DHARAMSALA: Expressing warm-heartedness is the key to peace and harmony, Tibetan spiritual leader the His Highness  Dalai Lama today, May 5, said the "more we become acquainted with a concern for the welfare of others, the greater we will regard others dearer than ourselves".

The elderly monk wrote in a message on Buddha Purnima that Vajrasana, or the Adamantine Seat, as Bodhgaya is known in our scriptures, is the most sacred of Buddhist pilgrimage sites because it is connected to Shakyamuni Buddha, our compassionate founder-teacher of our spiritual tradition. This message was written on the auspicious remembrance of Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and mahaparinirvana.

The Buddha gained Mahabodhi (enlightenment) here, after which he gave teachings on the Four Noble Truths, the 37 Factors of Enlightenment, and other topics. His advice on mind control for the benefit of infinitely many sentient creatures is the essence of his teachings.

"The practice of wisdom and compassion together is at the core of the Buddha's teaching. The core of all of his teachings is the practice of bodhicitta, the kind spirit of enlightenment. The more we are accustomed to caring for the well-being of others, the more we will value others above ourselves.

"We shall acknowledge our interdependence and keep in mind that the eight billion people who currently inhabit the planet all share the same desire for happiness and the absence of misery.

I, therefore, exhort my spiritual brothers and sisters to be kind-hearted, live meaningful lives, and be committed to the well-being of others on this important occasion.

PM addresses Buddhist summit: Buddha's teachings antidote for global crisis