Mexico City, September 9, 2011 – This morning, before leaving the hotel to address the Third International Conference of Human Values and Rule of Law at the auditorium Banamex (Fundidora), His Holiness met briefly with a fellow Nobel Laureate Shirin Ibadi of Iran at the hotel. Thereafter, His Holiness accompanied by Ms. Shirin Ibadi left for the auditorium, where they were given a very emotional welcome by the members of the Casa Tibet Monterrey and also received by Mr. Javier Benitez Gomez and Mrs. Cristina Gonzalez Paras, conveners of the events in Monterrey.
Before addressing the conference on ‘Building Harmony Through Altruism and Compassion’, His Holiness briefly met with the members of the State of Nuevo Leon’s Religious Council and several dignitaries of the State.
In his address, His Holiness highlighted the peace as a basis of happiness. His Holiness said that often we give so much importance to the secondary things and neglect the fundamental thing which is human warm heartedness. As such, despite so much material development and possession, deep inside, His Holiness said, many people, including very wealthy people are feeling loneliness.
His Holiness then added that because of the importance of inner values, now even scientists are showing some interest on the issue. In this regard, he said, since the Buddhists have more information about the inner world, therefore, more scientists are showing interest to learn about the Buddhists perspective of understanding the mind. His Holiness went on to add that in the United States, several universities have been conducting serious research for the past 10 years on emotions and the research findings shows that negative emotions eat our immune system and positive emotions make us more peaceful and happy.
Even looking at the global economic crisis, His Holiness said some of his business friends and others who are advisors to the multinational corporations told him that the current economic crisis was partly result of greed. Looking at this, His Holiness said, it is quite clear that the current global economic crisis is also made by our own mind. Similarly, looking at the ecological crisis, he said, it is partly because of lack of holistic view and too much short sighted approaches. His Holiness also highlighted the problem of corruptions in different countries including Mexico, which he said is because of lack of moral and ethics.
While commenting on the drug related violence on the northern borders of Mexico, His Holiness said those who consume drugs as well as others who become alcoholic show that something is lacking or missing inside among these people, which he said may be because of education and upbringing. Keeping these things in mind, His Holiness said, it is important to pay more attention to altruism and inner values.
After the conclusion of his address at the Monterrey event, His Holiness attended a brief press meet before he flew to Mexico City by a private plane.
In Mexico City, as soon as he arrived at the airport, His Holiness left straight to the Los Pinos, the Presidential Palace of Mexico, where he met with President Felipe Calderon and the First Lady Margarita Zavala de Calderón. His Holiness spent around 45 minutes with President Calderon. His Holiness was accompanied at the meeting by Mr. Chimme R Chhoekypa, Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, and Mr. Tsewang Phuntso, CTA’s Liaison Officer to Latin America, and Mr. Marco Antonio Karam, President of Casa Tibet Mexico.
After meeting with President Calderon, His Holiness left for Hotel Marquis Reforma, where he attended a press meet for 45 minutes and the press meet was attended by more than 400 media people.
Immediately after the press meet, His Holiness returned to his room, where he met with former President of Mexico, Mr. Vicente Fox, former First Lady Marta Sahagún de Fox, and their whole family members. Former First Lady Marta Sahagún de Fox met with His Holiness several times in the past both in Mexico and New York. President Vicente Fox has formally offered an invitation for His Holiness to visit his home state of Guanajuato and the Vicente Fox Center of Studies, Library and Museum some time next year. His Holiness agreed to return once again to Mexico and visit Guanajuato Sate.
