India has vital role in strengthening world peace: Dalai Lama

Manali (HP), Aug 22 (PTI) Tibetan spiritual guru the
Dalai Lama on Sunday said he foresees India playing a pivotal
role in strengthening the world peace.
"Strong democratic institutions in India will help it
play an effective role in making a peaceful and better world
in the 21st century," he told reporters at a Tibetan monastery
here.
The Dalai Lama, who was here to preach on Gyalsey Thokme
Sangpo's 37 practices of Bodhisattva (Laklen Sodonma), said
Buddhism is not only a religion but a "pure science and many
scientists are trying to interpret its true essence through
scientific methodology".
On the statement made by Indian External Affairs Minister
S M Krishna that India considers Tibetan Autonomous Region as
part of China and "that should bring down curtains on any
controversy", the Dalai Lama said there was nothing new in it
as India's stand has been the same since 1954.
"China has the habit of making a hue and cry over my
meetings with any world leader," he said.
On his remarks on social networking site 'Twitter' that
certain members of his community were critical of his "middle
path" policy for solution of Tibet problem, the Dalai Lama
said Tibetan youths were committed to non-violence and barring
a few voices of dissent, majority of Tibetans were still
hopeful that a peaceful solution could be found. PTI CORR
RBT