BODH GAYA, January 11: “Take my teachings as a ‘root’- go ahead and read books, analyze and practice the Buddha Dharma,” were the parting words as the Dalai Lama
“I am telling you to practice not for me but out of my experience, I know that it is helpful to you, especially, when you are down,” said the 76-year old Tibetan spiritual leader.
“If you don’t practice, then it’s waste of money and energy to have come here”.
The Dalai Lama who has been teaching and giving initiations for the past ten days urged the concerned organisers and committees to make the final financial statement transparent and to use the funds and donations for the benefit of the poor and needy.
“Some Buddhist institutions in the west invite me for teachings and later I heard that some of them have become rich by selling tickets and collecting donations from the teachings,” the Dalai Lama said. “So, for the last 20 years, I have been urging the concerned organisers to make the final financial statement transparent and use the money for the poor and the needy people.”
Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar acknowledged the Tibetan spiritual leader for giving the teachings in Bodh Gaya and said that the Dalai Lama’s presence and teachings have “greatly benefited” the local people in many ways.
“Bodh Gaya is the holiest place for the Buddhist people and we have many Buddhists in our state who will be visiting this holy place constantly. It would be great if we can build hotels for the Buddhists here in this holy place,” said the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
The Chief Patron of the 32nd Kalachakra and Arunachal Pradesh Minister for WRD and Tourism, Pema Khandu thanked the Tibetan spiritual leader for fulfilling his late father Dorje Khandu’s wish to organise the teachings.
In appreciation for the conducting the Kalachakra teachings for a record 32 times and being the “messenger of Lord Buddha”, the 32nd Kalachakra organising committee bestowed the honorary title of “the Supreme Master of Complete Teachings of Lord Buddha,” on the XIVth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso of Tibet.
Apart from a battery of chief ministers and ministers, Hollywood actor Richard Gere was also amongst the tens of thousands who attended the teachings.
Gere, who is a close friend of the Tibetan leader, offered of a copy of the Dalai Lama’s latest book ‘Beyond Religion’ for its release.
Giving a brief account of the book, His Holiness said that the book is for everyone, irrespective of religion, age and sex.
Stating that the ultimate source of happiness lies within each one of us, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that mother’s care is the “root source of warm heartedness and happiness”.
“If we study the trouble makers in this world, almost all of them, when they were young didn’t get their mother’s care and love properly,” the Dalai Lama said. “So mother’s care is very important. For instance, my mother was an uneducated farmer but she was very warm hearted and loving.”
Keeping in mind the large number of devotees, the Mandela blessings will go on till January 13. But hundreds of pilgrims, who have come here from 63 countries, have already started to leave Bodh Gaya.
“By tonight, almost all the hotels’ fare will come down to Rs 600 if it was Rs 6,000 per night during the Kalachakra teachings,” said a local hotel owner.
According to sources, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will leave Bodh Gaya on January 11 after making a visit to the Bodh Gaya temple and the Peepal tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.