Religion is personal, not a tool to mobilise: Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said that religion is a "personal business" and should not be used to "mobilise" people on religious lines. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of inauguration of National Teachers Congress, organised by MAEERs MIT World Peace University and MIT School of Government in Pune. Replying to a question on what message he wants to give in the wake of violence at Koregaon Bhima in Pune district on January 1, the spiritual leader said, "Religion is a personal business. Whether you follow this religion or that religion, it is personal matter. We should not mobilise...as we Buddhist, we Hindus, we Muslims. That is not good." Dalits visiting a war memorial at Koregaon Bhima were attacked in Pune on January 1 that led to a state-wide shutdown in Maharashtra two days later. In his speech at the conference, the Dalai Lama hailed the Indian society for accommodating diverse religious faiths. ...