The 90-year-old spiritual leader recently shared his perspective on teaching Buddhism in China and India. Speaking at Shewatsel Phodrang, he mentioned receiving invitations to visit China but found it challenging due to the unstable political situation there.
Spiritual Visit to Ladakh
The 14th Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile for over 66 years, began his spiritual visit to Ladakh. He travels to Ladakh during the monsoon season from his exile home in Dharamshala to seek a drier and more temperate climate.
Preserving Tibetan Traditions
The Dalai Lama highlighted the destruction of traditions in Tibet by Chinese authorities and emphasized the importance of scholars from the Himalayan region working to keep these traditions alive.
Recalling his forced exile from Tibet in 1959, he praised the support of the Indian Government and how Tibetan learning traditions have been re-established in India.
He mentioned the decline of precious traditions in Tibet and the responsibility of those in India to preserve them. He stressed the necessity to maintain these traditions that have faced challenges in Tibet.
Building Institutions in India
The Dalai Lama reflected on his decision to leave Tibet in 1959 and the effort put into building institutions in India to preserve Tibetan traditions. He expressed how they have made considerable progress.
The spiritual leader, who became the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940, escaped to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Communist rule in Tibet. He settled in Dharamshala the following year.
