Gulab Garh, Kishtwar, Jammu:Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the 15th founding anniversary of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural School in Gulab Garh, Kishtwar district in Jammu, this morning.
Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mr. Omar Abdullah attended the ceremony with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
There were 18,000 people attending the event, mostly Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus.
Admiring the India's religious harmony and non-violence and the concept of Buddhist philosophy of non-violence and peace, His Holiness appealed the people to follow such principles of living.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama told the Buddhist students, Tibetan people have preserved Kagyur and Tengyur Buddha's teaching from the Nalanda University and they should study Buddhism while practising Buddhist principles in their daily life.
Every religion has the similar aim to reduce the negative qualities of anger, hatred, jealousy and to spread the altruistic qualities, to help others, said His Holiness. "I being a Buddhist, believe and have respect for every religion", His Holiness added.
To have warm heartedness is very essential with good health, said His Holiness while speaking about the region. His Holiness said, Gulab Garh is a very beautiful place with large forest and mountains surrounding the region and His Holiness is very happy to visit the place at their request.
His Holiness told the youngsters of the region to focus on their studies with the promotion of their traditional values.
His Holiness said he is very happy meeting Mr. Omar Abdullah, for His Holiness have shared close relations with Chief Minister's father Union Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah and grandfather former Prime Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mr. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Chief Minister, Mr. Abdullah said, he is also very happy to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the second time.
His Holiness is conferring long-life initiation to the people this afternoon and will participate in an interfaith dialogue process on Sunday morning. Following the dialogue His Holiness will return to Dharamsala.
