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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Dalai Lama Philosophy The talk of the town right now in Colombo and the outskirts, is on the peace process - with practically everybody I met during the week - be it at a cocktail party, market place or cinema foyer, happy that all will soon be well for Sri Lanka.Those who appear to be most confident are those whose optimism is based on the Dalai Lama philosophy, that we are all human beings with the same emotional natures and with the same purpose in life - that of happiness; the only difference is in our cultural backgrounds, our faith, colour and way of life. And that being so, it is important we relate as one human being to another in a bonding based on affection, compassion and mutual respect for each other whether friend, acquaintance or stranger from whatever walk of life. "We have only to understand an appreciate the background of others, see things from another's perspective and everything would be okay," said a man I met at a tete-a-tete last week. Does that sound like a sermon? Even if it did, it certainly set me a-thinkin g on all these humane qualities so essential for peace and harmony among us. And the good news I gathered from a doctor at this tete-a-tete was that scientists have now discovered that those who lack social ties seem to suffer from "poor health, higher levels of unhappiness and a greater vulnerability to stress." Dealing with others according to the Dalai Lama's teachings is a complex issue, said a hotelier. There is no "one formula" that would solve problems. He quoted the Dalai Lama as having said' `it's a bit like cooking; if you are cooking a delicious meal, a special meal, then there are various stages to the cooking process. You have to first boil the vegetables, fry them, combine them in a special way, mixing in the spices and the end result would be a delicious product. Similarly, in order to be skilled in dealing with others, you need many factors. You can't be specific about the method or technique.' And, it is those factors that open up unlimited possibilities and opportunities for success.'" A boon to the sick People are also talking about Thailand's Bumrungrad Hospital - a boon to the sick, despite the cost of medical care at this place being as low as one-fifth as that in Europe, one-eighth in the USA and about a half to one third in Singapore, it offers the best in health care with its 600 foreign and local qualified doctors and a range of unique facilities. The hospital is located in the heart of the city; has a tower of serviced one and two bedroom apartments next to it and is connected by an air-conditioned bridge which provides accommodation for those accompanying the sick. It has an emergency evacuation facility via helicopter or fixed wing aircraft around the clock. It owns a fully licensed medical heliport for catering to the critically ill and also for transporting critically ill babies to the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using a self-contained intensive care incubator. Besides, there is an International Patient Services Centre which attends to international visitors. They are met at the airport, transported to the hospital or accommodation arranged for them at the BH Tower apartments; they are assisted with documentation for visa and diplomatic requirements, insurance and so on. Facilities also include a Health-Screening Centre, Diagnostic & Therapeutic Centre, Cancer Centre, a Heart Centre complete with two cardiac catheterisation labs, two cardiac surgery theatres and nuclear cardiology, a women's centre, dialysis centre and a host of others. |
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