His Holiness the Dalai Lama used his historic visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today to make an impassioned plea for compassion, tolerance and understanding between individuals, different faiths and nations. He expressed his belief that moral education based on what he called “universal values” is the key to achieving greater compassion in the world.
In his introduction, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland paid tribute to the Dalai Lama’s long standing commitment to the many values he shares with the Organisation. In the past he has spoken out forcefully against the death penalty and all types of discrimination, and in favour of gender equality. Today His Holiness enthusiastically endorsed the Council of Europe’s movement to eradicate hate speech – ‘No Hate Speech’.
Secretary General Jagland also tweeted that, in a separate meeting, the Dalai Lama told him that world leaders should think more of the common good than of their own interests.