Preserve own religious traditions,while respecting others with differing beliefs

The Dalai Lama addresses the media in Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday, April 18, 2008. The Dalai Lama says he fully understands the sentiments of those protesting the upcoming Olympics in China to draw attention to the country's human rights record. But the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told reporters Friday he has been sorry to see some of those demonstrations turned violent. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)








Dalai Lama: Preserve religious traditions, respect others
By JEFF KAROUB

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The Dalai Lama on Saturday encouraged people gathered at the University of Michigan to preserve their own religious traditions while respecting others with differing beliefs.

"As you know, I always believed since all different traditions have the same potential to bring inner peace, inner value ... it is important to keep one's own tradition," he told about 8,000 people at Crisler Arena.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said he learned about Islam, Christianity and Judaism through personal contact and that he has a "genuine admiration and respect and appreciation for those traditions."

Sharon Drews, a Catholic and a lawyer, drove from Elkhart, Ind., with her mother to attend the Saturday morning teaching session, and said afterward that she appreciated the Dalai Lama's message.

"The most valuable thing for me was that he said there are so many (religious) traditions leading to the same self-improvement, but we need to allow people to follow the tradition that's most effective for them," said Drews, 42.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959 in Tibet, arrived in the U.S. last week, a day after the Olympic torch run in San Francisco was changed to avoid a potential demonstration in protest of China's treatment of his people.

Protests have sprung up in Tibetan areas of western China since demonstrations in Lhasa turned violent on March 14.

About 100 pro-Chinese demonstrators rallied outside the basketball arena where Dalai Lama spoke. They waved Chinese and U.S. flags, and held posters showing support for the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing.

"When the riots started (in China), our concern was how to tell the truth to the American people," said Jinhui Chen, a 34-year-old University of Michigan graduate student. He added: "We have a peaceful protest. We don't want to incite riots."

Saturday morning's appearance was the first of the Dalai Lama's four scheduled weekend talks at the university.

Three additional teaching sessions at the arena were planned for Saturday and Sunday under the sponsorship of the Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist learning center, The Tibet Fund and the Garrison Institute.

The Dalai Lama also plans a lecture on sustainability on Sunday sponsored the university's School of Natural Resources and Environment.