“In order to promote non-violence and reduce violence, ultimately we
have to address motivation through education, through awareness.
Here, I want to share with you a few thoughts about the concept of
war. In ancient times, when people remained separately, more or less
independently, there was no need for other people’s cooperation. You
could survive, you could live, completely independently. Under those
circumstances, the concept of war, destruction of your enemy, and the
victory of your side were a real possibility. Today’s world is no
longer that kind of reality. Your survival, your success, your
progress, are very much related with others’ well being. Therefore,
under these circumstances even your enemies- for whatever reason you
categorize them as an enemy in the economic field and in some other
fields- and you are still very much interdependent. In such a
situation, destruction of your enemy is actually destruction of
yourself. Judging from that viewpoint, the concept of “we”
and “they” no longer applies. Thus the concept of war, destruction
of the other side, is not relevant to today’s situation. Therefore,
I think it is very important to make it clear that the concept of war
not only is a painful experience but also is self-destructive.”

– His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from ‘The Art of Peace: Nobel Peace
Laureates discuss Human Rights, Conflict and Reconciliation’,
published by Snow Lion Publications.