Mindful communication for conflict avoidance and sustainable development

Saturday, 5 October 2024 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Don de Silva

Rinpoche Shartse Khensur, Jangchup Choeden, is the Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). He is a prominent voice of the Nalanda tradition among the younger generation of leaders who have emerged from the Tibetan universities.

After scoring Geshe Lharampa, a distinction akin to a valedictorian in PhD in Western academia in his monastic studies, Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden served as the abbot of the Shartse College of Gaden University. His other major roles include the directorial position at the International Geluk Foundation. He joined the IBC first as a Deputy Secretary General under the advice of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Born in North India, Rinpoche Choeden has a deep grasp of global age issues and the foundation of the Nalanda tradition to help approach them.

Some extracts of his opening remarks at the 2nd Media Conclave, held in New Delhi, India:

“When it comes to writing stories, when it comes to creating new narratives, mindful communication and media have an important role to play stop here I would like to remind you that the Buddha advised his Bhikkhu Sangha whenever they select a person for certain duties from the community, the most important qualities they should be looking for is a person who is not driven by four negative emotions.

These are:

Aspirational greed. If a person is driven by aspirational greed, then there are a lot of chances that the person would do wrong things.

Then the second thing is that a person not driven by hatred and jealousy, that is another important thing.

The third thing is a person not driven by fear if a person is driven by fear, then they end up doing wrong things stop.

Finally the fourth, that a person is not driven by ignorance and lack of knowledge. Taking decisions under the lack of knowledge, taking decisions under the pressure of fear, taking decisions under the pressure of hatred and jealousy and taking decisions driven by aspirational greed, these are the factors that the Buddha taught very explicitly to the Bhikkhu Sangha.

Whenever you are whenever you choose someone you have to keep these qualities in mind.”