Dalai Lama addressing four-day congregation in Leh

Leh, Aug.23 (ANI): The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, is delivering religious sermons on Bodhisattva, attended by thousands of devotees at a four-day congregation here.

Thousands of Buddhists monks are attending a four-day religious congregation, which commenced on Saturday.

In his inaugural sermon, the Dalai Lama highlighted the basic principles of Buddhism, which he termed as a faith that stands for wisdom, compassion, peace and brotherhood.

He underlined the importance of spiritual development of mankind particularly in the present time.

There has to be openness, truth and compassion, he added, saying the strife-torn world needs the message of peace and progress now more than ever before, the Dalai Lama asserted.

The participants feel that the presence of the Dalai Lama in the Buddhist majority Leh was a boon for the region.

“The people here are fortunate to listen to the sermons delivered by the Dalai Lama. He gives sermon in simple language and people easily understand him. His coming to this place itself is a great blessing for us,” said Tsewang Rigzen, a Buddhist monk.

A good number of foreigners and also tourists are attending the congregation. (ANI)

‘Good manners’ guide to be given to Thailand’s gay monks!

London, Apr 28 (ANI): A Buddhist leader in Thailand is planning to launch a ‘good manners’ guide to curb the flamboyant behaviour of homosexual and transgender monks.

Upset by the reports, that monks often wear revealing robes, carry pink purses and sport effeminately shaped eyebrows, Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi, a senior monk, is planning to issue the new guidelines to discourage the ostentatious behaviour.

According to BBC, the guidelines would address issues like smoking, drinking alcohol, walking and going to the toilet properly, which are all detailed in the traditional 75 Dharma principles of Buddhism, and the 227 precepts for monks.

Although Phra Vajiramedhi admits that it was difficult to exclude transgender men from the monkhood, he hopes that his course could at least help limit their extrovert habits, reports the Telegraph.

He said if successful, the “good manners” course, at the Novice Demonstration School, could be replicated at other Buddhist monasteries and seminaries. (ANI)