Special on Gandhiji’s death anniversary: ​​Buddhist religious leader Dalai Lama said – If I could have met Gandhiji, I would have touched his feet and asked how to deal with China

Today is the 74th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Even after so many years of Gandhiji’s death, his thoughts can become a solution to many problems of today. On this special day, we spoke to the Buddhist religious leader, the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama believes that Gandhi’s ideas can be helpful in resolving the China dispute. Read what they say about Gandhiji…

For me Mahatma Gandhi is the epitome of non-violence and compassion. Gandhiji exemplified both the principles of non-violence and compassion in his life. I consider him my mentor and myself a small follower of his.

In childhood we used to hear about Mahatma Gandhi. Once during my stay at Potala Palace, I met Mahatma Gandhi in my dream with a smile. I didn’t talk to him, I just saw him in my dream.

When I visited India for the first time in 1956, I also went to Delhi’s Raj Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna River, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. When I stood there in prayer, I was deeply sorry for not being able to meet him in person. I wished that if I met him, I would touch his feet and bow down to him and ask the solution how to deal with China. While accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in 1989, I paid tribute to Gandhi, saying, ‘Gandhi’s life taught and inspired me.’

He was the most influential person of the 20th century with the idea of ​​non-violence. He adopted the three thousand year old Indian tradition of non-violence and compassion and through it made it alive and relevant by fighting for India’s independence. At that time some people might have thought that Gandhi’s non-violence was a sign of weakness, but in difficult situations non-violence is a strength, not a weakness.

If our mind is full of fear, anger, hatred and vengeance then it is impossible to find real non-violence, that is, non-violence is the reflection of our inner peace. Gandhiji set a living example of this through his behavior. Gandhiji is to me the ideal statesman who placed his belief in altruism above all personal considerations and maintained a consistent respect for all great spiritual traditions.

Gandhi was perhaps the greatest man of our times, who held true faith in peace and harmony till his last breath to uphold the spirit of India and the entire human race. He inspired followers such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. in Africa and America.

Today, in a world where bullying and killings still happen, we need compassion and nonviolence more than ever. I am strongly committed to combine these ideals with the best of modern education. I also believe that India is the only country which has the ability to integrate its ancient knowledge with modern education. Promoting the principles of non-violence and compassion is one of the main commitments of my life today.