Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Monday delivered his last sermon to thronging devotees here and thanked the Arunachal Pradesh government, especially Chief Minister Pema Khandu, for the invitation and facilitating his visit, which has drawn much flak from China.

Addressing devotees in chaste Tibetan at the Yid GaChosin monastery, the Dalai Lama said his visit to the northeastern state has been a "memorable one" and that he would cherish it forever.

Advertisement

He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited.

Giving a talk on the last day of his four-day visit to Tawang, the Tibetan spiritual leader also said secular ethics is the only way to bring lasting peace and happiness in the world.

"Peace in post World War II is built on fear. But genuine peace can come only through inner peace," he said, at another event. The Dalai Lama gave a talk on 'Secular Ethics and Happiness' and stressed that inner peace can come through training of the mind.

Delivering an address to an audience assembled at Kalawangpo Hall, the Nobel Peace laureate reiterated that secular ethics must be achieved through education and not just through prayers or faith.

State Chief Minister Pema Khandu was also present at the event.

Replying to a query on what would be the state of secular ethics when presently the world is witnessing clash of beliefs, the Dalai Lama said: "Neither can destroy each other's beliefs. So the best way is to make peace and live together."

"A terrorist killing in the name of religion can never be true to his faith. However, efforts must be made to reach out to them as they are not born terrorist but circumstances made them so," he said.

Emphasising on education as the key to bring in human understanding and values, the Dalai Lama lamented that western nations are not helping in bringing true values of education, due to which everyone is after material pursuit leading to untold human sufferings.

Responding to a question on Buddhist belief on Karma, the Dalai Lama urged the audience to follow Buddhist teachings only after having convinced themselves through investigation and experiments. He said followers of Buddhist philosophy have the liberty to reject it if they find it unsatisfactory.

On Karma, the Dalai Lama said, "It's our action that brings comfort and discomfort.

Asked whether religious rituals have become more important than wisdom or philosophy, the spiritual leader declared that rituals are not important. However, he emphasised on use of intelligence to transform emotions and not through rituals.

Earlier, the Dalai Lam released a book titled – 'Ocean and Blue Mountains' published by department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs (DoKAA) in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries.

The book title refers to 'Ocean' as His Holiness and 'Blue Mountains' as the people of Arunachal Pradesh, and is a collection of memoirs of the special bond shared between the two. The Dalai Lama also released a book titled – 'Crossing of the Frontiers' describing his exile route from Tibet to India, published by Losel Nyinje Charitable Society and Monyul Social Welfare Association.

A book on Monyul was also released by him.

In the morning, the Dalai Lama gave his last sermon to devotees at the Yid GaChosin monastery ground on Rinzin Dhondup initiation followed by a long life offering ceremony.

He also blessed and distributed one lakh saplings to be planted in and around Tawang.

On his way to the Kalawangpo Hall, the Dalai Lama consecrated the statue of Lord Buddha at the heart of Tawang township.

On Sunday, the Dalai Lama consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the Indo-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction.

The Dalai Lama was supposed to perform the rituals after landing at Lumla on April 4, which couldn't materialise due to rescheduling of his programme.

China had fiercely objected to the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, which it considers as "disputed" and part of south Tibet