The 34th Kalachakra initiation conferred by the Dalai lama concluded at Bodh Gaya’s Kalachakra Maidan on Saturday with the Tibetan spiritual leader thanking Bihar Government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the organisation who in turn thanked the religious leader for supporting the total prohibition policy. Hollywood actor Richard Gere who stayed in Bodh Gaya during the 10-days puja criticised the Chinese Government for creating hurdles in the visit of Tibetans and threatening them.
Wishing Dalai lama to live for 113 years, Nitish said, “We are thankful to you for supporting our anti liquor policy during Kalachakra initiations and this gave us enough strength to bana all sorts of intoxication in Bihar.” The CM said the relics of lord Buddha excavated from Vaishali which are preserved in Patna museum would be installed in Vaishali where a new Buddha Stupa and museum would be constructed.
Richard Gere who routinely attended Kalachakra puja earlier also, said it was an extra ordinary thing to be in Bodh Gaya and listen to illustrious teachers and lamas. “It is an extra ordinary opportunity to be in Bodh Gaya and to see Bhagwan. The real Dalai lama is in our hearts who completely saturated us with his kindness, wisdom and compassion.”
Pointing towards the Tibetan pilgrims, Gere said, “It is not easy to get into Bodh Gaya and for them it was a difficult voyage especially the Chinese Government made their voyage more difficult. They got threat that their kids would be taken out of schools, they would lose jobs and their land be taken away.” He was referring to the reports about the ban put up on Tibetan devotees on visiting Bodh Gaya to attend Kalachakra.
On the conclusion of the Kalachakra, called Due-Khor-Wang-Chen (Wheel of time) in Tibetan language, Dalai lama told the masses that the devotees who have gathered from various backgrounds and countries must not go empty handed after the teachings. “One must take back something from the proceedings here, that is to say one must go back a more kind hearted person or at least someone who does not do harm if he cannot do good. Otherwise, it is just putting yourself through a rigorous travel and meagre living conditions here and nothing else.”
During an earlier sermon, the Tibetan spiritual leader hailed Bihar’s prohibition policy saying that lord Buddha preached that even a drop of alcohol is a sin and Mahatma Gandhi also tried to bring in prohibition. “Prohibition in Bihar is a good step,” he said.