Dharamsala, November 23: Exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has urged Indian youths to adopt Gandhian principles of non-violence and truth

Delivering a valedictory lecture on the closing day of the centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Hind Swaraj or Home Rule’ in the Indian capital New Delhi on Sunday, the Dalai Lama described the principles of non-violence as a treasure of Indian culture and tradition, according to a report by ANI.

“Carrying ceremonial things or ritual things are not sufficient, we must come to masses specially youths and young people and bring thousand-years-old Indian treasure, sometimes it needs some modification but tell them these traditional values must be alive, these are not for decorations,” ANI quoted the Dalai Lama as saying.

The 74-year old revered Tibetan leader and Nobel Peace Laureate reportedly said that he has adopted principles of human compassion, love and harmony from India and strongly advocated promotion of human compassion through education.

“We are not lacking education, we are lacking human compassion and that is very clear," Dalai Lama said.

"Why not we teach the importance of compassion through education?

"So, my main effort is promotion of human compassion through education. My number-two commitment is promotion of harmony,” the Dalai Lama added.

During the conference, the Tibetan leader was also formally requested to lead the Global Gandhian Movement. But pointing at senior Gandhians in the audience, the revered Tibetan leader and Nobel Peace laureate responded, saying, "You are the leader, I am only a chela (student) of India. You are the boss.” However, accepting the request, the Dalai Lama lauded the efforts made by the Gandhians.

The four-day “Hind Swaraj Centenary Commemoration International Conference” that began on Thursday at Surajkund near the Indian capital, was organised by the Swaraj Peeth Trust, a Delhi-based Gandhian centre for non-violence and peace, in collaboration with the Central University of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath in Varanasi. The conference was aimed at highlighting globally the relevance of Gandhian vision of Swaraj and methods of non-violence.

The Dalai Lama, who arrived Monday to his exile hometown of Dharamsala in northern India following his trips to Japan, northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and Italy, is slated to give teachings at the request Buddhist devotees from Russia here at the Main Tibetan Temple (Tsuglag-Khang) on Tuesday.

The Dalai Lama will deliver teachings on Je Tsongkhapa’s Three Principle Paths (Lamtso Namsum) and Praise to the Buddha for His Discourses on Dependent Origination (tendrel toepa) on November 24, and will confer the 13-Deity Yamantaka Initiation (lha chusoom jigje kawang) on November 25 and 26.