February 6, 2026: The 108 Peace Institute, in collaboration with St. Philomena’s College (Autonomous), Mysore, and the Shenphen Charitable Trust, Mysore, organized a lecture session titled “Four Principal Commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the Issue of Reincarnation” featuring Venerable Geshe Lhakdor, a distinguished Tibetan Buddhist scholar and Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
Geshe Lhakdor began his lecture by reflecting on the source of long-lasting happiness and highlighting the core commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He explained that the Dalai Lama’s first commitment is the promotion of universal human values such as compassion, loving-kindness, patience, and a sense of responsibility.
He noted that all human beings seek happiness and wish to avoid suffering. Since people are interconnected and interdependent, nurturing these values is essential for building a harmonious society. Education, he said, should not be limited to reading, writing, and earning certificates but should focus on human flourishing by teaching individuals how to live happily with others and overcome daily challenges without resorting to violence. In this context, he highlighted the importance of cultivating a compassionate mind and adopting the Social, Ethical, and Emotional Learning (SEE) curriculum introduced by the Dalai Lama in schools.
Geshe Lhakdor also discussed the Dalai Lama’s second commitment, promotion of interreligious harmony. Using the analogy of medicine, he explained that just as different illnesses require different treatments, people follow different religions according to their mental dispositions and spiritual inclinations. Therefore, it is inappropriate to claim that one religion is superior to others, he said, noting that conflicts often arise when people fight in the name of religion.
He further noted that the Dalai Lama, being Tibetan, feels a responsibility to preserve Tibetan culture, language, and environment. Safeguarding Tibetan cultural and philosophical traditions, he said, is important not only for the survival of the Tibetan people but also for the wider world, as Tibetan Buddhist philosophy promotes compassion, non-violence, and inner peace.
Speaking about the Dalai Lama’s fourth commitment, Geshe Lhakdor highlighted the importance of preserving the Nalanda tradition, the ancient Indian system of scholarship and philosophical inquiry. He encouraged students to value India’s cultural heritage while learning from other cultures.
Addressing on the Tibetan Buddhist system of reincarnation, Geshe la emphasized the importance of mental cultivation and clarified the difference between rebirth and reincarnation. Rebirth, he said, is a natural process experienced by all beings, while reincarnation refers to the conscious return of highly realized spiritual beings who choose to be reborn out of compassion to help others.
He also raised concerns about Chinese interference in the Tibetan reincarnation system for political purposes. Referring to Order No. 5 issued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he said it aims to control the recognition of reincarnations despite China being an officially atheist state. In a pointed remark, he said that if the authorities are genuinely interested in reincarnation, they should first find the reincarnations of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
Referring to the case of the 11th Panchen Lama, he noted that the child recognized by the Dalai Lama was taken into custody by Chinese authorities and has remained missing since. He reiterated that reincarnation is purely a spiritual matter and that only the Dalai Lama has the authority to determine matters related to his own rebirth. Citing the Dalai Lama’s recent book Voice for the Voiceless, Geshe Lhakdor added that His Holiness has indicated that his next rebirth would occur in a free country, beyond the reach of the CCP.
The lecture concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session. Around 200 students and faculty members attended the event.
