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His Holiness Visits Gopalpur TCV school

DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Gopalpur TCV school on his way back to Dharamshala from inaugurating Zabsang Choekorling monastery in Chauntra yesterday. His Holiness was welcomed at the school with ceremonial Tibetan scarves by students and staff of the school including Mr Tsewang Yeshi, Executive Director of TCV head office.

In his address to the students, His Holiness talked about love, peace, warm heartedness and development of inner values. “Even though there were a lot of material developments, the 20th century was fraught with war and man made tragedies. That’s why I call the 20th century, a century of war and bloodshed. But you are the new generation of the 21st century. So, it is up to you to make this 21st century, a century of love, peace and equality,” His Holiness said.

Speaking about education, His Holiness said: “Modern education is important but it alone is not sufficient to provide us a happy life. Modern education focusses solely on material development and pay little attention to study basic human emotions like love, compassion and affection. So, its important to retain our age-old cultural and traditional education as well as modern education to lead a happy and balanced life.”

He added that the younger generation of Tibetan people should focus on education as they will be the ones who have to shape the future of Tibet.  He also urged the Tibetan children to work towards creating a non-violent and peaceful world for the benefit of all sentient beings.

This was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the school since its inauguration in 1997. Spread over a thirty-acre area surrounded by lush green tea estates, the school is home to over a thousand Tibetan students mostly from Tibet and Tibetan communities in India.