Dalai Lama speaks at business leaders' meet in Hyderabad

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Phayul
By Kalsang Rinchen
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His Holiness speaks to Tibetans at the ITC Kakatiya hotel in Hyderabad. Phayul Photo: Tenzin Phende Dengkhim

Dharamsala, December 18 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the Tibetan sweater sellers and college students in Hyderabad this morning. The Tibetan leader told the Tibetan refugees earning livelihood by selling winter garments that their hard earned money must not be spent on consumption of alcohol and other wasteful things but towards more wiser use. He said that the Tibetans must conserve their ancient cultural heritage which is in danger of elimination in Tibet and that the sense of 'Tibetanness' wherever one lives should always be in every Tibetan.

The Tibetan leader advised the college students to work hard in achieving excellence in education which he said is a very important tool for development of a people and a nation.

His Holiness also met briefly with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, K. Rosaiah before speaking to the Tibetans at Hotel ITC Kakatiya.

The Tibetan leader later spoke at a gathering of business leaders on "The art of happiness in a troubled world" at a conference hall in the hotel. His Holiness had been invited by Hyderabad chapter of the Young President's Organisation (YPO), an international body that connects young presidents and CEOs in a global business network.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the YPO event. Photo: Tenzin Phende Dengkhim

His Holiness said he considers himself a "son of India" having spent over 50 years in the country where Buddhism was born. Lauding the ancient Indian philosophy, he said that traditional Indian values of "Ahimsa"(Indian: non violence), brotherhood', love and compassion are very meaningful even today. He said he was only a "messenger" carrying these messages from India to the rest of the world.

The winner of 1989 Nobel Peace Prize also expressed his gratitude to the government and people of India for hosting the Tibetans for over fifty years and facilitating the development of a vibrant Tibetan community in India.

His Holiness will attend another event in Gulbarga in Karnataka tomorrow.

based on a report sent by Tenzin Phende Dengkhim