Dalai Lama against religious conversions

“Change of religion may be easy but it is very bad and creates confusion,’’ the Dalai Lama said during his discourse on the second and last day of his visit at Buddha Vihara here on Sunday.

The Tibetan spiritual leader cited a few instances of people living in emotional conflict after conversion. It would be “safer” for an individual, particularly in India to follow his/her own religion and adhere to it.

However, the Dalai Lama said that by sticking to a religion, one should develop the respect and tolerance towards other religions for socio-religious harmony in society and the polity.
Referring to his own religion, the spiritual leader said Buddhism need not be the best religion though it is the most scientific religion for being rational and inquisitive.

But Buddhism had no answer to certain questions like the existence of atma (soul) and rebirth. The Dalai Lama said that as an individual he believed in rebirth as he had come across a few cases of rebirth.

Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped would unearth the mystery behind rebirth.

Chinese Communism

The Tibetan leader in exile had a dig at China for its diluted commitment towards communism. He said although certain people proudly claimed that they are Buddhists, they were ignorant of basic tenets of Buddhism. “It is like Chinese Communist Party’s commitment to Communist philosophy,’’ he quipped.

The Dalai Lama said that among all it was Indian scholars, particularly those from Nalanda, the centre of excellence of yore, who around 8th centuries gave the correct interpretation of the Buddhist philosophy.