
Islam a peaceful religion: Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama said that "it's totally wrong, unfair" to call Islam a violent religion.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, appearing on Sunday at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, offered a defense of Islam in response to a question about the rise of violent religious fundamentalism. He added that he has made a point of reaching out to Muslims since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Dalai Lama arrived at Lehigh on Thursday for a series of talks on a 600-year-old Buddhist text. He took a break yesterday to lecture on "Generating a Good Heart," and afterward took questions from Lehigh President Alice P Gast that had been submitted in advance by the public.
Asked why so many Americans are depressed and anxious, he joked: "I'm the wrong person to ask. You should ask Americans." Then he answered that U.S. Society is too competitive and that people always want "something more, something more, something more."
The Dalai Lama, who attracted a capacity crowd of about 5,000, did not mention next month's Beijing Olympics. The Chinese government has demanded that the Dalai Lama express support for the Olympics and repudiate efforts to disrupt them as a condition for continued talks.
The Dalai Lama, who turned 73 on July 6, said Sunday that he's looking forward to "complete retirement." He joked that he's now considered a "senior most respected adviser" to Tibet's government in exile.
He is scheduled to speak at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Biden admin will engage the world 'as it is', not 'as it was': Antony Blinken

Snowstorm causes 134-car pile-up on Japanese highway, 1 dead

European countries struggle to make most of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses

'One village, one policy': China keeps it local to battle Covid wave

China gives no return date for Indian students stranded home

Biden inauguration day: 3 Democrats to take Senate oath on January 20

Taliban attacks, violence kills dozens: Afghan officials

EU slams Bosnia for failing to properly care for migrants

From Neera Tanden to Vivek Murthy: Indian Americans in Joe Biden's administratio

Keystone XL pipeline: Why has Biden planned to cancel disputed Canada project

California sheriff's deputy, driver dead following shootout

'Our return is inevitable': Parler CEO after app reappears

Concerns grow over future of pandemic hit Eurostar rail service linking UK, EU

Kremlin says unfazed by calls for sanctions over Navalny's detention
