Peace is the essence of Buddhism: Karmapa

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Dec 2: The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje on Thursday said that only propagating the message of peace would not serve the purpose, it should come from within. Addressing a large gathering of followers and locals Bomdila Buddha Stadium in West Kameng district, the Karmapa called upon the people of the district to maintain peace and tranquillity for a better world, an official report informed here today.

“The teachings of Lord Buddha, has therefore great bearings in this materialistic world. The practice should not be limited to the monks and the mosteries only rather it should be followed and incorporated by all sentient beings for which education is a must,” he said. Assuring to come back and interact with the people in a more persolized and larger scale in the days to come, the Karmapa expressed his gratitude to the MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu for facilitating his visit to the state, reports DIPRO. He also paid tribute to late Tso Gontse Rinpoche for his yeomen services and prayed for his swift re-birth.

Rijiju in his address said that the visit of the Karmapa to the region and the state was a matter of great pride and honour. He thanked Prime Minister rendra Modi for doing away with the restrictions imposed in the previous eras and for facilitating the Karmapa’s visit to any part of the country and elsewhere.

The Union minister also advocated that with this new development, the gap between the spiritual guru and the followers would be bridged. With the subsequent visit of the Karmapa, new initiatives like construction of mosteries and learning institutes could be taken up to further the spiritual ambience and temperament in the region, opined Rijiju.

MLA Japu Deru and DC Sol Swaroop also spoke on the occasion. Earlier in the morning, Karmapa visited the Thubchog Gatse Ling Mostery (Lower Gompa) where he was received by Guru Tulku Rinpoche and partook in various mostic rituals.

On Wednesday, he visited the Kalchakra Gompa, Thupsung Dargye Ling Mostery, and the Lieung Gompa at Dirang en-route to Bomdila from Tawang, the report added.  Among others, the programme was attended by state legislative assembly speaker TN Thongdok, parliamentary secretaries Phurpa Tsering and Kumsi Sidisow, MHA advisor Amitabh Mathur, DoKAA chairman Jambey Wangdi, DC Sol Swaroop, RCS Rinchin Tashi, DIG (APP), DIG (SSB), Commander BRO, director CIHCS Dahung and many others, the report added.