India is our Guru, we its 'chelas': Dalai Lama

Giving his approval to chief minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to set up a centre for Buddhist studies in Gujarat, the Dalai Lama on Friday also offered to help in the centre’s growth.

“As Lord Buddha was from India, India is our Guru and we are its chelas (disciples),” the Buddhist spiritual leader said. “It is our moral responsibility to hand over to you the knowledge of Buddhism that we have preserved in Tibet over the last 1,000 years. We are always ready to serve you in establishing such institutions.”

The Dalai Lama was speaking at the international seminar on ‘Buddhist Heritage in Gujarat’ being held at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, in Vadodara. The seminar was also attended by Modi who, in his inaugural speech earlier, had said that he wanted to build in Gujarat the country’s biggest Buddhist temple with a centre for studies in Buddhism.

In his inaugural speech, Modi said that there were references in ancient texts that indicated that the state’s links with the Buddha were as old as the Buddha himself.

“This seminar’s focus is on documentation and research that highlights the contribution of Buddhism and its philosophy to the culture and society of Gujarat,” the chief minister said. “There is ample evidence that shows that the link between Buddha and Gujarat is as old as Buddha himself.”

Modi also mentioned various Buddhist monuments that have been found in Guj. He said them to be part of the world Buddhist tourist circuit.

"I want to see a majestic Buddhist temple in Gujarat with a centre for research and study in Buddhism," Modi said. "I want the centre to grow into a major destination on the world Buddhist circuit."

In his speech, the Dalai Lama approved of the chief minister's wishes. "A centre for Buddhist studies is essential," he said. "I am in touch with the scientific community in the West. We have been looking at Buddhism as a science, philosophy and as a religion." The spiritual leader added that as the Buddha was from India, "we are its chelas."

"It is our moral responsibility to hand over to you the Buddhist knowledge that was preserved by us in Tibet over the last 1,000 years," he said. The Dalai Lama talked about the relevance of Buddha's teachings to modern times.

"Religion is like medicine," he said. "We decide on a medicine according to a person's needs. Similarly, religion should be relevant to a person's needs. If we have faith in our religion and respect the religion of others, all problems will be solved." Earlier in the day Modi and the Dalai Lama had together inaugurated an exhibition on the 'Buddhist Heritage of Gujarat' at the Museum of Archaeology in the department of archaeology & ancient history of the MS University.

The seminar was attended by Buddhist leaders and scholars from Bhutan, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand as also from within India.