His Holiness drove down leafy shaded avenues, past historic buildings to Christ University, an institution with 12000 students. When he stepped out of his car a great cheer swept through the crowd of students waiting outside to catch a glimpse of him. At the door he was offered the tsampa and chang of a traditional Tibetan welcome. On the stage inside the auditorium Fr Thomas Ayaka welcomed His Holiness, saying how blessed and privileged staff and students felt at His Holiness’s presence among them. He replied,

“Respected elder brothers and sisters, younger brothers and sisters, wherever I give a talk or meet other people, I think about how we are all human beings. I am nothing special, I am like you. We 7 billion human beings on the earth are physically, mentally and emotionally the same; I am one of you.”
Regarding religion and science, His Holiness said that religion is related to our emotions while science is more related to our brain. He agrees with the Pope’s statement that faith and reason must go together. Science is about analysis and research, experiment and investigation, not accepting things on the level of appearances. Nevertheless, scientists do not yet know everything, they have focussed on the natural physical world, but their understanding of the inner world of the mind has been much more limited. Now, however, there is evidence that mental training can change the brain and scientists are examining the effects of positive mental training, such as training in compassion and concern for others. They have found sound evidence that compassionate warm-heartedness is good for our physical and mental health.

His Holiness noted that it is not necessary to be religious to be a good human being. He said,
A group of Tibetan students of Christ University sang for His Holiness. The session concluded with everyone standing while the University Choir sang the Indian National Anthem. As His Holiness emerged from the building, another great cheer went up from the students gathered outside. He waved and stood with them for photographs to be taken.
His Holiness conceded that he is a Buddhist, but stressed that he has complete admiration for other faiths. India, he observed, is the only country where all the world’s major religious traditions flourish and live together. He said this is something that must be kept alive and proudly revealed to the rest of the world. Similarly, India has upheld the tradition of ahimsa or non-violence for thousands of years.

“Non-violent action depends on a non-violent motivation. This is a precious inheritance that is worthy to preserve,” he advised.