Dalai Lama expresses concern over religion based conflicts

Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 9: The 14th Dalai Lama today consecrated the inaugural ceremony of the new temple hall and Thiksay Yarchos Chenmo at Thiksey monastery.
It is for the third consecutive year that Yarchos Chenmo, summer festival of Dharma debate, is being held in Leh, first by Likir monastery followed by Spituk monastery last year and Thiksey monastery this year.
Yarchos Chenmo has been initiated on the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to inculcate a habit of debate and discussion on Buddha Dharma among monks, nuns and school students for scientific understanding of Buddhist religion and its experimented implementation.
Addressing the gathering, Dalai Lama said, “most of the conflicts in today’s world are man-made and discrimination on basis of caste, creed, region, religion, literate, illiterate, rich, poor, etc has been the major cause for it”. “Even the ecological imbalance and the consequences being faced by people are the results of ego and negligence”, he added.
He stressed on the need to think at individual level keeping human as base and urged upon everyone to keep cordial relationship with others starting right from one’s family, then neighbours, society, country and world at last.
The Dalai Lama expressed gratitude to Khanpo Rinpoche, spiritual head of Thiksay monastery for organising Yarchos Chenmo this year and said that it may prove useful as a platform for everyone to study and practice Buddha Dharma. He appreciated the Shia and Sunni speakers and said that the message of unity among Shia and Sunni Muslims and Buddhists mentioned in their speeches should not remain confined to Ladakh and it must be spread in the rest of the country and world as a live example of peace and brotherhood.
He reiterated that 21st century Buddhist should base their religion on study, understanding, discipline, knowledge, experimentation and implementation. “Buddhism will not survive long if it remains dependent on blind faith and devotion but if it’s made study based then Buddhism has a very long way to go,” quipped Dalai Lama.
He said that compassion, respect and kindness are the foundations of every religion and our thoughts and actions should focus on the welfare of all sentient beings. “Today most of the conflicts are religion based which is a matter of great concern and my commitment is to promote religious harmony in the world”, he added.
Galdan Thri Rinpoche and Khanpo Thiksay Rinpoche also expressed their views on the occasion. As a gesture of honour and gratitude Khanpo Thiksay Rinpoche presented a gold medal to Dalai Lama.
CEC LAHDC Dr Sonam Dawa as Councillor of Thiksay constituency welcomed Dalai Lama and expressed gratitude to Khanpo Rinpoche for giving another chance to the people of Ladakh to get blessings of the spiritual leader. Tsering Dorjey Lakrook, Minister for Ladakh Affairs and Cooperatives said that Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti could not personally welcome Dalai Lama because of tense situation prevailing in Kashmir Valley.
Muslim representatives Mohd Javed Sheikh and Maulvi Nakvi Abdul Kayum also spoke on the occasion and called Dalai Lama the epitome of peace.
Later, Dalai Lama interacted with the students from various schools.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here