Quotes of Dalai Lama at the inaugural ceremony of the International Conference on Relevance of Budhism in 21st century on March 17, 2017:

• I am just one of the 7 billion human beings alive today, who all want happiness and do not want suffering.

• We are social animals. We were all born from a mother. If we don't receive affection when we are small we won’t survive. This has nothing to do with religion--- it’s a biological fact.

• Since scientific research shows that constant fear, anger and hatred undermine our immune system, whether we are religious or not, it is in our interest to be more compassionate.

• It is unthinkable that such differences (in religious faith) should lead to violence. It’s like medicine becoming poison.

• India is the only country where all the world’s major religious traditions live together. Now Indians need to be more active in promoting religious harmony, especially in those places where conflict is going on in the name of religion.

• Ancient Indian tradition is rich in understanding how to discipline the mind and tackle destructive emotions. From this point of view ancient Indian psychology is of great relevance today and we can study it, not necessarily as a part of religious practice, but from an academic point of view.