ABSTRACT
The fourth public dialogue generally followed the format of the third dialogue in The Hague, but this time we had students of all ages participating in the discussion. The overall theme was to explore what type of education is required in order to create a sustainable economy. We asked the Dalai Lama to reflect on how to develop “the heart” of people, not only in schools but in our communities and companies as well. The symposium started with a lecture from the psychiatrist Dan Siegel on the functioning of our brain and heart. The Dalai Lama then went on to emphasize the following points:
The 21st century requires a different type of thinking from that of the previous century. Since the world is interconnected, we should think in terms of the whole of humanity. We now need genuine cooperation among 7 billion human beings—that is the only way forward to solve the world’s challenges.
There needs to be awareness of a new interdependent reality and, on the basis of that awareness, we can develop new mental models, expanding the “in group” and shrinking the “out group.” Since many people are not religious, we need “secular ethics” to emphasize the many benefits of compassion and cooperation.
182Compassion is not just a warm feeling of empathy, but a practice that involves critical thinking and the courage to act. A mind trained in compassion will have inner strength and self-confidence. This will help to overcome the stress and anxiety that is part of the modern world and is especially needed for those engaged in the leadership of social change.
In education it is not enough to develop the cognitive side—there should be more emphasis on cultivating inner values, such as compassion and warm-heartedness. This is especially relevant in business education, as these qualities can guide leaders in dealing with an increasingly interconnected and transparent world.
