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India is our guru and we are reliable chelas, His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bengaluru

Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge during a seminar on ‘Social Justice and B R Ambedkar’, in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Photo/PTI

Bengaluru: “India is our guru and we are chelas; we are reliable chelas, because we have preserved your ancient knowledge,” the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said earlier today, speaking at the state level seminar on ‘Social Justice and Dr B R Ambedkar in Bengaluru.

The seminar was also graced by Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddharamaiah and leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha, Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge along with representatives of the Karnataka government and hundreds of admirers of the Tibetan Buddhist leader. The Social Justice and BR Ambedkar’s seminar was organised by the Social Justice Department of the Karnataka state government to commemorate Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary.

Calling himself the messenger of ancient Indian values and knowledge, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “I also consider myself as the son of India as every part of my brain cells are filled with ancient Indian knowledge and my body is because of Indian rice and dal.”

On ancient Indian values and knowledge, His Holiness said “it is not ancient, but most relevant,” and that it must be revived in the country. Ancient Indian knowledge and values, along with modern technology, can do great for the country as one can attain mental comfort with ancient knowledge and physical comfort through modern knowledge, he told a  rapt Bengaluru audience.

In his speech, His Holiness also stressed the role of education in eradicating social injustice especially caste based discrimination in India. Through education, he said there is “a sense of equality, so that they can build self confidence. Through self confidence, hard work and education once can achieve equality”.

He further protested that deprivation from social justice in the name of caste was not from religion, but it was from existing societal systems like feudal system.