(TibetanReview.net, May25, 2017) – Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, described himself as a messenger of ancient Indian values and knowledge during a speech May 23 at a seminar on ‘Social Justice and Dr BR Ambedkar” in Bengaluru, Karnataka state. The event was organized by the Social Justice Department of the state government to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, considered the architect of India’s constitution and who had embrace Buddhism in 1956 along with some 500,000 of his supporters.
“India is our guru and we are chelas; we are reliable chelas, because we have preserved your ancient knowledge,” the Dalai Lama told a capacity-packed crowd of 12,000. Among those who attended the seminar, which was held in the Dr Ambedkar Bhavan, were Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party Mr Mallikarjuna Kharge.
The chief minister praised the Dalai Lama as a man of peace in his speech delivered in the local in Kannada language.
The Dalai Lama recalled that as a lawyer, economist and social reformer Ambedkar had opened millions of people’s eyes and brought about a revival of Buddhism in India, the land of its origin.
A Kannada translation of the book ‘Love and Compassion’ authored by the Dalai Lama was released during the event.
The Dalai Lama was hosted a traditional local lunch by the Chief Minister with the members of his cabinet.