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\f0\fs26 \cf2 CAVANAUGH: First of all, thank you so much for speaking with us this morning.

Your holiness, your lectures to students in San Diego are about compassion without borders.

I want to ask you first about compassion within borders. Do you think America is a compassionate

nation?\ DALAI LAMA: Well, I think every human being,

born from mother, and at least the next few years, you see, received immense affection

from our mother. So the child's first experience in this lifetime at the beginning, I think

that immense affection from other is in our blood. So therefore, the whole rest of life,

other people show you smile, genuine sort of closeness feeling. You feel happy. Even

animals also like that. So the person who received maximum affection from mother, that

person also sort of cultivated the potential showing affection to others. But the problem

-- so that's why I think everywhere, I think the problem is these basic sort of human values

from our -- from the beginning, from birth, are not sort of properly nurtured. So then

our mind, our brain, through education and also difference of experiences, that eventually,

these basic values or what are called dominant, not have the catching up our intelligence, experience growth, that

also should grow. Then our life become more human. So now here, country to country, obviously

those countries, their constant fear does damage about that. So from that viewpoint,

America, free country, democratic country, so more opportunity. Still is more sort of

Alive. This is my feeling.\ CAVANAUGH: There are many scientists and researchers

here in San Diego, lots of them, and they make advances in medicine climate science,

high-technology. Do you think science can be a tool of compassion?\

DALAI LAMA: Oh, yes! Not directly, but you know medical science now, for example, medical

science begin to notice for good health, peace of mind, self-confidence, optimism is something

very important. And also preventive measure. And that level also. The mental attitude very,

very crucial factor. Then another sort of field, the brain specialist, or neurospecialist,

neuroscience, they now begin to feel or begin showing interest, the brain movement. Of course

there are another factor, which sort of pushing these, the brain cells' movement. So what

is that? \f1\fs28 \uc0\u8232

\f0\fs26 [ LAUGHTER ]\ DALAI LAMA: That is what you call mind. Sometimes

people feel mind is merely the -- in some animal, the energy or something from the brain.

Now there are little sort of curiosities or I think doubt sometimes a sheer sort of mental

attitude, some change in our brain. So these fields, now scientists are showing some interest.

So the first part, the peace of mind, is very essential for our health. So in that level,

I think scientific finding, immense benefit to get our wellness and eventually conviction,

peace of mind is not just a luxurious item, but peace of mind is actually very important

for our survival, for our healthy survival. Then also, you see the family level, genuine

harmonious, or genuine sort of full of affectionate family, not money, not power, not just mere

education, but these basic human values is a key factor. So individual level, community

level, national level, even international level. A lot of problems we are facing, essentially,

manmade problem. Own creation. Not due to lack of intelligence. In some cases, lack

of full knowledge or holistic view, that is also part of the problem. But mainly lack

of moral principle. So long you have this genuine sort of concern, well being of other.

That's the foundation of moral principle.\ CAVANAUGH: You're also speaking about climate

change. What does climate change have to do with compassion?\

DALAI LAMA: Yes! Compassion is concern of others' well being. Climate change has been

immense difficulties of pains or illness or hard life on this planet. So through that

way, you have sense of concern of the well being, not sky, not just the environment itself.

But we live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life.

So through that way, more concern of well being of humanity, then naturally concerned

about environment.\ CAVANAUGH: Your holiness, you've recently

separated your spiritual leadership as Dalai Lama from the temporal leadership that your

position used to include. The Tibetan government in exile now has a secular leader. Does this

mean that you believe in the separation of church and state the way we do here in America?\

DALAI LAMA: Oh, yes! Absolutely! Spirituality actually must be above politics. Or some other

sort of business. So one reason, in my childhood, and particularly when I take the responsibility,

I already have sort of keen desire, we must change our system. Then as soon as we reach

India, 1959, at once we start working for democratization. Now here if remain in a political

sort of field, supreme leader, at the same time religious leader, that may become hindrance

of proper democracy. And then another thing, now this is mainly for our interest about

Tibet, our struggle. Whole struggle depend on within person. For dangerous. Foolish!

Not for this only institution or even not only for Buddhist dogma, but before national

sort of right, our right. So therefore this struggle must carried by people themselves.

So once they carry full responsibility, then whether I'm there or not, they will carry

the struggle. Now, after I handed over all my authority, I feel now our struggle become

much, much safer. And me personally, the day I officially handed over, that night, very

unusual sound. I am quite free now. \f1\fs28 \uc0\u8232

\f0\fs26 [ LAUGHTER ]\ DALAI LAMA: I can do what my energy, my time,

to my other sort of commitment. And then also emotional, religious harmony. So in these

two field, now that more or less I think the spirituality or human values in these fields,

I may consider my only professional field. The political, national struggle, these are

not my profession. \f1\fs28 \uc0\u8232

\f0\fs26 [ LAUGHTER ]\ CAVANAUGH: Your holiness, you've recently

written a book called beyond religion, ethics for the whole world. Some people think that

we can't be compassionate or ethical without religion. Can we get beyond religion?\

DALAI LAMA: Yes, certainly! Animals, I will ask you, animals have any religion?\

CAVANAUGH: No.\ DALAI LAMA: Cats, dogs, and some I mean, birds

many species of mammals,, they also have the sort of potential to show affection firstly

because of the biological factor. And then like dogs, if you the owner of the dog, really

showing not just food but real affection, then dog very much appreciate. Isn't it?\

CAVANAUGH: Yes.\ DALAI LAMA: Just give food without showing

affection, they might not get sort of 100% satisfaction. So they also, you see, when

we human beings, we show affection, the poor animal also respond to us. Licking, or cats

sometimes, you see, they are sort of with the palm, put her, and purr, purr, or something

special sort of sound. You say very peaceful. Isn't it? That is the response of affection.

So they also have the -- they appreciate others' affection, they also have the sort of ability

to show their own affection. And then as soon as we're born, child, no religious faith.\

CAVANAUGH: Yes.\ DALAI LAMA: So that's my main argument. So

the affection is mainly biological factor. Then further sort of strengthening, that religion

helps. And without religion, also there is a way, it could be this way, through education,

through scientific findings, then you get conviction. Not necessarily really love other,

but for their own interest they are showing love, compassion to other like that.\

CAVANAUGH: My last question to you, do you feel it's your obligation to go around the

world to give these lectures? Or is it also your joy?\

DALAI LAMA: Not obligation. Without invitation, I never go.

\f1\fs28 \uc0\u8232 \f0\fs26 [ LAUGHTER ]\

DALAI LAMA: Then also when invitation come, then I inquire just to see new place or seeing

just the one sort of family, then not much interest. The invitation come from some institution

who really involving so-called my own profession, these fields. And then different universities

or education sort of institution, I feel that is the place where the awareness of these

things to start and to spread a more human community. So then on that level, yes, I have

some obligation. I one individual human being. One of the seven billion human being. I believe

each of us, our future depends on the rest of humanity. Humanity happy, I get benefit.

Humanity in state of trouble, or violence, I cannot escape from that. So every sort of

seven billion human being have to think about the well-being of humanity. So my own share

making contribution, my own share. So I never feel I am something special. We all same.

Now I am -- now a person, new nearly 77 year old, and also my life not easy. Last 50, 60

years, my life as a grownup, tremendous difficulties. That also some help, all these difficulties

due to lack of sense of respect others' right lack of sort of sense of concern about others'

well being. And then also, you see, when I here, I always listen BBC. The sort of sad

events everywhere. In my mind of course natural disaster like tsunami, and these things, also

I think indirectly may relate to human behavior. But then major sort of problems actually they're

due to a lack of moral principle. In a free country, America, or India, and Japan, and

many places, democracy country, free country, but still within the sort of rule of law,

some injustice, some sort of problems, some discriminations, and also some sort of scandals

or the corruptions. These things, you see, they are always in my mind, I think many people

agree, lack of moral principle. Therefore we have to make effort through well through

every corner, media people, education sort of institution, and family, parents, everywhere.

It is our common goal, common interest promote more compassion toward the world. So like

that. So therefore that's my own one individual sort of contribution. So let us have that

kind of effort from all, except those child or handicapped or too old. But the many people,

they sort of have the opportunity to create trouble or to create a good thing, now should

think more seriously, should not indulge any work to create more problems.\

CAVANAUGH: Your holiness, thank you so much for speaking with us.\

DALAI LAMA: Thank you.}