第14世達賴喇嘛丹增嘉措5月9日至11日將於美國奧勒岡州主持為期三天的「環境高峰會：全球環境與普世責任」研討會。
77歲的達賴喇嘛現居印度達蘭薩拉，他是西藏佛教徒精神領袖，屆時將闡述每個人應對地球和地球上所有住民福祉負起責任的主張。
達賴喇嘛宣揚普世責任的觀點已經數十年。在他1976年出版的著作《世界責任與慈悲心》中，達賴喇嘛寫道，「現今人們面臨許多嚴重的環境問題，包括能源危機、污染和人口過剩等等。當生命的考驗來自於自然的因素，我們必須接受並且想辦法適應。但是今日我們面對的諸多環境問題乃是人為所致，是人的無知、貪婪和不負責任的行為造成的。」
「這些問題儘管嚴重而且複雜，仍要從個人層面開始控制和矯正之。唯有超越個人和國家的私利，才能解決之。正視這些普世性的問題，正視人類的需求跟慾望，我們才能成功地改變現況。」
第14世達賴喇嘛於1989年獲頒諾貝爾和平奬。普世責任是他於1989年12月11日在挪威奧斯陸授獎時的演講主題之一。
「我們不只要有跨越國界的普世責任意識，也要對各種不同環境問題有責任意識。」「不只是國家的領導人或是從事相關工作的人才有責任，人人都需要有責任意識。以和平來說，當我們有了內在的和平，方能和周圍的人和平共處。當我們的社區和平，方能和周圍其他的社區和平共處。當我們待他人以愛和慈悲心，不只是他人會感受到，也昇華我們內在的喜悅和和平。」
奧勒岡民主黨眾議員Earl Blumenauer對達賴喇嘛的蒞臨表示歡迎，「能邀請到團結世人的精神領袖達賴喇嘛，是波特蘭的榮幸。這個高峰會是千載難逢的機會，一同探討保護全球環境、因應氣候變遷危機以及淨水和衛生的重要性。」
「尊重他人和地球是普世的責任，達賴喇嘛的光臨讓我們能夠再次強調我們共同的承諾。」
達賴喇嘛於波特蘭的活動由薩迦學院主辦。波特蘭薩迦學院成立於2006年，是太平洋西北地區第一所佛教學院，其佛教研究和道學碩士學位結合了學術、冥想和服務等活動在內。
薩迦學院創辦人揚希仁波切表示，「瞭解和負起個人責任，是解決環境問題的開始。舉辦這次高峰會的目的不是為了指出錯誤，而是要啓發我們和下一代如何為環境有積極的作為。」
「個人的責任意識來自於個人的覺醒以及精神、哲學和政策的啓發。因此，這次的高峰會將從這三個方面探討如何讓個人負起對環境的責任。」
高峰會將於5月9日開幕。在當天的「精神與環境」主題中，達賴喇嘛將和多位天主教波特蘭教區領袖、以色列猶太教士Michael Cahana、穆斯林社區中心領袖Muhammed Najieb以及Siletz印第安部落聯盟領袖Agnes Baker Pilgrim等宗教界人士進行跨信仰的對話。
當地組織代表包括奧勒岡環境協會執行長Andrea Durbin以及加拿大科學節目主持人兼環保運動人士David Suzuki，也將出席研討會。
除了研討會外，達賴喇嘛將於5月10日於奧勒岡尤金市發表公開演說「全球社會和平與快樂的途徑」，由奧勒岡大學和尤金薩迦中心主辦。
達賴喇嘛曾公開表示對氣候正義的支持，「地球是我們唯一的家，而人類改變環境的力量卻非常強大。我們對環境有兩層責任，第一，以更積極的作為來關懷世界；第二，補救因人類錯誤行為而造成嚴重的環境退化問題。」
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, will be in Oregon May 9 through 11 to lead a three-day conference on the environment called the Environmental Summit: Universal Responsibility and the Global Environment.
The 77-year-old spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, who lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, will share his views on the responsibility each human being has for the welfare of the planet and all of its inhabitants.
His Holiness has been conveying the message of universal responsibility for decades.
In his 1976 book, "Universal Responsibility and the Good Heart," the Dalai Lama wrote, "Today we all are facing a number of serious problems, such as the energy crisis, pollution, and overpopulation. To the extent that the difficulties of life have natural causes, they must be accepted and adjusted to as much as possible. But many of our troubles are man-made, created by our own ignorance, greed and irresponsible action."
"I feel that our problems, though grave and complex, are within our own power to control and rectify," he wrote. "The solution can only be based upon an approach which transcends selfish and regional demands. A direct confrontation with the universality of our predicament, along with the ultimate unity of our needs and desires, is vital to our success."
The Dalai Lama was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, and universal responsibility was a theme of the lecture he gave when he accepted the award on December 11, 1989.
"We must develop a sense of universal responsibility not only in the geographic sense, but also in respect to the different issues that confront our planet," he told the audience in Oslo, Norway.
"Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each one of us individually," he said. "Peace, for example, starts with each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."
Congressman Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat representing Portland, said he is delighted to welcome the Buddhist leader to his city.
"It is a true privilege for Portlanders to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader who unites people around the world," Blumenauer said. "This summit offers a rare and wondrous opportunity to discuss the importance of protecting the global environment, the dangers posed by climate change, and the vital role of ensuring clean water and sanitation."
"Treating people and the planet with respect should be a universal responsibility and the visit of His Holiness is an excellent occasion to highlight that shared promise," Blumenauer said.
Maitripa College is host for all Portland events during this visit by His Holiness. Founded in 2006 as the first Buddhist college in the Pacific Northwest, Maitripa offers graduate studies integrating scholarship, meditation, and service in its Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies and Master of Divinity degree programs.
Maitripa College founding president Yangsi Rinpoche said, "As we face the environmental issues before us, solutions will come through awareness and individual responsibility. The purpose of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit is not to focus on all that is wrong, but to inspire ourselves and future generations to act in a positive way for the environment."
"Individual responsibility arises from individual inspiration, formed and catalyzed by spirituality, philosophy and policy," said Yangsi Rinpoche. "Therefore, this summit is designed as a platform for these three areas, all driving forces of action on this planet."
As it opens May 9, the summit will feature an interfaith dialogue, "Spirituality and the Environment," in which His Holiness will engage with leaders from the Archdiocese of Portland, Rabbi Michael Cahana of Congregation Beth Israel, Imam Muhammed Najieb of the Muslim Community Center, and Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz.
Regional leaders participating in these events include Oregon Environmental Council Executive Director Andrea Durbin and Canadian science broadcaster and environmental activist David Suzuki.
In addition to his participation in the events in Portland, His Holiness will also offer a public lecture, "The Path to Peace and Happiness in a Global Society," in Eugene, Oregon on May 10, co-organized by the University of Oregon and the Eugene Sakya Center.
In a supporting statement for the Campaign for Climate Justice, the Dalai Lama said, "While the earth is our only home, we human beings have an immense capacity to alter the environment. Therefore, we have a two-fold responsibility, firstly, to take greater steps to care for this world, and, secondly, to undo the serious environmental degradation that has resulted from incorrect human behavior."
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
