By Phurbu Thinley

Tokyo, November 22: Tibetan spiritual leader today urged young Japanese to prepare for a more peaceful 21st century.

Describing 20th century as period of immense destruction, human sufferings and serious and unprecedented environmental damages; the Tibetan spiritual leader today urged Japanese youngsters to make 21st century “a Century of dialogue and reconciliation”.

“This new century still faces the scar of the past mistakes,” the Dalai Lama said, however, expressing hope that the new generation could make a more peaceful 21st century world. Describing terrorism and the rapid global warming as major concerns facing today’s world, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate urged people to use human intelligence to correct them

“Basically many of the problems which we are facing are man-made, so human beings also have ability to make corrections, or at least minimize the problems we are facing,” the Dalai Lama said. “As a human being we have quite enough intelligence to analyse and understand our past mistakes,” he added while speaking to some 1400 students of the Setagaya Gakuen School on “Message towards the Younger Generations of 21st Century”.

Dalai Lama said he was “happy to meet young students”. “I am very happy because you are new generation actually shaping this new century. We belong to the old century. You are responsible for shaping the new generation,” the Dalai Lama told a hall packed students.

Despising use of violence to solve human problems, the Dalai Lama said, “Although your purpose is justified, but that violence method is unpredictable. It will bring more suffering”. “That method is wrong” he added.

“So, we must use realistic methods. Problems, differences (and), different views and opinions (are) always there. But, use realistic methods – spirit of reconciliation and dialogue,” the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama later visited the Gokokuji Buddhist Temple in Bunkyō, Tokyo, where he was received and welcomed by the Shingon Buddhist temple’s highest Chief Priest Ven. Eishi Okamoto. He spent spent some time interacting with the temple’s Buddhist monks before heading to Gokokuji’s Nichi Dai High School, where he again addressed some 1300 students on “Meaningful life and education”.

The Dalai Lama told the high school students that Japan has a “very good combination” of “modern technology, modern knowledge and also rich spiritual culture, including Buddhism”.

“So you have unique opportunity to have modern education as well as acquire spiritual values of native Shinto religion and also Buddhism,” the Dalai Lama told the school gathering. He, however, insisted young Japanese to put more attention on warm heartedness, saying “It will give you more guarantee of a happier and peaceful life”.

“Technology and infinite human intelligence are wonderful. However, if these two, guided by negative emotions like anger, hatred, or, fear, will bring more destruction,” the Dalai Lama said. “As a result it brought immense suffering in the 20th century,” he added.

“Genuine, lasting world peace must come from inner peace,” the Dalai Lama said, adding, “That should come from inner disarmament.” “With compassion, your act is always positive ... that will increase our inner strength and self confidence for a more meaningful life,” he said.

“My century is gone permanently. It will never return. Now just beginning of the 21st century, so you will spend your time in this century,” the 1989 Nobel Peace laureate said.

“So you (are) actually making preparation to make a better world,” the Dalai Lama told the students.

The Dalai Lama has become a source of spiritual comfort for growing number of Japanese people who are stressed by their fast paced modern life.

The Tibetan leader will return to India, his home country in exile, on Friday after completing his nine-day tour of Japan.