'Fully recovered' Dalai Lama begins 3-day discourse

Dharamshala, Sep 25 (UNI) Emphasising that trust and readiness to help others were the basis of human existence, Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today began a three-day teachings on 'Je Tsonkhapa's Song of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment', at the Tsuglagkhang, the main temple at McLeodganj.

In his introductory address, the Dalai Lama said, ''We as human beings should use our ability to think, examine and investigate problems with long-term visions,'' The teachings, being conferred primarily for people from Southeast Asia at the request of the Tibetan Buddhist Center-based in Singapore, would continue till Saturday.

Brushing aside concerns regarding his health during the long discourse, the Dalai Lama said, ''I am fully recovered''. However, he conceded, ''I still need more rest.'' Speaking to the Chinese Buddhist devotees, the Dalai Lama said he always consider Chinese Buddhists as the senior student of Lord Buddha and followers of Buddhist traditions.

''We must utilise and follow a realistic approach of looking at various issues from different angles, so that one would get a clear picture of the problem. But in order to follow the realistic path, one must have a full knowledge of the reality,'' the spiritual leader added.

He said , ''Human beings are bound to face unhappiness and pain, but to challenge these problems with a calm state of mind is the key thing.'' Around 3,500 people, including Buddhist devotees from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore were attending the three-day teachings.

The teachings are in Tibetan and translated into English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese on FM channels.

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