Corruption is positive, jests Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said jokingly that corruption could also be positive.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Saturday said jokingly that corruption could also be positive.

HT Image

"I once met a delegation of Buddhists from Vietnam who asked me about corruption in order to get a good job for workers. I said positive corruption," the leader said in a lighter vein, laughing, in response to a query about corruption.

He then added that he has retired now and had handed over the responsibility to an elected government (Tibetan government-in-exile) -- and was at liberty not to speak about it.

The Dalai Lama refused to comment on the anti-corruption crusade in India.

The Buddhist seer delivered the 5th annual Penguin Lecture at the India Habitat Centre here on The Art of Happiness in which he touched on a broad range of subjects pertaining to the art of being happy and compassionate.

"Compassion is motivation - which is taking care of other's well being. There is no place to lie, exploit or harm," he said.