Official Report 308KB pdf
Good afternoon. Our first item of business is time for reflection and our time for reflection leader today is Representative Tsering Yangkey.
Feasgar math.
Tashi Delek. That is our traditional Tibetan greeting: a heartfelt expression symbolising good fortune, happiness and wellbeing.
Honourable Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, and esteemed members of the Scottish Parliament, it is an honour to stand before you today. I am deeply grateful to the honourable MSP Ross Greer for nominating me and to the honourable Presiding Officer for granting me the opportunity to speak in this sacred temple of democracy. It is truly a privilege.
I stand before you to talk about something that transcends borders, beliefs and time: compassion. As a devoted follower of His Holiness the 14thDalai Lama, I firmly believe that compassion is key not only to personal happiness but to global peace. Compassion has the power to heal wounds, bridge divides and guide us towards a world where conflicts are resolved not through violence, fear, anger or greed, but through understanding, patience and kindness.
At first glance, violence may seem like a solution. However, by creating destruction and division we create only more pain and suffering. Compassion, ethics and discipline are not weaknesses; they are our greatest strengths. Compassion, combined with those other qualities, gives us the courage to overcome fear. When we look beyond actions, we see suffering that is driven by anger, greed and ignorance, and we come to recognise that those who cause harm are also in pain. No one truly wins in a war.
Each of us has the potential to be compassionate. Compassion is the very essence of life itself, but it is not always easy. It demands that we treat all beings, human and non-human alike, with equal care and concern. When tragedy strikes, we may feel sorrow, but it often seems distant until it touches us personally. True compassion means feeling for and caring about everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaches us that human values are essential for harmony within families, society, communities and nations. Even the smallest act of kindness can change the course of someone’s life, but negative actions leave scars that can last for generations, and they tear apart what we have worked so hard to build. Reflection allows us to learn from the past so that we do not repeat the mistakes of history.
I believe that the time has come for all of us—particularly world leaders—to pause and shift our focus from material development to spiritual development, because only through compassion, empathy and understanding can we hope to create a better future for all human beings.
Thank you very much.
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