Damien Palmer
Professor Hall
English 1010
Response Paper: Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that
name? To be honest, before this class I didn’t even know who that was. I had no idea he was a
person with incredible visions and dreams of world peace and building a better world to live in.
He has this great insight on life and how everyone should be living theirs. You might be
thinking, well many people have shared their input on ways to make our world a better place.
So, why are the Dalai Lamas views and opinions any better?
The Dalai Lama brings forth deep and grave issues we have in our world today but he
does it in a way that makes you second guess everything, in a good way. When I first started
reading his acceptance speech all I could think of was how boring it was going to be, thinking I
would have to drag myself to get through to the end. I can’t even tell you how wrong I was. In
his speech he talks about great issues going on in China and Tibet but he also talks about
struggles and trials that anyone reading can relate to. The issues he brings up in his speech are
grim and sad issues, but the Dalai Lama doesn’t focus on the negative parts. He uses them to
bring forth a positive thing. While reading this speech all I felt were positive vibes and through
his words I could see he wasn’t trying to dwell on the negatives in life, he was trying to show
everyone that you can turn these negative situations into positive things.
Turning something negative into something positive is something we have all probably
been told our whole lives, but I have never seen it from this point of view. His words actually
make you feel like you can truly turn any situation that has become negative into something
great. Yes, all those feelings just from reading one speech.
The Dalai Lama makes so many wonderful points but one that really stood out to me
was his views and opinions on violence and war. He said, “Because violence can only breed
more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain nonviolent and free
of hatred.” In nineteen words he stumped me, I kept reading and re-reading those words. In
those few words he makes this idea of no violence and no more wars sound so easy, so
possible.
You’re probably thinking, well those are just words. Words aren’t going to take away or
change years and years of violence and wars around the world. But what if they could? If
everyone altered their perspective and thought process to the one Dalai Lama has, I think
anything could be possible. Hate, it’s the root and center of violence and war. If you hate
someone enough you might turn to violence to deal with them. Hate is what drives war, it’s the
reasoning behind nearly every war in history. Take away all of those harsh and negative
feelings, take away all of the hate. What does that leave you?
It would leave you with people who can actually think straight, to people who have a
clear thought process. Reading those words as many time as I did I think I got the idea that he
was trying to portray. Hate blinds people from seeing the reality of things. It takes away a
persons ability to be rational. If we were to take those feelings away, things would not be 100%
without any issues. But it would be clearer, less violence and war.
The Dalai Lama also brought another issue into perspective. The issues we face, whether
it is as a nation, country, state, or family, he believes they are all brought on by ourselves.
“Human-created” problems is what he called it. What I admire most about the Dalai Lama and
this speech is how he words things. The words he uses and the concept he is trying to get
across hit me so much harder for that reason.
Someone who is poor or has a terrible job complains about it probably many times a day
and to anyone who will listen. But do you think that person ever sat there and really thought
about why or how they got themselves into that position. They have a terrible job because they
decided they didn’t want to finish high school, hence the terrible job. Due to their lack of
education their job options aren’t the best paying, incomes the poverty. Everything we face as a
person is a direct reflection of our actions, human-created problems.
I guess reading this you might be thinking I’m crazy by letting simple words impact me
so greatly. But I think of it like this, every one already had their own issues before the Dalai
Lama made this speech. But, his speech was so relatable and eye opening. That’s where the big
impaction comes from, he high lights these problems that may seem small to some people and
huge to other people and he gives you solutions that have always been there, you just never
realized. His solutions are easy things that any person willing enough could make happen.
This speech is so iconic because of its content, it is hope. His words make you feel like
there is hope and peace out there, you just have to do the right things to ensure they come. No,
I don’t think the words in this speech will stop all of the violence in the world or end world
hunger, but I do believe that these words can change people. If the right person read his words,
who knows what endless possibilities could happen. I hope anyone who reads the Dalai Lamas
speech understands his desire to highlight positivity, peace, love, and kindness. Positivity is key,
then comes the rest.