Thanks to The Buddhist Channel for this story.
The Dalai Lama is calling for the abolition of the death penalty.
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called on Saturday for the abolition of the death penalty and a revamp of centuries of academic-centered thinking on education to build a more "warm-hearted" world.
On the second day of a visit to Japan which has been condemned by China, the Dalai Lama told a crowd of hundreds in Tokyo that criminals should be treated with "compassion, not anger."
"Criminals, people who commit crimes, usually society rejects these people," the Buddhist monk said in a sumo wrestling arena rearranged for his address.
"They are also part of society. Give them some form of punishment to say they were wrong, but show them they are part of society and can change. Show them compassion," he said.
Thank all that is good that the Dalai Lama is out front on issues like this and reminding humanity to be compassionate to all sentient beings.
Maintaining the death penalty stains us just as much as it stains the prisoner. It reminds me of a bumper sticker that says,
"Why do we kill people to show other people that killing is wrong?"
I am so pleased that the Dalai Lama and other Buddhists such as Thich Nhat Hanh are out there speaking out on compassion to all beings.
-Peace to you all-
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