Dalai Lama`s Message to Koreans

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, sent a video taped message calling for reconciliation and forgiveness to Koreans through Victor Chan, the co-writer of his book, The Wisdom of Forgiveness, published also in Korea.

The Dalai Lama explained in the approximately nine-minute long tape on Monday that he is aware of the fact that Korea was misfortunately and sadly partitioned into North and South Korea and that disputes occur in South Korea due to differences in religion, faith, and understanding. The Dalai Lama, however, stressed that Koreans will be able to maintain a society filled full of humanity if they live life with hearts of forgiveness.

The spiritual leader also noted that even though mankind has been living in the same space like a family in which the prosperity and future of each nation and community have been interdependent, it is common that a great deal of difference is likely to surface. On this regard, he added that we have to resolve such conflicts by having a mindset that the world is one family.

The Dalai Lama said that, once one is equipped with the mindset that the world is one family, such problems will be able to be humanely and peacefully resolved with reconciliation and forgiveness.

The Dalai Lama finished his message by stressing the importance of interdependency of the world and human beings. He pointed out that the world is interdependent just like a body is made of each organ that has a unique function but is essential in forming a complete body, and like the sun and moon, which have different functions but harmonize each other in nature.

Dong-Yong Min mindy@donga.com