
TERMING RELIGIOUS harmony in India “remarkable”, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Saturday said the results of the Bihar assembly elections had shown that “a majority of Hindus believed in religious harmony”.
In a reply to a question on “religious intolerance” in India, he said that politics meant serving the people effectively and “not creating problems”.
The Dalai Lama was in Jalandhar to preside over the convocation at Lovely Professional University, where he asserted that Indian social fabric was “unique” and said, as India was a “truly secular country”, all religions are respected. He, however, added that “a few mischievous elements” who are present in every society try to create problems.
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On the terror attacks in Paris that killed over 120 people, he said, “If we created problems and asked God for help, it would be illogical. Secular ethics must be taught to children from kindergarten level.”
He also emphasised that world leaders must give importance to global issues along with their national interests.
The Dalai Lama urged students to make this a “century of peace, love and compassion”. Referring to women students, he said, “Being more sensitive, women should share more responsibility to bring harmony in the world.”
Asked whether the next Dalai Lama would be man or a woman, he said the matter of whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not must be decided by the people of Tibet.
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