His Holiness saddened by earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan

DHARAMSALA, Apr 18: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his sadness at the significant loss of life and magnitude of destruction caused by the devastating earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan and contributed towards relief and rescue works.

7.0 earthquake in Japan on April 15, 2016.
7.0 earthquake in Japan on April 15, 2016.

The earth quake measuring 7.8-magnitude, which struck Ecuador on Saturday night, has killed at least 413 people and injured more than 2,500 people.

The two major earthquakes that jolted Japan on Thursday and Saturday have killed at least 41 people and injured 968 people.

To President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, His Holiness wrote:

“I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives as a result of this natural disaster, and would like to express my sympathy and condolences to their families and others who have been affected.”

In his missive to the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he wrote: “As a Buddhist monk who recites the ‘Heart Sutra’ daily, I feel it would be important if Japanese Buddhists were to recite the ‘Heart Sutra’ now and in the future. Such recitation may not only benefit those who have lost their precious lives, but may also help prevent further disasters in the future. Here in Dharamsala we are reciting the ‘Heart Sutra’ one hundred thousand times with this in mind.”

7.8 earthquake in Ecuador on April 16, 2016.
7.8 earthquake in Ecuador on April 16, 2016.

The missives concluded with His Holiness’ assurance of sympathy and solidarity with the people of Ecuador and Japan.

He had also asked The Dalai Lama Trust, in the case of Ecuador, and his Representative in Tokyo, in the case of Japan, to make a token donation towards the relief and rescue work.

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