Section 4
H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche
interview
H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche
Interview by Kamil Grund
Kamil: From the foothills of the Himalayas to leading global peace initiatives, your journey is extraordinary. What early experiences or spiritual teachings most profoundly shaped your lifelong commitment to compassion and universal peace? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: At an early age, I was fortunate to receive guidance in the ancient wisdom of the Himalayas and later attended the Institute for Advanced Tibetan Studies in India. Upon graduation, I met my root teacher, Chatral Rinpoche Sangye Dorje, and many of the great spiritual masters of our time. Thanks to the kindness of all my teachers, I realized that the path of wisdom and compassion is the true path to inner peace and universal peace. Kamil: Through the Universal Peace Sanctuary, you speak of peace not as an abstract ideal but as a living reality. How do you define “universal peace,” and what practical role can individuals play in embodying it in their daily lives? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: If the concept of peace remains an abstraction, we cannot expect meaningful transformation within ourselves or among our family, friends, or communities. First, we learn how to practice peace in our daily lives, and this begins to affect our relationships with others. Kamil: You have said that we must “make peace more fashionable than war.” In a world still driven by conflict, competition, and division, how can this philosophy influence political leaders, business communities, and especially younger generations? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: There is one way in which all human beings are the same: we all wish to be happy, and no one wants to suffer. We are all equal in this way, whether we are rich or poor, young or old, strong or weak. Wars are “fashionable” today because wars are often the first choice when a community, nation, political leader, or child feels threatened. Wars never lead to peace, and there are never any winners. The result of war is only pain and suffering. Kamil: Modern life is marked by speed, uncertainty, and emotional overload. For those who feel overwhelmed, what simple but powerful practices would you recommend to begin cultivating genuine inner peace?
H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: We see the quality of our lives and our environment deteriorating day by day. Hedonism, consumerism, and materialism are overshadowing and obscuring the enlightened essence intrinsic to all human beings. Practices that help us turn inward, away from the endless distractions of worldly concerns, will help us cultivate genuine inner peace. One of these practices is meditation, which can pacify the stress and strains of modern life. Kamil: The Universal Peace Sanctuary is being built in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. What deeper spiritual significance does this sacred ground hold for you personally, and how can it serve as a global beacon of harmony for all traditions? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: My vision for the Universal Peace Sanctuary is a place that welcomes every race, color, and creed, believers and non-believers alike, who are seeking more peace and understanding in a world of growing conflict and aggression. It will be the first organization dedicated solely to the furtherance of universal peace in all aspects of life. Kamil: Looking ahead, how can peace education evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century? What new frameworks are needed to strengthen intercultural dialogue and unity across civilizations? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: The Universal Peace Forum in Davos, Switzerland, plans to establish Peace Chapters in countries all around the globe and will focus on education, economics, and environmental issues, inspiring everyone to nurture their inherent capacity for freedom, peace, and joy. The Universal Peace Forum reminds us of our duty to uphold peace as a fundamental right and embrace it as our collective responsibility. Kamil: We are entering an era where artificial intelligence is developing at extraordinary speed, often driven more by profit than by ethics or long-term responsibility. Do you believe AI can become a tool for advancing universal peace, or does it pose a serious spiritual and societal risk? If it can serve peace, what conscious principles should guide its development and use? H.E. Shyalpa Rinpoche: There are growing concerns about how to control these new technologies. We should embrace development to improve global issues, such as promoting world peace, addressing climate change, and supporting humanitarian
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