Dalai Lama praises communal harmony in India, consecrates statue of Buddha

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The Mangalorean
By Team Mangalorean Bangalore
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Gulbarga (Karnataka) December 19, 2009: Describing the Hindu and Buddhist religions as 'twin sisters', spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today lauded the marvelous tradition of communal harmony and coexistance in the country despite the presence of several outside religions.

Delivering a spiritual discourse at the famous Buddhist pilgrim centre ''Buddha Vihar'' here, he said the Buddhism advocates non-violence, communal harmony and co-existence.

He 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 Christinaity, Islam, Sikh, Jain and Buddhism, and each of the religion has its own philosophy. But all religions give the same message of love, campassion, harmony and co-existence,'' he preached.

He 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, he 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, he claimed.

Earlier, Dalai Lama consecrated a five feet statue of Buddha in a mediating posture, made of Panchaloha in Bangkok, here in Buddha Vihar at Gulbarga.

Dalai Lama was here to deliver spiritual discourses on December 19 and 20 on the occasion of first anniversary of opening of Buddha Vihar.

Union Labour and Employment Minister M Mallikharjun Kharge and others also participated in the spiritual programme.