“It’s important that, as we begin the New Year, look forward,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a New Year’s day address. “We should project our intention ahead, so that we make this year a meaningful one.”

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama gave his advice for the year ahead in an address at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies’s 50th Anniversary on New Year’s day.

His Holiness, speaking in Tibetan with English translation by Thupten Jinpa, spoke of the value of reflecting on the past year.

“When you look back… how would you think about the year that you have spent?” asked His Holiness. “Would you have a sense of contentment, saying that ‘I have lived that year well. I have served the purpose of that year.’? Or would you be looking back with a sense of regret for all the troubles you have caused?”

His Holiness also spoke of the importance of looking ahead with intention to “make this year a meaningful one” that we can turn back and look at with “a sense of happiness and joy.”

“If an individual were to make conscious intention to live his or her life with a sense of purpose, live it in a good way, then the ripple effect of that really spreads. First, from the individual to the family, then to the community… and so on. This is how society gets changed and effected.” said His Holiness.

“When we talk about the transformation of society, the transformation really has to start from the individual, from inside to outwards,” he said.