"What is the purpose of life? I believe it is happiness. Our culture, education, economy and all human activities should be meant for that goal."

"An open mind, good heart and purposeful life lead to a happy and joyful life."

He went on to say that while the Western educational system has excellent facilities and high standards for developing intellect it lacks in the promotion of deeper human values including compassion and forgiveness. In the past it was the responsibility of the church to look after human values but that influence has diminished. It is important that secular education now takes on this responsibility. "Education needs to concentrate on developing a good heart".

How can we help our young people?

We need to give them a sense of hope and realisation of their own potential. Many of the problems of the present have their roots in the past and in a sense we cannot change them. But we can learn from the past and not make mistakes in the future. Many young people feel a sense of hopeless and therefore have no courage for change. Be hopeful and optimistic. This will help bring about change.

How can we improve the family?

It is so important to have the right atmosphere in the family to help children grow up. Unfortunately there is too much reliance on technology and the external means of solving problems. There is an 'instrument' way of perceiving human beings, like an object. Therefore human beings become alienated form their true nature ... they are like a small piece in a clock / machine.

To change this we need to overhaul our whole way of looking at the world. The development of the industrial world was unplanned ... what we have now is the consequence of the process of science and technology development ... there was a lack of planning, of looking at the wider ramifications. We now need to appreciate the complexity, the effect on human values and society. We need to realise that it is not an easy task but we need to take responsibility for starting a process of re-examination.

How can people develop a warm heart in a secular way?

There is no need to be religious or to study religious texts in order to develop compassion and a warm heart. It is about cultivating love. In a secular way the reason behind cultivating love could be individual enjoyment. In a religious sense it would be more altruistic ... being virtuous for spiritual merit.

As teachers what can we do to engage institutions?

You need to focus on individuals. Look at human values and how they affect the individual - what does it do for you? In the final analysis there is not a contradiction between materialism and altruism. It is OK to have a technological and materialistic society as long as it is imbued with human values.

In order to get transformation there needs to be a long term plan - constant practice, constant effort and determination.