Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama addresses MLCU convocation
SHILLONG: “India is considered a religious country, but a lot of corruption is taking place in this country,” observed Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
“This country (India) is considered a religious country, but a lot of corruption is taking place. There are many corrupt people, and I think, the corrupt people are also highly educated,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said while addressing the 6th convocation of the Martin Christian Luther University at the U Soso Tham auditorium here.
“They (some educated people) pray to God but the purpose of their prayer is to make their corrupt life more successful,” he said amidst thunderous applause from the audience at the auditorium.
“Even Tibetans practise Tantra to defeat their enemies,” he said, adding that religions too could be turned into “instruments for bullying and cheating other people”.
The 14th Dalai Lama arrived here on Monday along with Sikyong (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile Lobsang Sangay on a maiden visit.
The spiritual leader was greeted by IT Minister AL Hek when he landed at the IAF helipad in Upper Shillong. Before arriving for the MLCU convocation, the Tibetan spiritual leader met Governor Dr KK Paul at the Raj Bhawan.
Eulogizing India’s ancient knowledge, the Dalai Lama, who considers himself a student of the ancient Nalanda University “by tradition”, said, “You Indians are traditionally our Gurus and we are your reliable chelas (disciples)”.
He also went on to say that most of his thoughts were derived from the ancient knowledge of India.
The Noble laureate also urged modern educational institutions in India to try and inculcate the country’s ancient knowledge into their respective curricula.
‘For 55 years India has been my home’
Stating that India has been his home for almost 55 years now, the septuagenarian spiritual leader said, “India is the most populated democratic country in the world. Despite some drawbacks and problems it is basically very stable.”
According to the Dalai Lama, building a healthy India will have a positive impact not only in Asia but on the world as a whole.
While stating that the Indus Valley Civilization was more prominent compared to ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations, he observed that India has produced “wonderful thinkers and philosophers”.
Pointing out that India has been practising ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) for over 3000 years now, the Dalai Lama said this country was a “living example” of the fact that all major religious traditions could co-exist peacefully.
“Religious harmony is your tradition and I am a messenger of India’s tradition of Ahimsa and secular ethics,” the Dalai Lama said.
‘My Chinese friends should learn from India’
Observing that India was multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-racial “like the United Nations”, the Dalai Lama said, “I tell my Chinese friends to learn from India” even as he pointed out that some “Chinese hardliners” feel that it is dangerous if Tibetans have their own language and culture. Iterating that Tibetans did not want secession from China, the Dalai Lama said, “As far as economic development is concerned, remaining in China is in our interest. But our unique culture, script and ecology of Tibet must be preserved.”
The venerable religious leader also called for equal respect to “non-believers”. “Out of the 10 billion people in the world, one billion are non-believers and they also have equal rights,” he said.
The Dalai Lama was also conferred with an honorary doctorate by the private varsity “For his spiritual leadership of the Tibetan people in their quest for a peaceful and harmonious existence with the nations of the world, for his example to the world of the principles of non-violence, promoting peace, etc.”
Meghalaya Governor Dr KK. Paul, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and a host of his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats were present on the occasion.