China trying to destroy Buddhism but the religion stands tall, says Dalai Lama  

The Chinese government has attempted its utmost to destroy Buddhism  but the religion still stands tall in China and people still worship Lord Buddha there, the Dalai Lama said.

He was addressing over 60,000 devotees at a religious discourse he held in Bodh Gaya on Saturday . Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu was also present on the occasion.

“The Chinese government tried its utmost to destroy Buddhism. It razed Buddhist viharas. It poisoned our people. Our faith in the religion and Lord Buddha did not lessen despite all this,” the Dalai Lama said at the conclusion of his three-day discourse at the Kalchakra Teaching Ground in Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

The Dalai Lama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, said: “Buddhism stands tall in China despite all the efforts to decimate it there. No religion becomes endangered if anybody tries to harm it. China still has followers of Buddhism and the people there still worship Lord Buddha. I have been to China and the people there have a deep connection with Buddhism.”

He termed the Covid-19 pandemic as worse than a nuclear bomb and underscored the need for “a world free of nuclear weapons and pandemics”.

Earlier in the morning, the Dalai Lama offered prayers at the Kalachakra ground to free the world of coronavirus and nuclear weapons.

Highlighting the religious importance of Bodh Gaya, he said, “You remember the form of Lord Buddha in your mind. And after that offer flowers on this holy land keeping in mind the colour of the form of 21 Arya Taras. Think that I am offering flowers to Lord Buddha. This is a holy place. Everything can be obtained from here.”