The Dalai Lama
Message Supporting the Moratorium
on the Death Penalty
In general, death is something none of
us wants, in fact it is something we don't
even like to think about. When death takes place naturally, it is
a process beyond our control to stop, but where death is wilfully
and deliberately brought about, it is very unfortunate. Of course,
within our legal systems there are said to be certain reasons and
purposes for employing the death penalty. It is used to punish
offenders, to prevent them ever repeating their misdeed and to
deter others.
However,
if we examine the situation more carefully, we will find that
these are
not real solutions.
Harmful actions and their tragic consequences all have their
origin in disturbing emotions and negative thoughts, and these are
a state of mind, whose potential we find within all human beings.
From this point of view, every one of us has the potential to
commit crimes, because we are all subject to negative disturbing
emotions and negative mental qualities. And we will not overcome
these by executing other people.
What is deemed criminal can vary greatly from country to country.
In some countries, for example, speaking out for human rights is
considered criminal, whereas in other countries preventing free
speech is a crime. The punishments for crimes are also very
different, but usually include various forms of imprisonment or
hardship, financial penalties and, in a number of countries,
physical pain. In
some countries, crimes that the government considers very serious
are punished by executing the person who committed the crime.
The death penalty fulfills a preventive function, but it is also
very clearly a form of revenge. It is an especially severe form of
punishment because it is so final. The human life is ended and the
executed person is deprived of the opportunity to change, to
restore the harm done or compensate for it. Before advocating
execution we should consider whether criminals are intrinsically
negative and
harmful people or whether they will remain perpetually in the same
state of mind
in which the committed their crime or not. The answer, i believe,
is definitely not.
However
horrible the act they have committed, I believe that everyone has
the potential to improve and correct themselves. Therefore, i am
optimistic that it remains possible to deter criminal activity,
and prevent such harmful
consequences of such acts in society, without having to resort to
the death penalty.
My overriding belief is that is is always possible for criminals
to improve and that
by its very finality the death penalty contradicts this. therefore,
I support those organizations and individuals who are trying to
bring an end to the use of the death penalty. Today, in many
societies very little importance is placed on education or the
development of human values through social programs and
entertainment. In fact, if we take television programming as an
example, violence, including killing, is regarded as having a high
entertainment value. This is indicative of how misguided we have
become. I believe human beings are not violent by nature. Unlike
lions and tigers, we are not naturally equipped to kill with sharp
teeth and claws. From a Buddhist viewpoint, I believe that the
basic nature of every sentient being is pure, that the deeper
nature of mind is something pure. Human beings become violent
because of negative thoughts which arise as a result of their
environment and circumstance.
I wholeheartedly support an appeal to those countries who at
present employ the
death penalty to observe an unconditional moratorium. At the same
time we should give more support to education and encourage a
greater sense of universal responsibility. We need to explain the
importance of the practice of love and compassion for our own
survival and to try to minimize those conditions which foster
murderous tendencies, such as the proliferation of weapons in our
societies. These are things even private individual can work
towards.
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