Tsewang Rigzin
LEH: Thousands of devotees from across Ladakh region and outside, including hundreds of foreign visitors, thronged Jivetsal Teaching Ground as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama began 3-day teachings on Thursday. During the three days, The Dalai Lama will give teachings ‘Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug)’. His Holiness will also confer the Avalokiteshvara Initiation (Chenresig Wang) which will be followed by a long-life prayer to His Holiness offered by the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association on behalf of the people of Ladakh.
While stressing on the importance of love and compassion in today’s world, His Holiness said with anger and negativity, one cannot expect peace in the world. “All religious traditions have the same message of peace and compassion,” The Dalai Lama said, adding that he will never ask Tibetan people to use force to achieve the Tibetan’s goal. “We are resolved to use love and compassion.” On the relevance of democracy in today’s world, the Noble Laureate said changes are happening in China also and authoritarianism is outdated today. Talking about struggles Tibetan people had gone through to preserve their tradition in exile, the Dalai Lama said they eventually succeeded in preserving Tibetan tradition of Buddhism and philosophies by re-establishing major Tibetan monasteries, outside Tibet, in South India. “We have been quite successful in preserving Tibetan tradition in exile. Tibetan tradition is not only about rituals but it is very important to study philosophies.”
