February 1st 2015

Sankisa, UP, India, 1 February 2015 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama returned to the Youth Buddhist Society of India (YBS) grounds in Sankisa this morning to resume and complete his teaching of the Dhammapada.

An audience estimated to number 20,000 listened with close attention. They included about 500 local Indian monks, about 1000 Tibetans, many of whom had travelled from Delhi to attend, and about 50 foreigners from East Asia, Europe, North America and other parts of the world.

As the teachings concluded Mr Suresh Chandra Bauddha, President of YBS, Mr Alok Kumar Shakya, UP State Minister for Technical Education and the Ven Tejwaro all offered words of thanks to His Holiness for coming to teach and to everyone whose dedicated efforts made the event possible. Mr Rakesh Chandra Bauddha read out a financial report.

Before leaving the YBS grounds, His Holiness personally handed out certificates of appreciation to about 20 core volunteers involved in the planning and implementation of all the arrangements.

Back at his hotel, His Holiness met with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, who was born in nearby Etawah and whose constituency Kannauj is also in this part of the state. They had lunch together. His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the Chief Minister of the unspoilt natural beauty of the area, the clear pollution free air and its relative proximity to Delhi. In short, he told him, it has good potential for development as an attractive place of pilgrimage. He also spoke enthusiastically about the learning centre the YBS have planned, which he hopes will offer opportunities primarily for academic studies. The Chief Minister promised his support. 

Members of the organizing committee and Mr Alok Kumar Shakya accompanied His Holiness to Farrukhabad Airport to see him off and he flew to Delhi. Very early tomorrow morning he will leave Delhi again on a tour that will take him to Germany, the USA, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.