duty to speak out on their behalf. I speak not with a feeling of anger or hatred towards those who are responsible for the immense suffering of our people and the destruction of our land, homes and culture. They too are human beings who struggle to find happiness and deserve our compassion. I speak to inform you of the sad situation in my country today and of the aspirations of my people, because in our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.
The realisation that we are all basically the same human beings, who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering, is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others. This, in turn, is essential if we are to survive in this ever shrinking world we live in. For if we each selfishly pursue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without caring about the needs of others, we not only may end up harming others but also ourselves. This fact has become very clear during the course of this century. We know that to wage a nuclear war today, for example, would be a form of suicide; or that by polluting the air or the oceans, in order to achieve some short-term benefit, we are destroying the very basis for our survival. As interdependents, therefore, we have no other choice than to develop what I call a sense of universal responsibility.
Today, we are truly a global family. What happens in one part of the world may affect us all. This, of course, is not only true of the negative things that happen, but is equally valid for the positive developments. We not only know what happens elsewhere, thanks to the extraordinary modern communications technology. We are also directly affected by events that occur far away. We feel a sense of sadness when children are starving in Eastern Africa. Similarly, we feel a sense of joy when a family is reunited after decades of separation by the Berlin Wall. Our crops and livestock are contaminated and our health and livelihood threatened when a nuclear accident happens miles away in another country. Our own security is enhanced when peace breaks out between warring parties in other continents.
But war or peace; the destruction or the protection of nature; the violation or promotion of human rights and democratic freedoms; poverty or material well-being; the lack of moral and spiritual values or their existence and development; and the breakdown or development of human understanding, are not isolated phenomena that can be analysed and tackled independently of one another. In fact, they are very much interrelated at all levels and need to be approached with that understanding.
Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighbouring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. The other phenomena mentioned above are similarly interrelated. Thus, for example, we see that a clean environment, wealth or democracy mean little in the face of war, especially nuclear war, and that material development is not sufficient to ensure human happiness.
Material progress is of course important for human advancement. In Tibet, we paid much too little attention to technological and economic development, and today we realise that this was a mistake. At the same time, material development without spiritual development can also cause serious problems, In some countries too much attention is paid to external things and very little importance is given to inner development. I believe both are important and must be developed side by side so as to achieve a good balance between them. Tibetans are always described by foreign visitors as being a happy, jovial people. This is part of our national character, formed by cultural and religious values that stress the importance of mental peace through the generation of love and kindness to all other living sentient beings, both human and animal. Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. That is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.
Clearly, it is of great importance, therefore, to understand the interrelationship among these and other phenomena, and to approach and attempt to solve problems in a balanced way that takes these different aspects into consideration. Of course it is not easy. But it is of little benefit to try to solve one problem if doing so creates an equally serious new one. So really we have no alternative: we must develop a sense of universal responsibility not only in the geographic sense, but also in respect to the different issues that confront our planet.
Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each one of us individually. Peace, for example, starts with each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighbouring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness. For some of us, the most effective way to do so is through religious practice. For others it may be non-religious practices. What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment we live in seriously.
I am very encouraged by the developments which are taking place around us. After the young people of many countries, particularly in northern Europe, have repeatedly called for an end to the dangerous destruction of the environment which was being conducted in the name of economic development, the world's political leaders are now starting to take meaningful steps to address this problem. The report to the United Nations Secretary-General by the World Commission on the Environment and Development (the Brundtland Report) was an important step in educating governments on the urgency of the issue. Serious efforts to bring peace to war-torn zones and to implement the right to self-determination of some people have resulted in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and the establishment of independent Namibia. Through persistent nonviolent popular efforts dramatic changes, bringing many countries closer to real democracy, have occurred in many places, from Manila in the Philippines to Berlin in East Germany. With the Cold War era apparently drawing to a close, people everywhere live with renewed hope. Sadly, the courageous efforts of the Chinese people to bring similar change to their country was brutally crushed last June. But their efforts too are a source of hope. The military might has not extinguished the desire for freedom and the determination of the Chinese people to achieve it. I particularly admire the fact that these young people who have been taught that "power grows from the barrel of the gun", chose, instead, to use nonviolence as their weapon.
What these positive changes indicate, is that reason, courage, determination, and the inextinguishable desire for freedom can ultimately win. In the struggle between forces of war, violence and oppression on the one hand, and peace, reason and freedom on the other, the latter are gaining the upper hand. This realisation fills us Tibetans with hope that some day we too will once again be free.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize to me, a simple monk from faraway Tibet, here in Norway, also fills us Tibetans with hope. It means, despite the fact that we have not drawn attention to our plight by means of violence, we have not been forgotten. It also means that the values we cherish, in particular our respect for all forms of life and the belief in the power of truth, are today recognised and encouraged. It is also a tribute to my mentor, Mahatma Gandhi, whose example is an inspiration to so many of us. This year's award is an indication that this sense of universal responsibility is developing. I am deeply touched by the sincere concern shown by so many people in this part of the world for the suffering of the people of Tibet. That is a source of hope not only for us Tibetans, but for all oppressed people.
As you know, Tibet has, for forty years, been under foreign occupation. Today, more than a quarter of a million Chinese troops are stationed in Tibet. Some sources estimate the occupation army to be twice this strength. During this time, Tibetans have been deprived of their most basic human rights, including the right to life, movement, speech, worship, only to mention a few. More than one sixth of Tibet's population of six million died as a direct result of the Chinese invasion and occupation. Even before the Cultural Revolution started, many of Tibet's monasteries, temples and historic buildings were destroyed. Almost everything that remained was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. I do not wish to dwell on this point, which is well documented. What is important to realise, however, is that despite the limited freedom granted after 1979, to rebuild parts of some monasteries and other such tokens of liberalisation, the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people are still today being systematically violated. In recent months this bad situation has become even worse.
If it were not for our community in exile, so generously sheltered and supported by the government and people of India and helped by organisations and individuals from many parts of the world, our nation would today be little more than a shattered remnant of a people. Our culture, religion and national identity would have been effectively eliminated. As it is, we have built schools and monasteries in exile and have created democratic institutions to serve our people and preserve the seeds of our civilisation. With this experience, we intend to implement full democracy in a future free Tibet. Thus, as we develop our community in exile on modern lines, we also cherish and preserve our own identity and culture and bring hope to millions of our countrymen and -women in Tibet.
The issue of most urgent concern at this time, is the massive influx of Chinese settlers into Tibet. Although in the first decades of occupation a considerable number of Chinese were transferred into the eastern parts of Tibet - in the Tibetan provinces of Amdo (Chinghai) and Kham (most of which has been annexed by neighboring Chinese provinces) - since 1983 an unprecedented number of Chinese have been encouraged by their government to migrate to all parts of Tibet, including central and western Tibet (which the People's Republic of China refers to as the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region). Tibetans are rapidly being reduced to an insignificant minority in their own country. This development, which threatens the very survival of the Tibetan nation, its culture and spiritual heritage, can still be stopped and reversed. But this must be done now, before it is too late.
The new cycle of protest and violent repression, which started in Tibet in September of 1987 and culminated in the imposition of martial law in the capital, Lhasa, in March of this year, was in large part a reaction to this tremendous Chinese influx. Information reaching us in exile indicates that the protest marches and other peaceful forms of protest are continuing in Lhasa and a number of other places in Tibet, despite the severe punishment and inhumane treatment given to Tibetans detained for expressing their grievances. The number of Tibetans killed by security forces during the protest in March and of those who died in detention afterwards is not known but is believed to be more than two hundred. Thousands have been detained or arrested and imprisoned, and torture is commonplace.
It was against the background of this worsening situation and in order to prevent further bloodshed, that I proposed what is generally referred to as the Five-Point Peace Plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. I elaborated on the plan in a speech in Strasbourg last year. I believe the plan provides a reasonable and realistic framework for negotiations with the People's Republic of China. So far, however, China's leaders have been unwilling to respond constructively. The brutal suppression of the Chinese democracy movement in June of this year, however, reinforced my view that any settlement of the Tibetan question will only be meaningful if it is supported by adequate international guarantees.
The Five-Point Peace Plan addresses the principal and interrelated issues, which I referred to in the first part of this lecture. It calls for (1) Transformation of the whole of Tibet, including the eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo, into a zone of Ahimsa (nonviolence); (2) Abandonment of China's population transfer policy; (3) Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental rights and democratic freedoms; (4) Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment; and (5) Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people. In the Strasbourg address I proposed that Tibet become a fully self-governing democratic political entity.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain the Zone of Ahimsa or peace sanctuary concept, which is the central element of the Five-Point Peace Plan. I am convinced that it is of great importance not only for Tibet, but for peace and stability in Asia.
It is my dream that the entire Tibetan plateau should become a free refuge where humanity and nature can live in peace and in harmonious balance. It would be a place where people from all over the world could come to seek the true meaning of peace within themselves, away from the tensions and pressures of much of the rest of the world. Tibet could indeed become a creative center for the promotion and development of peace.
The following are key elements of the proposed Zone of Ahimsa:
- the entire Tibetan plateau would be demilitarised;
- the manufacture, testing, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and other armaments on the Tibetan plateau would be prohibited;
- the Tibetan plateau would be transformed into the world's largest natural park or biosphere. Strict laws would be enforced to protect wildlife and plant life; the exploitation of natural resources would be carefully regulated so as not to damage relevant ecosystems; and a policy of sustainable development would be adopted in populated areas;
- the manufacture and use of nuclear power and other technologies which produce hazardous waste would be prohibited;
- national resources and policy would be directed towards the active promotion of peace and environmental protection. Organisations dedicated to the furtherance of peace and to the protection of all forms of life would find a hospitable home in Tibet;
- the establishment of international and regional organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights would be encouraged in Tibet.
Tibet's height and size (the size of the European Community), as well as its unique history and profound spiritual heritage makes it ideally suited to fulfill the role of a sanctuary of peace in the strategic heart of Asia. It would also be in keeping with Tibet's historical role as a peaceful Buddhist nation and buffer region separating the Asian continent's great and often rival powers.
In order to reduce existing tensions in Asia, the President of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev, proposed the demilitarisation of Soviet-Chinese borders and their transformation into "a frontier of peace and good-neighborliness". The Nepal government had earlier proposed that the Himalayan country of Nepal, bordering on Tibet, should become a zone of peace, although that proposal did not include demilitarisation of the country.
For the stability and peace of Asia, it is essential to create peace zones to separate the continent's biggest powers and potential adversaries. President Gorbachev's proposal, which also included a complete Soviet troop withdrawal from Mongolia, would help to reduce tension and the potential for confrontation between the Soviet Union and China. A true peace zone must, clearly, also be created to separate the world's two most populous states, China and India.
The establishment of the Zone of Ahimsa would require the withdrawal of troops and military installations from Tibet, which would enable India and Nepal also to withdraw troops and military installations from the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet. This would have to be achieved by international agreements. It would be in the best interest of all states in Asia, particularly China and India, as it would enhance their security, while reducing the economic burden of maintaining high troop concentrations in remote areas.
Tibet would not be the first strategic area to be demilitarised. Parts of the Sinai peninsula, the Egyptian territory separating Israel and Egypt, have been demilitarised for some time. Of course, Costa Rica is the best example of an entirely demilitarised country. Tibet would also not be the first area to be turned into a natural preserve or biosphere. Many parks have been created throughout the world. Some very strategic areas have been turned into natural "peace parks". Two examples are the La Amistad Park, on the Costa Rica-Panama border and the Si A Paz project on the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border.
When I visited Costa Rica earlier this year, I saw how a country can develop successfully without an army, to become a stable democracy committed to peace and the protection of the natural environment. This confirmed my belief that my vision of Tibet in the future is a realistic plan, not merely a dream.
Let me end with a personal note of thanks to all of you and our friends who are not here today. The concern and support which you have expressed for the plight of the Tibetans have touched us all greatly, and continue to give us courage to struggle for freedom and justice: not through the use of arms, but with the powerful weapons of truth and determination. I know that I speak on behalf of all the people of Tibet when I thank you and ask you not to forget Tibet at this critical time in our country's history. We too hope to contribute to the development of a more peaceful, more humane and more beautiful world. A future free Tibet will seek to help those in need throughout the world, to protect nature, and to promote peace. I believe that our Tibetan ability to combine spiritual qualities with a realistic and practical attitude enables us to make a special contribution, in however modest a way. This is my hope and prayer.
In conclusion, let me share with you a short prayer which gives me great inspiration and determination:
For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
Thank you.
From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1981-1990, Editor-in-Charge Tore Frängsmyr, Editor Irwin Abrams, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1997
Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 1989
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Buddha Quotes
Buddha Quotes given below are just few words or a couple of sentences, but they have a meaning that is deeper and far reaching. Just read them slowly to grasp the exact meaning.
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“To understand everything is to forgive everything”
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
“However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?”
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
“You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”
“A jug fills drop by drop.”
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
“Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.”
“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others”
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
“He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”
“To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
“There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
“Life is suffering.”
“Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
“All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”
“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
“Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.”
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
“Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.”
“The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.”
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
“He is able who thinks he is able”
“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”
“I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”
“In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then beleive them to be true. “
“It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. “
“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”
“On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.”
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
“The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.“
“The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.”
“Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.”
“We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.”
SOURCE: http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“To understand everything is to forgive everything”
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
“However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?”
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
“You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”
“A jug fills drop by drop.”
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
“Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.”
“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others”
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
“He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”
“To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
“There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
“Life is suffering.”
“Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
“All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”
“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
“Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.”
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
“Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.”
“The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.”
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
“He is able who thinks he is able”
“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”
“I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”
“In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then beleive them to be true. “
“It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. “
“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”
“On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.”
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
“The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.“
“The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.”
“Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.”
“We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.”
SOURCE: http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/
Sunday 7 February 2010
Savings schemes back in favour
Savings schemes back in favour
By Bakul Chugan Tongia, ET Bureau
An anonymous author once said: “In the old days, a man who saved was a miser; nowadays, he is a wonder.” This precisely emphasises the way people have changed their perception about money.
At the same time investment patterns have also seen drastic changes in the past few years. Today, only a few of us, would prefer the conventional ways of saving as riskier assets like, equities and related instruments are much more in demand.
Savings schemes offered by the neighbourhood post office, like the National Savings Certificate (NSC), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and Monthly Income Scheme (MIS), may not be the talk of the investor-focussed shows on television, but given the volatility of the equity markets and uncertainty with respect to interest rates on bank deposits, the assured returns from these traditional savings vehicles have become appealling once again.
Of the three post office schemes, namely, the NSC, MIS and KVP, tax exemption up to Rs 1 lakh under section 80C of the Income Tax Act is available only to the NSC. The interest earned, however, is taxable for each of the three schemes, as also is in the case of interest earned on bank deposits. It is therefore the returns, and not the 80C benefit, that we would stress upon while comparing these schemes.
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)
Though withdrawable after 2 years and 6 months, KVP will fetch the best returns only if held over the maturity period—that is, 8 years and 7 months.
An investment in KVP will double at the end of the maturity period, implying a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. However, a withdrawal from KVP before the stipulated tenure would grossly impact the returns.
For instance, withdrawal from KVP on completion of 6 years would earn Rs 5,433 for every Rs 10,000 invested. This is worse than the NSC which returns Rs 6,010 for every Rs 10,000 invested after the maturity period of 6 years. As a matter of fact, even banks, which are currently offering interest rate of 7.5% for over 5 year tenure, compounded quarterly, return about Rs 5,620 for every Rs 10,000 invested.
On the other hand, if held for the entire tenure of 8 years and 7 months, every Rs 10,000 invested in KVP would return Rs 10,000, (double the investment) while a bank deposit, at the current prevailing rates, for the same period, would earn Rs 8,920 and NSC Rs 9,607. (It may however be noted that investment in NSC cannot be extended beyond 6 years). A KVP is thus recommended only if the investor can afford to stay invested till its maturity, otherwise, it is beneficial to choose either the MIS or NSC.
Monthly Income Scheme (MIS)
As the name suggests, this scheme is designed to provide a monthly income for the investors. A lumpsum amount invested today will earn a simple interest of 8% p.a. that will be paid out to the investor each month.
MIS thus loses out on the benefits of periodic compounding of interest and would in fact turn out to be least beneficial of all schemes, including bank deposits if the interest so earned is not utilised efficiently.
To make the most out of the MIS, it is recommended to invest the monthly interest receipts in a Recurring Deposit (RD) of a bank or the post office itself.
While the post office currently offers a 5-year RD account, earning an interest rate of 7.5% p.a. compounded quarterly, banks today are offering rates varying from 6.5% to 7.75% p.a. for RD accounts of more than a 5-year tenure.
And as banks offer RD accounts for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years, investors can easily operate an RD account for 6 years, coinciding with the maturity period of the MIS.
An added advantage to the investors of MIS is a bonus payout of 5% on the initial amount of investment. Thus, an investment of Rs 10,000, today, will fetch a simple interest of Rs 4,800 during the entire tenure of 6 years and an additional bonus of Rs 500 payable upon maturity, taking the total amount to Rs 5300 in 6 years.
If an RD account operates simultaneously, a monthly investment of the interest received from MIS, Rs 67 in this example, in RD would fetch an interest of Rs 1,274 in six years.
An investment of Rs 10,000 in MIS-cum-RD scheme would thus earn Rs 6,574 after 6 years. These returns are higher than not only those of bank deposits, at the prevailing rates, but also those of the NSC.
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Currently earning an interest of 8% p.a. compounded every six months, NSC is the most popular among the three, given its 80C tax benefit.
However, as far as the returns over a period of six years are concerned, MIS-cum-RD turns out to be a far better bet. Earning Rs 6,010 for every Rs 10,000 invested, the effective CAGR yield on NSC turns out to be 8.16% as against 8.79% in case of MIS-cum-RD.
Thus, if 80C is not the criterion for investing, investors would indeed be better off with an MIS-cum-RD plan rather than an NSC.
SOURCE: THE ECOMONICS TIMES
Thursday 4 February 2010
Mahatma’s teachings echo in Japanese Parliament
Mahatma’s teachings echo in Japanese Parliament
NEW DELHI: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama invoked the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi during his policy speech at the 174th session of the Japanese Parliament, Diet, to outline the challenges facing Japanese society and the path to their amelioration.
Beginning the speech by narrating the seven social sins inscribed at the Raj Ghat, Mr. Hatoyama confessed that he was struck by how Mahatma Gandhi’s words “incisively” pointed to the problems facing Japan and the world today. The moment he stood before the Gandhi memorial, he resolved to begin his government’s major policy speech by narrating the seven social sins listed by the Mahatma.
“Has the economy that sustained the material wealth of the 20th century made people rich, in the true sense of the word, and happy? How should we control the excesses of ‘commerce without morality’ and ‘wealth without work’ while maintaining a capitalist society? What kinds of economy, politics, society and education are desirable to enable people to live happy lives befitting human beings?” Mr. Hatoyama said.
He answered the poser himself by pointing out that “to borrow Gandhi’s words, our challenge is to foster ‘the morality of commerce’ and restore ‘wealth derived from work’.” India figured again in Mr. Hatoyama’s speech when he mentioned it along with Indonesia, countries that held extremely high expectations for increasing cultural exchange activities between people.
People-to-people exchanges
To meet such expectations, over the next five years, Japan would expand people-to-people exchanges in Asia “dramatically” by inviting over 1,00,000 youth, primarily from the Asian nations.
“We will also reciprocally increase the number of people intimately familiar with the various languages and cultures of the countries of the Asian region dramatically, thereby fostering the human resources that will serve prominent roles at the core of the East Asian community,” he said.
Source: The Hindu, dt. 02.02.2010
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/02/02/stories/2010020260671800.htm
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance On Just One Page – Download My Personal Finance Book for Free!
Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance On Just One Page – Download My Personal Finance Book for Free!
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