Dharamsala, Jan 3 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday visited the Jain pilgrimage town of Palitana near Bhavnagar in Gujarat. The Tibetan leader delivered a religious discourse along with Jain scholars.
“The 20th century belonged to science and technology. The present 21st century would belong to spirituality and non-violence,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama told reporters.
He said Jainism and Buddhism are in the forefront for promoting peace and non-violence around the world.
“Jainism and Buddhism are like twins who have brought along with them the message of oneness and non-violence for the world,” he said.
His Holiness also visited a camp for the physically challenged where over 25,000 disabled people are being provided free medical treatment and gifts including wheelchairs, artificial limbs, blankets etc.
The camp, called ‘Mobility Camp’ being held in Palitana was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on December 23 and will continue till January 9.
He later visited the Jain temples in Palitana town and interacted with Jain scholars.
His Holiness will arrive in Bodhgaya today. Starting Jan 5 His Holiness will give five-day teachings on Nagarjuna’s In Praise of the Transcendental (jigten ley depar toepa), Atisha’s Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Longchen Rinpoche’s Mind In Comfort and Ease (semnyid nyelso) & Tsongkhapa’s Short Version of the Stages of the Path To Enlightenment (lamrim dhuedhon). On the morning of January 9 His Holiness will confer a Long Life Empowerment (tsewang) and also accept a long life offering (Tenshug)from devotees.
His Holiness will then travel to Phuntsok Ling Tibetan settlement in Orissa where a one-day teaching on The Four Empowerments of Guru Pema Thoe Treng Tsel (lama sangdhu thoetreng tsel dhoompo shiwang) will be given.
His Holiness will then participate in an international conference on Buddhism at the Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda on January 15.
