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Talk at Manipal Institute Highlights Need for Compassionate Leadership

February 4, 2026: The 108 Peace Institute, in collaboration with Dept. of Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Manipal Institute of Higher Education, Bangalore organized a lecture session titled “Empowering Youth for a More Compassionate World”.  The session featured Venerable Geshe Lhakdor, a distinguished Tibetan Buddhist scholar and Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.

Geshe Lhakdor began the talk by reflecting on the source of long-lasting happiness. He said that the source of long lasting  happiness is inner peace which comes from having a compassionate heart. Geshe la said that leaders with values such as compassion will always make decision that is beneficial for the public.  He highlighted the Dalai Lama’s commitment to promoting universal human values such as compassion, kindness, patience, and a sense of responsibility. According to him, true education should go beyond academic achievements and focus on human flourishing by teaching individuals how to live harmoniously with others and cultivate a compassionate mind.

Compassion, he explained, is more than sympathy; it involves understanding the suffering of others and having the genuine will to alleviate that suffering. He noted that the lack of compassionate leadership in today’s world has contributed to many man-made problems such as war, violence, and killing. Quoting Gautama Buddha, he remarked that compassion is a value which, if one holds in one’s hand, means possessing all other virtues. He further added that compassion can be cultivated through meditation on the benefits of kindness and by recognizing that every living being needs love and compassion.

Geshe la explanied that when a child is born, it doesn’t speak any language but cries for mother’s love and care which shows that the very nature of humans is need for kindness. The mother’s love is unconditional love and every child is readied by unconditional love of mother and also when we age, we will be at the mercy of other’s compassioane. Therefore, while we are young and able, we should remember this and be kind and compassionate to others. He said that compassion will bring peace of mind for oneself and also for others around you. He said that His Holiness’ compassion has attracted people from all walks of life from across the globe and he is an inspiration for many and that his words soothe and heal people who face mental illness.

He emphasized that material wealth alone is not sufficient to remove problems of the world. If material wealth can remove problems, then the wealthiest people should be the happiest on earth, which is not so. Therefore, he urged the students to study science of mind and take care of mental health and develop a compassionate mind which will help them become a better person who can contribute positively to global peace. 

The lecture ended with a vibrant Q&A. session. Around 76 students and faculty members attend the event.