Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25150 in VHS
• Released on: 2003-09-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

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"Some people are really showing excitement about the new millennium, that the new millennium itself will bring new happy days. I think that's wrong. Unless there is a new millennium inside, then the new millennium will not change much--same days and nights, same sun and moon. The important thing is transformation, or new ways of thinking, new mental attitude."

So begins His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's 1999 dialogue on ethics to an audience of 5,000 in Britain's Royal Albert Hall. As an internationally respected Nobel Prize winner and as spiritual and political leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama is in a unique position to observe and comment on the West at the turn of its millennium. At the same time, His Holiness works hard to disclaim any special stature as a teacher and healer. He invites his audience to have no expectations that he will transform their lives. His talk is not one of how his listeners will be saved, but how they must save others.

His Holiness does see some positive signs at the end of the Western millennium: the spread of democracy and interest in human rights, for example. But he also sees the inevitability of future conflicts as the damage done in the 20th century around the world continues to bear its violent fruits for years to come. He is further troubled by the growing income disparity, even within the supposedly rich nations of the world.

But His Holiness has hope for the 21st century, hope predicated on work. Nations must embrace disarmament, he says. They must devote themselves tirelessly to diplomacy. Finally, he expresses a strong belief that a reconciliation among the world's religions offers great hope for crossing cultural divides. The Dalai Lama is not one to rely on quiet asceticism, however, to solve intractable problems. Invited in the question-and-answer period to lead the audience in prayer, he instead offers a lesson on meditation to improve one's devotion to others, to better one's resolve to work compassionately for all beings. --Patrick O'Kelley