Human beings fundamentally the same, all seek happiness: Dalai Lama

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, addressed Taiwanese and other Buddhist devotees at the main monastery, Tsuglagkhang, in McLeodganj on Saturday. The Dalai Lama said, “All human beings are fundamentally the same, as everyone seeks happiness and wishes to avoid sufferings.”

He said that while the world had many religious paths, Tibet followed the Nalanda tradition, studying the works of revered scholars such as Nagarjuna and Asanga. He added that this tradition was unique in its reliance on reason and logic, offering profound insights into the workings of the mind and emotions. This lineage, he said, had been carefully preserved over centuries.

The Dalai Lama said that the West was showing a growing interest in the tradition and “many people with no historical connection to religion are now drawn to these teachings. Among them are scientists who are particularly keen to understand the nature of the mind and emotions”.

He recalled his personal experiences and said that while living under the Chinese Communist rule, he often faced situations that could have provoked anger. However, after coming to India in 1959, he found that the Buddhist tradition equipped practitioners with the ability to control their emotions and transform their mind.

He emphasised, “Cultivating a compassionate heart alongside ‘bodhicitta’ and sharing this approach with loved ones fosters inner peace and happiness, which in turn positively impacts those around us.”

He also shared an anecdote from his time in Beijing, recalling a meeting with Mao Zedong, who reportedly said that religion was poison. “I felt compassion for him,” the Dalai Lama said. He added, “Because he did not realise how beneficial spiritual practice can be.”