His Holiness with the members of Sunni community
Photo: OHHDL
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans and Buddhist across the world, participated in his first public engagement in Ladakh by going on a pilgrimage to the Jokhang, the principal Buddhist Temple in the centre of Leh, the Jama Masjid and Anjuman-e-Imamia mosques, Moravian Church in Leh on July 23. His Holiness also consecrated the newly constructed Thiksey Library and Learning Centre at Tiksey Monastery on July 25, reports the official website of His Holiness.
At Jokhang, the main Buddhist temple, His Holiness greeted the audience saying, “Tashi Delek, we are all very old friends and the bonds between us are rock-solid. I’d like to thank you for your faith and devotion, which I take as a source of encouragement”. He assured his audience that he is determined to continue working on making a contribution towards the flourishing of the dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Photo: OHHDL
His Holiness then visited the Sunni Mosque, the Jama Masjid in Ladakh where, he said, “it is my practice to offer prayers at other people’s places of worship whenever I can. Since all religions convey a message of compassion (karuna), even though their philosophical views may differ, they are worthy of respect”. His Holiness also recalled his acquaintances with the Muslim community back in Lhasa.
The Tibetan spiritual leader next went to Shia Mosque known as Anjuman-e-Imamia which was inaugurated by His Holiness in 2006. “Your presence here today sends a strong and much needed message of unity, peace and brotherhood among the different religious groups of Ladakh to the wider world,” said one speaker at the gathering.
His Holiness reiterated that India has a good, long-standing custom of religious harmony, and that is especially evident in Ladakh. He continued by saying that all the human beings are the same, seeking happiness, and he called on everyone to help each other whenever possible.
His Holiness with the members of the Christian community in Ladakh
Photo: OHHDL
On the same day, His Holiness went on a pilgrimage to a Moravian Church where he was welcomed by their congregation who sang a song in appreciation of his contribution to peace and harmony in the world. Appreciating their warm welcome His Holiness said, “It reminds me of the many Christian brothers and sisters, scientists and religious leaders, such as the Polish Pope, John Paul II, among them, with whom I have made friends”. He expressed his admiration of the kindness Christians show by helping poor needy people all over the world, saying that he regards this as “a sense of the oneness of humanity.”
His Holiness arrived in Ladakh on July 15, his visit was at the request of Thiksay Rinpoche of Thiksay Monastery in Ladakh, together with former MP Thupten Tsewang, the current President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association. The trip is his first away from his residences since the Covid-19 global pandemic.
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