Better to have more friends than enemies: Dalai Lama

DHARAMSHALA: Appealing people to follow the path of Ahimsa, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today said "it is better to have more friends than enemies."

Addressing a gathering on the main Tibetan Temple at Thekchen in Dharamshala, during the last day of the four-day teaching on Aryadeva's 400 Stanzas on the middle way, he asked people to emphasise on the concept of Ahimsa.

During his concluding speech, he said: "It is better to have more friends than enemies. Non-virtuous deeds result in more enemies, risk and miseries, whereas virtuous practices yield more well-wishers."

"The ancient concept of Ahimsa also fall in this line, which shows that concept of refraining non-virtuous deeds is not just linked with beliefs," he said.

"It would be a lie to claim that one is cultivating 'Bodhichitta', if that individual is still indulged in non-virtuous deeds. Therefore, we must first and foremost refrain from non-meritorious deeds, which only cause sufferings," the spiritual leader said.

While acknowledging the devotees from various countries, he reminded that listening to teachings is only the beginning and the ultimate task is to implement them.