His Holiness the Dalai Lama praises communal harmony in India, consecrates statue of Buddha[Monday, 21 December 2009, 9:29 a.m.]
His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivers teaching at Gulbarga, Karnataka, India, on 19 December 2009/Photos: Mangalorean.com |
Dharamshala: Describing the Hindu and Buddhist religions as ‘twin sisters’, His Holiness the Dalai Lama lauded the marvellous tradition of communal harmony and co-existence in India despite the presence of several outside religions.His Holiness the Dalai Lama said the Buddhism advocates non-violence, communal harmony and co-existence. His Holiness was giving a religious discourse on ‘The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold path, The Essence of Buddhism and The Relevance of Buddhism to World Peace’, on the eve of the first anniversary of Buddha Vihar constructed by Siddhartha Vihar Trust on Saturday. Attachment is the basis for anger. More the attachment more the anger. Less attachment, less anger, His Holiness said. His Holiness the Dalai Lama further said that the main cause for sorrow is: ‘attraction towards silly things’.”If we control our desires and attraction to various things, automatically our sorrows will vanish,” he said. His Holiness said wherever he goes, he refers the ideal and exemplary Indian tradition of communal harmony and unity in diversity. “There are different religions in the country including Christianity, Islam, Sikh, Jain and Buddhism, and each of the religion has its own philosophy. But all religions give the same message of love, compassion, harmony and co-existence,” His Holiness added.His Holiness explained that “Buddhism is a combination of ‘body-mind’ concept. Buddhism and Jainism believe that there is no ‘soul’ and no creator. The Hindu religion believes that Lord Brahma is creator.” Citing several instances of rebirth theory, His Holiness said the Buddhism believes the rebirth. A five-year-old boy in Tibet claimed recently that his parents of his previous birth were in India, and the boy was bought to India and he met his parents in his previous birth, His Holiness said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mr M Mallikharjun Kharge, Union Labour and Employment, (R) during the consecration ceremony in Gulbarga, Karnataka |
Earlier, His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated a five feet statue of Buddha in a mediating posture, made of Panchaloha in Bangkok, here in Buddha Vihar at Gulbarga.His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Gulbarga to deliver spiritual discourses on 19 and 20 December on the occasion of first anniversary of opening of Buddha Vihar.Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the chairman of the Siddhartha Vihar Trust welcomed Dalai Lama.Gulbarga in-charge secretary E Venkataiah, Gulbarga Regional Commissioner Rajanish Goyal and Deputy Commissioner Vishal R were present.More pictures:
Union Labour and Employment, (R) greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who visited Gulbarga, Karnataka, to consecrate a statue of Lord Buddha and deliver teachings |
(Compiled from Mangalorean.com and The Indian Express reports)