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..
The death penalty .. is 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 they 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 it 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
circumstances.
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 individuals can work towards. -- Tenzin Gyatso