時間：2018年7月27日 July 27, 2018
地點：美國 華盛頓特區 美國和平研究所 U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.

法王噶瑪巴應邀出席美國和平研究所、國際共和研究所以及尋找共同基礎組織所舉行的聯合研討會，並在專題討論會上發表演說。此研討會主要探討如何對治暴力極端主義，以及打造跨宗教和平。不久前，美國和平研究所才剛剛結束自7月24日至26日的三天研討會，旨在為全球的宗教自由問題，尋求具體的解決方案。 發言時，法王首先感謝主辦單位的邀請，並表示他曾造訪過美國和平研究所。接著，法王發表他對宗教選擇權的看法，內容摘要如下：
From July 24 to 26, 2018, the USIP held a conference that focused on concrete solutions to the problems of religious freedom worldwide. On the following day, a conference was jointly convened by the USIP, the International Republican Institute, and Search for Common Ground to explore countering violent extremism and interfaith peace-building. His Holiness was the lead speaker on the latter panel. After expressing his thanks for being invited and mentioning that he had previously visited the USIP, His Holiness spoke about religion and choice.

「首先，我認為宗教自由是最基本的人權之一。再者，宗教自由是一種選擇，它給予有信仰者和無信仰者同等的選擇權力，讓他們可以按照自己的選擇來生活。依此，有沒有宗教自由，影響的不只是那些具有宗教信仰的人，所以，宗教自由也是最重要的人權之一。」
“First of all I think religious freedom is one of our most fundamental human rights,” he said. “It is one of the most important since the presence or absence of religious freedom not only affects those who are religious: since it is a matter of choice, religious freedom gives to those who choose to be religious and those who choose not to be religious the equal right to live according to their choice.

「然而，如何實現和確保我們的宗教自由，這仍然是個問題。例如，我遇到許多人就連在自己家裡都遭遇到宗教問題。比方說父母是佛教徒，但子女對基督教比較感興趣，而父母通常喜歡子女跟自己有同樣的信仰，所以這種情況有可能讓人感到自在。」
“The question remains, however, of how we can practically implement and ensure our religious freedom. For example, I meet many people for whom religion can be an issue even within their family. The parents might be Buddhist yet their children could be drawn to Christianity. Since the parents would like their children to share their faith, the situation could become uncomfortable.

「問題在於精神修持——其中包括宗教在內，其實是非常個人的，它取決於個人內心的意向、個人的選擇，以及個人的感受。然而，宗教往往被視為是一項必須遵循的傳統，例如子女要信仰父母的宗教，但重要的是我們要尊重自己內心的感受——雖然有時我們也沒有給予足夠的重視。」
“The fact remains that spirituality, including religious spirituality, is a very personal issue; it is a question of the inclinations in each person’s individual mind—the choices they make and feelings they have. Religion is often presented as a tradition that has to be followed, such as that of our parents. It is essential, however, to respect the feelings of our own mind, yet sometimes we do not accord these sensitivities enough importance.

「因此，在修持宗教時，我們不應該只是人云亦云，或是盲目跟随著風俗習慣。精神修持必須是我們每個人契入自心的一種方式，它必須能夠帶給我們生命意義，讓我們瞭解人生的基本意義和價值。」
For this reason, when we practice a religion, we should not just copy others or blindly follow some custom. Spiritual practice must be a way for each of us as, an individual in touch with our own mind, to give meaning to our life and come to an understanding of the fundamental meaning and value of our life.

「有緣接觸到某個宗教傳統，這應該要讓我們感覺到，這是一個探討內在世界和開展精神價值的機會，而不是一個強加在自己身上的東西。因此，宗教領袖有責任讓人們覺知此內在的探尋，也有責任讓大家明白一個事實：宗教自由乃人與生俱有的權力，它不用被授予，也不容被撤銷。」
Having access to a religious tradition should feel like an opportunity to explore our inner world and develop our spiritual values, and not like something that has been imposed upon us. Religious leaders have the responsibility, therefore, to make people aware of this inner search and also to present the fact that religious freedom is an innate right, and not something that can be given or withheld.”