"The unhappiness and suffering that we experience arise through our inability to control our own minds,and the happiness that we wish to achieve will only be achieved by learning to control our minds. Physics has provided the basis for the design of the fission and fusion bombs, biology -- germ warfare, chemistry -- nerve gas. And all of them have helped bring us to the brink of doom. But they still do not provide keys to ultimate power. If we do destroy ourselves, it will be the minds of human beings,
the unhealthy emotions of individuals, the fear, the hate, the jealousy and the greed of individuals that will trigger these horrors. . . . Obviously these emotions can only be controlled, reshaped and rechanneled by each individual with techniques developed from a comprehensive, precise and effective Inner Science. For this reason, the Inner Scientist focuses on the language of "mind", and on its understanding and control. As the world knows, our outer sciences display an admirable determination to deal with each problem in a rigorous, rational and technically exacting manner. We can apply this same determination to a renewed study of the intangibles of the mind, even the religious territory of the spirit and soul. If we do so with fearless persistence, then there is absolutely no question that we can succeed in triumphing over the great danger of global holocaust. We can use Inner Science to educate each individual to understand ourselves, to control our negative emotions and distorted notions, and to cultivate our highest potentials of love and wisdom. And we can keep improving our Outer Sciences to better understand, control and beautify the environment for the greater benefit of all beings. There is an enormous amount of work to be done. Let us begin it here and now."
The Dalai Lama at Harvard
