Dalai Lama inaugurates Pali & Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Program
DHARAMSALA, Dec 28: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness Dalai Lama has said that there should be harmony between Pali and Sanskrit traditions as both follow the same teacher and the same teaching as he launched a five-year ‘Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Programme.
“We follow the same teacher and essentially the same teaching, therefore there’s every reason why there should be harmony between us whether we belong to the Pali or Sanskrit tradition,” the Dalai Lama has said as he presided over the inauguration of Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Program at Wat-pa Thai Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar on Tuesday according to a report o the dalailama.com, the official website of the Office the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Nobel laureate has added: “There may be some differences between our various traditions, but the important point is that we are all followers of the same teacher. Therefore, it’s essential that we are friendly and respectful towards one another.”
The Octogenarian Tibetan leader has also said that he tries to cultivate the awakening mind of bodhicitta and an understanding of emptiness every day and urged everyone to try to cultivate an altruistic state of mind.
“Whatever the circumstances, it’s always important to generate a kind heart,” the Dalai Lam concluded.
Ven Dr Phra Bodhinandhamunee, Abbot of the Wat-pa Temple has thanked the Dalai Lama for graciously blessing the event and stated that the five-year program(2022-2027) is in partial fulfilment of His Holiness’s commitment to promoting human values, to encourage harmony among the world’s religious traditions, to ensure the preservation of Tibetan culture and to prompt a revival of awareness of the value of ancient Indian knowledge.
The Dalai Lama was accompanied by Ven Dr Warakagoda Dhammasiddhi, Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoché and the Gaden Tri Rinpoché at the event which was attended by around 450 monks, nuns and other devotees from countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, America and India among others.
