Archive of Lama Geshe Lharampa Tharchin Gedun: 09/26/25

Friday, 26 September 2025

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Archive of Lama Geshe Lharampa Tharchin G.

DHARMA NOTES

May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Che tutti gli esseri, ovunque, siano felici e liberi.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

འཇིག་རྟེན་ཁམས་ཀུན་ཕན་བདེ་དང་རང་དབང་གིས་ཁྱབ་པར་སྨོན།

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World peace is under threat from wars in various parts of the world. Wars have always been part of human history, including the two world wars. The first atomic bombs in history were dropped during the Second World War. Today, we must stop the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to save the world!

Any unpleasant experience, ranging from wars between countries to family disputes, stems directly from human anger and hatred. These emotions stem from attachment, which in turn stems from ignorance. Disregarding the peace and happiness of others and showing them a lack of respect is the root of conflict.

Building inner peace is the key to achieving world peace, peace among nations, and peace within families and communities.

One candle can ignite a million candles and eliminate darkness. Similarly, a single peaceful mind can inspire millions of hearts to embrace peace.

Sincere communication can eliminate ignorance and misunderstanding. Genuine communication can foster a deep understanding of others, enabling us to share the same sensations, desires and humanity with them.

Therefore, world leaders must create a platform for such communication. Perhaps they could spend some time together on holiday enjoying leisurely conversations, which would bring them closer and encourage them to discuss global issues as a shared responsibility.

If World War III were to be fought, the two atomic bombs dropped during the Second World War would be multiplied into hundreds of atomic bombs with extreme destructive potential, completely destroying our common home — this beautiful planet and its inhabitants — within a few minutes.

In this very important moment, world leaders should adopt a new mindset instead of an egotistical attitude, and take on a sense of global responsibility for saving the entire world, with a sense of oneness of humanity and a vision of world peace as the only means of saving our planet.

Since a sense of exclusivity is the main cause of human conflict, it is essential to create a space in which diversity, multiculturalism and multireligiousness can coexist, offering a vision for the future of the global social family.

World peace must come from within first — inner peace is the source of this. It is a personal state of mind rather than a collective one. Every human being is responsible for cultivating inner peace for the sake of world peace, global peace, and the survival of our planet and its inhabitants.

In the 21st century, nuclear arms races and wars represent the ultimate battle. Such a war would be self-destructive, with no winners in a battle involving nuclear bombs, so it must be avoided at all costs. Therefore, world peace and peace in any nation, state or country must begin with inner peace and the promotion of a peaceful culture and society.

We must learn from the past and avoid human conflicts caused by religion and ethnicity. Instead, we should develop multiculturalism and multireligiosity, embracing all forms of faith and ethics.

Understanding the dangers facing our planet should foster courage rather than fear. This aligns with the idea that fear is a false response to a threat, whereas realistic knowledge and compassion cultivate courage and constructive action. True courage stems from an informed understanding, enabling one to face challenges with perseverance and wisdom. Conversely, fear, often resulting from misinformation or a lack of understanding, can paralyse action and lead to unrealistic thinking.

Fear is a false emotion that can be a response to both real and imagined threats. It can be overwhelming and lead to unrealistic ideas, feelings of discomfort, and an inability to act constructively. Courage stems from realistic knowledge and understanding, enabling one to overcome negative emotions such as fear and act with perseverance, patience, tolerance and wisdom. False knowledge can create fear.

Realistic knowledge, on the other hand, is a clear and accurate understanding of a situation. It fosters courage and develops the skills needed to address challenges effectively. When facing the reality that our planet is in danger, it is important to move beyond fear.

A realistic understanding of, and compassion for, the planet and its future can inspire courage, as well as positive thoughts and ideas for action. Transforming the energy of fear into courage and skilful action enables us to address the challenges facing our planet more effectively.

The prospect of World War III is a highly debated and speculative topic. However, there are several potential scenarios and risks that could lead to global conflict.

For example, geopolitical tensions and rivalries between major powers such as the US, China and Russia could increase the risk of global conflict. Tensions in regions such as the Middle East, East Asia, and Eastern Europe could also escalate into wider conflict. Attacks on critical infrastructure, such as cyber-attacks, could cause global instability. Economic crises could increase tensions between nations and lead to protectionist measures.

International diplomacy and communication can help to prevent conflicts. Cooperation between nations on global issues such as climate change and security can help reduce tensions. Investing in peace and stability can help prevent conflict, too.

In summary, it is impossible to predict whether or when a third world war will occur. Nevertheless, it is crucial to strive for conflict prevention and the promotion of peace and international cooperation.

Gedun Tharchin

ROME: 27 September 2025

Friday, 26 September 2025

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Our planet and World War III