Reflecting upon the long suffering war ending in Kosovo:
who really won and who lost?

Peace Times 12

Lama Gangchen with Kofi Annan
at UN Headquarters; New York, November 1998

Armed conflicts defeat all. Lets put a stop to violent energetic
and financial investments

Finally, there seems to be a ray of hope for peace in Kosovo. Thanks to the deep wish and prayers of all of us. It is the ideal moment to reflect upon who has lost and who has won. The answer can only be a dramatic one: everyone has lost, we have all lost. Even those who seem to have won, have in reality been defeated. A war only leaves behind a trail of death, desperation and devastation. By fighting, all the more when using weapons, one is anyway always destined to lose, because in the end there is nothing left for anyone, if not the tiresome task of rebuilding everything and every relationship.

Peace does not merely depend upon the will of governments, it is not only a question of international politics: it is a principle of global education. It literally depends upon each and everyone one of us. Even so, who knows why then we do nothing else than invest our energetic resources into fighting one day in one country and the next in another. The same goes for our financial reserves, we certainly act unwisely and without thinking long term: we relentlessly choose to invest in those sectors concerned with the production and commercialisation of violence; yet by doing so we blindly seek security and happiness in the wrong direction, merely creating an infinite vicious circle of suffering and fear of which we ourselves are sooner or later to fall victim.

Indeed what an example we give to our youngsters. And what devastating effects our warmongering has upon the environment: increasingly polluted by poisons, invaded by landmines and filled with intollerance, selfishness and hatred.

Until today, we have nothing better to show for it than incessant battling both with words and on the actual fields. It is time now for all of us to concentrate our efforts to create a better world for all: peace must be our common objective. Let us become more self-responsible in order that we may contribute actively to the creation of a new system of peace education, which can be viable for each and everyone, regardless of creed, colour or culture and this for the whole world. If we could only rediscover our original loving and compassionate nature, we would automatically find the solutions to all of our problems and the entire world would benefit from it. Human rights reside in the exclusive peace residence. By taking care of our inner peace, we can contribute concretly to the building of world peace.

Inner peace, world peace, now and forever; with the attention of all human beings and the blessings of all holy beings.

T.Y.S. Lama Gangchen