'Tibetans Refugees In Own Country But Have Freedom In India': Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has said that Tibetans have freedom in India while they have become refugees in their own country.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has said that Tibetans became refugees in their own country, but they have freedom in India. He made the remarks during his visit to Siliguri. The 14th Dalai Lama arrived at Siliguri’s Sed-Gyued Monastery on Thursday to deliver teachings to his devotees. Preparations were in full swing at the monastery here ahead of the Buddhist spiritual leader’s visit after a gap of 13 years. He came here after completing a three-day tour of Gangtok, Sikkim.

" We Tibetans became refugees...In our own country, there is a lot of control, but here in India we have freedom..." he said.

According to ANI, around 20,000 devotees gathered from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars, and neighbouring states like Assam, Bihar, and Sikkim, including Nepal and Bhutan, for the Dalai Lama’s teachings at the monastery.

"The visit is a great opportunity to receive teaching from His Holiness Dalai Lama. The lesson is very important at this time when lots of fights and wars are going on. This is the right remedy for the world," said a devotee from Darjeeling, quoted ANI.

Another said: "We can’t express our happiness through words. It’s more than any festival or something else. It’s a priceless gift of my life."

Around 30,000 devotees converged at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok to witness the teachings of the Dalai Lama on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. Dalai Lama is on a four-day visit to the Himalayan state after a gap of 10 years. The 87-year-old Buddhist monk began his sermon by emphasising inner peace and happiness, promoting dialogue among different faiths, and addressing global issues through a compassionate lens.

According to PTI, he said that all religions are the same, adding that all faiths teach compassion and non-violence to the believers. "Let us all embrace diversity and secular thoughts to foster better understanding, tolerance, and shared values among all people. By upholding these ideals, societies can strive for inclusivity, harmony, and collective well-being of all people," the Tibetan spiritual guru said, quoted by PTI.