Religious practice should be based on rationality: Dalai Lama

NEW DELHI: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today called for religious practice to be grounded in "rationality and analysis" instead of blind faith.

"It is good to read scriptures but understanding and reflecting upon them is very important. Religious practise should be grounded on rationality and analysis, not blind faith," he said at a special prayer ceremony at Buddha Jayanti Park here.

The ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion of Gaden Ngachoe, a significant day in the Buddhist calendar, when 14th century Tibetan scholar Lama Tsongkhapa assumed 'parinirvana.

Tibet House Director Geshe Dorji Damdul, who was also present on the occasion, stated that while modern science is the pride of West, India's strength lies in disciplines such as "philosophy, psychology".

The ceremony was attended by a large number of devotees who were served prasad at the end of the prayer service.