DALAI LAMA: Encouraging a Compassionate World
LARRY KING: Do you hope to meet Pope Francis? What do you think of him?
THE DALAI LAMA: Oh yes. Of course. Nice. Very nice. I think very practical.
LARRY KING: You think most people are naturally compassionate?
THE DALAI LAMA: Yes. I believe.
LARRY KING: You do? You have faith in that?
THE DALAI LAMA: Now, some scientists also say that. Through their investigation, they believe. I mean, they concluded basic human nature is more compassionate.
LARRY KING: And do you feel compassion to those who’ve harmed you?
THE DALAI LAMA: Oh yes. Of course. That’s the compassion which we are talking. Is unbiased compassion. Usually, sort of even animal some kind of closest feeling towards your own relatives, your own friend. That’s biased compassion. That kind of compassion cannot extend towards your enemy because that compassion, you see, very much oriented about others attitude. So genuine compassion, the true training, that is irrespective what others’ attitude. But still as a human being or as a sentient being, they deserve our compassion.
LARRY KING: I want your opinion of some leaders. What do you make of Assad, the president of Syria?
THE DALAI LAMA: I think in order to answer that I have to go Syria, and meet more people, and analyze. Then I will give you an answer.
LARRY KING: Netanyahu of Israel.
THE DALAI LAMA: I met him on few occasion. Quite tough.
LARRY KING: Tough guy? Do you like him? You like everybody.
THE DALAI LAMA: But, again, you see, I think some of his policies are concerning, I have some reservation.
LARRY KING: The Chinese President Jinping.
THE DALAI LAMA: Xi Jinping, basically, as I mentioned earlier, some of his public expression are quite surprising. A communist leader, you see, saying some nice thing about Buddhism, is something new.
LARRY KING: What do you think of Mr. Putin in Russia?
THE DALAI LAMA: Putin? Of course, I should sort of.. I should respect him. Because the president of great nation. And I think third term or something like that, isn’t it? He firstly president. Then become prime minister.
