Ambedkar Buddhists should rise above caste system: Dalai Lama

Varanasi, Dec 18 (UNI) Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama today admitted to differences among sects in India and gave a call to 'Ambedkar Buddhists' to rise above their hatred towards caste system for imbibing the true spirit of the religion.

Addressing the inaugural function of the two-day meet of World Buddhist Leaders Council, organised by the Maha Bodhi Society of India (MBSI) at Sarnath here, the Nobel laurete said thaat in the early 1960s, he had to bring together the Indian Buddhists for closer ties, but was ''dejected to see the outcome of the efforts''.

Emotionally, I felt uncomfortable,'' he said, adding, that there was no scope for differences in Buddhism.

About the different sects of Buddhism, the 71-year-old supreme Tibetan leader said 'Vajrayana' is actually a part of 'Hinayana.' Principally, there is no difference between them.

Taking note of the absence of Ambedkar Buddhists -- Buddhist followers of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar -- at the meet, the spiritual leader said they still have a lot of hatred for caste system. Citing a past meet of Buddhists, the Dalai Lama maintained that some of the followers of Dr Ambedkar started criticising the Brahmins. ''For assimilating the true Buddhist philosophy one needed to think in unison rather than voicing support or hate towards caste system,'' he maintained.

The Dalai Lama, lauding India's role in promotion of moral and religious values said that he saw India emerge as the global spiritual leader by 2011.

Highlighting the need for global peace, the Buddhist spiritual leader said despite all its charters and regulations, the United Nations has not succeeded in ensuring world peace, as nearly 27 million people have been killed in conflicts globally after World War II.

The spiritual leader further said while religion is the very basis of the welfare of humanity, it is also being used to cause conflicts in the world. In such a situation understanding basic tenets of religion became essential for world peace.

There is no scope for fanaticism in any religion, he said and added that in his opinion world peace is possible by following the teachings of Buddhism.

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